Thrawn - for our favorite Grand Admiral
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Still not particularly impressed
So the Ahsoka show has come and gone and I didn’t much care for it. I rather forgot how little I cared for Thrawn’s characterization because the rest of the show was, in my opinion, somehow worse than even the butchering (again imo) of Thrawn.
Nonetheless I remain less than impressed at what they have done, and I am beginning to worry that Filoni’s film will be a solid stinker that joins the rest of Disney’s current critical and commercial slump. I also hope Zahn is unbothered out there and not disappointed that they threw out six books of characterization.
Equally I’m sad we’ll never get the Thrawn/Ezra ally dynamic against the Grysk, that the Asdendancy crisis is likely out the window, and about the chance that we do not ever get books again. Zahn’s current characterization of Thrawn is so removed from Filoni’s that more books would probably be seen as at odds with the TV version. Well, not that Lucasfilm leadership much cares about readers’ opinions.
A bleak post but those are some of my thoughts. It’s been a while since the show ended and it was (imo) so bad that I didn’t really care about what they did to Thrawn, but now that I’m reflecting on it, I’m not the biggest fan.
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Not particularly impressed
While this was resoundingly the expectation, I will admit some sadness that all of Zahn’s new characterization of Thrawn is being discarded in favor of an Heir redux. I’m glad Filoni is getting to live out his dream of Ahsoka’s story, I just wish it didn’t come at the expense of Zahn’s character, who he no doubt cared for much as Filoni cares for Ahsoka.
It was wise of Zahn to make his continuation of the story— Thrawn and Ezra teaming up— known. I imagine he knew what was coming.
The saddest part is that Thrawn’s entire characterization and purpose will likely never be completed, and the book series (where Thrawn truly lives, as film cannot delve into the thoughts of him and his crew) may end at Ascendancy.
Maybe I’m jumping the gun and they’ll get it right, but it doesn’t seem likely.
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Which do you think looked better, the epaulettes or shoulder bars?
Personally, I think the shoulder bars fit the theme of the imperial uniforms better, but the epaulettes have much more of a dramatic flair. Though if I had to pick, I'd vote shoulder bars.
Image source is wraithdt on Deviantart and the second image I found on a random forum, but is clearly an edit of the original.
[Image description: Thrawn in the Grand Admiral's uniform, on the left with gold epaulettes, on the right with gold shoulder bars.
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With both Ahsoka and Thrawn in the upcoming series, I'm 100% expecting to see a Marg Sabl at some point
starwars.fandom.com Marg SablA Marg Sabl was a tactical maneuver used in naval warfare. It was a variant of the Fake. Its name derived from a Togrutan flower that opened its petals in a sunburst shape every morning. The tactic called for a warship to turn its hangar bay away from its current enemy, allowing for its starfighters...
Even if they don't explicitly call it out, it'd be a cool Easter egg to include
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Concept art for Thrawn's ship in Ahsoka shown at the San Diego Comic-Con
Compared to the couple live-action shots from the trailer:
[Image descriptions: first image is a large command deck built with a heavy emphasis on gold and curving forms. Golden humanoid droids stand at four stations, looking at circular screens. The second and third images are of the same command deck, less ornate than the concept art, the second with Thrawn and the third with Magistrate Morgan Elsbeth.]
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The moment I knew Thrawn wasn't your ordinary villain, reading Heir many years ago
[Image description: photo of a page in the book Heir to the Empire, with this text highlighted:
"Thrawn smiled faintly. "You served too long under Lord Vader, Captain," he said. "I have no qualms about accepting a useful idea merely because it wasn't my own. My position and ego are not at stake here.""]
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Personally, I've always preferred the Legends depictions of Thrawn's eyes
The lack of pupil and therefore the inability to really see where he is looking I think added a layer of intimidation that the canon depiction is missing.
[Image description: artwork of Grand Admiral Thrawn seated, wearing the Legends uniform with gold epaulettes, his eyes a solid red. Captain Pellaeon stands alongside Thrawn.]
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Re-reading Thrawn (2017) while also doing a watch through of TNG, so I found this comment on comlink badges particularly funny
Text in photo:
'"It would also be useful to arrange the comlinks so that one would not need to draw them from belt or pocket."
"That would definitely be handy." Vanto gestures to the lieutenant's rank plaque. "Maybe you could put it inside the rank plaque. At least wouldn't have to worry about dropping it."
"Could that be done?"
"What, put a comlink in the rank plaque? Sure.'
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A Thrawn cosplayer I met at Celebration 2019. The crazy thing is we have the same (relatively uncommon) first name!
I'd post a link to her info, but I'd like to avoid utterly doxxing myself. I'll pm folks if you ask. She described this uniform as Thrawn in the First Order, which was very cool.
[Image description: two women in a crowded hall, one cosplaying as Thrawn in a white and black uniform has her arm draped over the other, who is wearing a t-shirt with Thrawn on it.]
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Team Thrawn - A parody poster
[Image description: art in the style of the classic Episode 4 movie poster, with Thrawn in the center holding aloft a ysalamir, flanked by Eli Vanto and Gilad Pellaeon.]
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Mitth'raw'nuruodo - Wookieepedia
starwars.fandom.com Mitth'raw'nuruodoMitth'raw'nuruodo, born as Kivu'raw'nuru with the core name Vurawn, recognized in his early military career as Mitth'raw'nuru, and better known by his core name Thrawn, was a Chiss male officer of the Chiss Ascendancy and Grand Admiral in the Imperial Navy during the age of the Galactic Empire. An a...