Qi’ra Is A ‘Star Wars’ Character Who Demands Future Adventures
By Donna Dickens/Aug. 24, 2018 8:00 am EST
(Welcome to A Different Point of View, a column where we explore the supporting characters of the Star Wars universe and discuss why they deserve more time in the spotlight.)Star Wars, at its core, is a family story about generations of the Skywalker family. Or, at least it used to be. But now that Lucasfilm is under the Disney umbrella, a wider audience is being exposed to the variety of stories that can exist in a galaxy far, far away. Those stories can include characters that would otherwise have been left in the background or as dangling plot threads never to be expanded upon. In this bi-weekly column, I’ll be choosing one Star Wars character to raise into the spotlight and make my case on why they deserve to stand on their own.For the inaugural column, I chose a woman that is so new to the Star Wars canon that she still has “New Character Smell.” Qi’ra. Like Madonna or Cher. She only has one name. Let’s dive in, shall we?
WHEN WAS SHE INTRODUCED?
Played by Emilia Clarke (Game of Thrones, Terminator: Genisys), Qi’ra made her grand entrance into the world in 2018’s Solo: A Star Wars Story. Ostensibly Han Solo’s first great love, and the template upon which he would base his attraction to future lovers, Qi’ra proved herself to be feisty, capable, and more than a touch coldly pragmatic. She is a true morally grey woman rising through grit, determination, and shoving her adorable boyfriend from street-rat high school out of harm’s way at the expense of his ego.
WHAT STORIES COULD LUCASFILM TELL?
There are so many aspects of Qi’ra’s life that are ripe for a novelization or comic. First, there’s her rise to power under Dryden Vos. In Solo, audiences see Qi’ra as a Corellian orphan and then not again until she’s a polished underworld mini-boss. There are several years of potential to mine there. We have no idea how long Qi’ra was entangled with the Crimson Dawn as a slave or how long it took before she became Vos’ property. How long did it take Qi’ra to use her charms on Dryden after he promoted her to the rank of criminal minion? When did she learn who the true power behind the Crimson Dawn was? What made her want to learn Teräs Käsi? How does she feel about the Jedi? The Sith? The Hutts?Then, of course, there’s her meteoric rise to power. Qi’ra becomes the face of the Crimson Dawn during one of the most volatile moments in the Star Wars universe. How does that affect how she runs her business? What is her relationship with Maul like? Once he meets his ultimate fate at the hands of Obi-Wan, what is the fallout? Does Qi’ra take over ease or is there a power struggle? Exactly how much of Han Solo’s “luck” can be attributed to his first girlfriend having a soft spot for him and threatening any who would take his life? That’s right, you heard me. I’m convinced Qi’ra at the very least helped finance and do reconnaissance for Luke’s little infiltration of Jabba the Hutt’s palace.Assuming she doesn’t die during any of the intrigues that surely beset the leader of a galaxy-spanning crime organization, there’s even a good possibility Qi’ra is still alive during the new films. What does a woman who survived the criminal underworld that long behave like? What view does she take of the galaxy? Is Qi’ra still a calculating pragmatist or did the decades sway her in one direction or another? Would Lando Calrissian reach out to her in the Resistance’s time of need? Or did the Dark Side leave its mark on her with each morally questionable choice?These are all questions worth answering.Lucasfilm has been doing fantastic things lately with their YA novelizations starring female characters. Ahsoka Tano, Jyn Erso, Rose Tico, and Padme Amidala have all gotten to star in their own all-ages stories. But, like Phasma before her, I feel Qi’ra is different. If Lucasfilm wants to use her as the opening salvo into the criminal underworld, it’d be easier to do it as an adult novel. Or, if they wanted to get crazy, a comic book showcasing the decadence of the ethically impaired instead of a quick drive-by in The Last Jedi.
What do you guys think? What parts of Qi’ra’s life would like to know more about? Let us know in the comments!
Qi’ra Is A ‘Star Wars’ Character Who Demands Future Adventures
By Donna Dickens/Aug. 24, 2018 8:00 am EST
(Welcome to A Different Point of View, a column where we explore the supporting characters of the Star Wars universe and discuss why they deserve more time in the spotlight.)Star Wars, at its core, is a family story about generations of the Skywalker family. Or, at least it used to be. But now that Lucasfilm is under the Disney umbrella, a wider audience is being exposed to the variety of stories that can exist in a galaxy far, far away. Those stories can include characters that would otherwise have been left in the background or as dangling plot threads never to be expanded upon. In this bi-weekly column, I’ll be choosing one Star Wars character to raise into the spotlight and make my case on why they deserve to stand on their own.For the inaugural column, I chose a woman that is so new to the Star Wars canon that she still has “New Character Smell.” Qi’ra. Like Madonna or Cher. She only has one name. Let’s dive in, shall we?
WHO IS SHE?
WHEN WAS SHE INTRODUCED?
Played by Emilia Clarke (Game of Thrones, Terminator: Genisys), Qi’ra made her grand entrance into the world in 2018’s Solo: A Star Wars Story. Ostensibly Han Solo’s first great love, and the template upon which he would base his attraction to future lovers, Qi’ra proved herself to be feisty, capable, and more than a touch coldly pragmatic. She is a true morally grey woman rising through grit, determination, and shoving her adorable boyfriend from street-rat high school out of harm’s way at the expense of his ego.
WHY SHE’S FASCINATING
WHAT STORIES COULD LUCASFILM TELL?
There are so many aspects of Qi’ra’s life that are ripe for a novelization or comic. First, there’s her rise to power under Dryden Vos. In Solo, audiences see Qi’ra as a Corellian orphan and then not again until she’s a polished underworld mini-boss. There are several years of potential to mine there. We have no idea how long Qi’ra was entangled with the Crimson Dawn as a slave or how long it took before she became Vos’ property. How long did it take Qi’ra to use her charms on Dryden after he promoted her to the rank of criminal minion? When did she learn who the true power behind the Crimson Dawn was? What made her want to learn Teräs Käsi? How does she feel about the Jedi? The Sith? The Hutts?Then, of course, there’s her meteoric rise to power. Qi’ra becomes the face of the Crimson Dawn during one of the most volatile moments in the Star Wars universe. How does that affect how she runs her business? What is her relationship with Maul like? Once he meets his ultimate fate at the hands of Obi-Wan, what is the fallout? Does Qi’ra take over ease or is there a power struggle? Exactly how much of Han Solo’s “luck” can be attributed to his first girlfriend having a soft spot for him and threatening any who would take his life? That’s right, you heard me. I’m convinced Qi’ra at the very least helped finance and do reconnaissance for Luke’s little infiltration of Jabba the Hutt’s palace.Assuming she doesn’t die during any of the intrigues that surely beset the leader of a galaxy-spanning crime organization, there’s even a good possibility Qi’ra is still alive during the new films. What does a woman who survived the criminal underworld that long behave like? What view does she take of the galaxy? Is Qi’ra still a calculating pragmatist or did the decades sway her in one direction or another? Would Lando Calrissian reach out to her in the Resistance’s time of need? Or did the Dark Side leave its mark on her with each morally questionable choice?These are all questions worth answering.Lucasfilm has been doing fantastic things lately with their YA novelizations starring female characters. Ahsoka Tano, Jyn Erso, Rose Tico, and Padme Amidala have all gotten to star in their own all-ages stories. But, like Phasma before her, I feel Qi’ra is different. If Lucasfilm wants to use her as the opening salvo into the criminal underworld, it’d be easier to do it as an adult novel. Or, if they wanted to get crazy, a comic book showcasing the decadence of the ethically impaired instead of a quick drive-by in The Last Jedi.
What do you guys think? What parts of Qi’ra’s life would like to know more about? Let us know in the comments!
What do you guys think? What parts of Qi’ra’s life would like to know more about? Let us know in the comments!
