Author Topic: Mike's 20 Most Memorable EU Moments
masterskywalker  6085 posts
Registered: Nov '01
23685_Anakin
Date Posted: 11/1/05 5:28pm Subject: RE: Mike's 20 Most Memorable EU Moments

2. Luke, Leia, and Anakin Solo destroy the Emperor (Dark Empire)

Dark Empire II I've always felt was unnecessary to the perfection of Dark Empire 1. The moment when Luke, Leia, and Anakin Solo team up to essentially use LOVE to destroy the Emperor is a favorite moment because you realize the Emperor is broken at this point. He can attack or return from the dead all he wants but the Skywalker family will be there to stop him for the rest of time. The Emperor only has his own evil to (literally) consume him while they have family to catch them when they fall.

grin

Bravo, and that will be the standard response to all "is Dark Empire canon?" debates from now on. grin

 

-----signature-----
Peace to corrupt, no less than war to waste.
Locked Topic | Active Topic Notification | Private Message | Post History
CooperTFN  4578 posts
Title: TF.n EU Staff Emeritus
Registered: Jul '99
6518_Tycho Celchu
Date Posted: 11/1/05 5:42pm Subject: RE: Mike's 20 Most Memorable EU Moments
You're supposed to be showering praise on my list. tongue

 

-----signature-----
Mike Cooper's Star Wars Blog
http://blogs.starwars.com/coopertfn
"Your tongues can't repel flavor of that magnitude!"
"NAKED TWI'LEK WITH LIGHTSABER = MONEY" - Ris_jSarek
"I bid you all Dark Greetings!"
Locked Topic | Active Topic Notification | Private Message | Post History
Charlemagne19  26812 posts
Registered: Jul '00
6408_Jedi Outcast
Date Posted: 11/1/05 5:44pm Subject: RE: Mike's 20 Most Memorable EU Moments
I liked the Palpatine getting the holo moment too.

:-)

 

Locked Topic | Active Topic Notification | Private Message | Post History
masterskywalker  6085 posts
Registered: Nov '01
23685_Anakin
Date Posted: 11/1/05 6:58pm Subject: RE: Mike's 20 Most Memorable EU Moments - Date Edited: 11/1/05 7:15pm (4 edits total) Edited By: masterskywalker
Funny, reading this list I realise how many of my own favorite EU moments aren't the "big scenes" everyone talks about, but the character driven, yet epic clashes that make Star Wars what it is.

Here's mine.

20: Boba Fett tells Zasm and Baddon to go to hell.

I never really got into Boba Fett's character until Dark Empire II. He always seemed to me to be a simple Imperal thug, skilled at killing but otherwise just a pawn. We forget this is how most viewed Boba Fett until the EU came along. Here, Boba Fett runs afoul with his "benefactors", and dispite being "helpless" against these powerful darksiders. Boba Fett, a normal man like you or me, looks these titans in the eye and reverses the classic saying...

"Imperial Scum."

And then blows his way through a dozen stormtroopers.

I never doubted Fett's coolness from there on. He was his own man, and no one told him what to do.

19: Tahiri and Anakin, starcrossed lovers.

I'm not a "super" big mushy romance guy, but I can certainly be touched if the writing is sincere. This was it. Two kids who grew up together, shared the same dreams, who found each other and loved truly in the little time they had. Seeing Anakin risk all to save her when he had just realised how much she really meant to her, and her subsequent torture, had me furiously reading to see if the brave knight would reach the maiden in time. He did, and I love Star Wars all the more for it.


18: The Battle of Coruscant.

This one had it all. Tens of thousands of ships, hundreds of thousands of fighters chewing away at each other for the fate of the galaxy's capital. Not only that, we got a vicious commando assault and a desperate ground battle thrown in as well. No other battle has matched it in scope, diversity or intensity. The heroes lost, but had actually sown the seed of victory. Coruscant was the Stalingrad of the war against the Vong.

17: Anakin Skywalker's hero montage.

Bad mouth the Clone Wars cartoon all you want, it lives up to its reputation for a reason. This simple scene said it all. After his knighting at Yoda's hands, Anakin isn't just another "special" Jedi, he's a legend. He can win any battle, in space, or on the ground, beating opponents "normal" Jedi don't have a prayer against, and saving the day as a true hero.

16: Revan and Malak's duel.

Master against apprentice, friend against friend. The dialog here was so good I had it in my sig for a while. The setting was perfect too, you were once a Jedi, and once a Sith. The moment has come, can you finally attone for what you've done?

15: Luke and Kam butcher the darkside elite.

Make no mistake, the Jedi Knights are back. This was it, the rebirth of the Jedi Knights. The greatest Stormtrooper unit in the galaxy, armed with the deadliest weapons and imbued with the darkside verses two Jedi Knights and a handful of tribesmen. Poor saps, they don't have a prayer.

14: Luke at Shimmra's palace.

Here it was, the big payoff. The scene that silenced all the NJO doubts and haters of how Luke had been potrayed. Battling through twenty floors of Yuuzhan Vong, his blade acting as twenty, he then takes on the slayers. The meanest mofos the Vong could field. He then has a duel against a near equal, something which Luke arguably hadn't done since his fight with Emperor Palpatine, and won. Extra kudos for using his nephew's blade along with his own. As I posted, Luke with two sabers just rocks, and it meant Anakin was there in spirit.

13: Luke vs Emperor Palpatine.

Good verses evil in all its glory. Luke continues his father's mission, destroying evil in all its forms in possibly the best lightsaber duel ever given the number of pannels. Luke shows his power against the greatest evil the galaxy had ever known, and slew it, just like his father did.

12: Han kidnaps Leia.

I just loved this. Han is such a big galute it makes perfect sense. Come on, you know it couldn't have happened any other way. The dashing pirate made off with the princess with half the fleet after them and wins her heart. See? Told you I can be a romantic.

11: Jan Orrs dies.

Note I didn't put that in quotes. When this moment happen in Jedi Outcast, I was sold. I was going to KILL Dessan for what he did. Screw his little tragic upbringing and screw his Dathomir woman. When Kyle was taunted mercilessly by Tavion, and he finally beat her, I WANTED Kyle to kill her. I was out of my chair, "come on Kyle! Do it! DO IT!" Nothing could express my relief when I found out she was alive.

9: Anakin Solo's death.

No, it wasn't pointless. I felt it then and I felt it now. Anakin Solo died a hero, for those he loved, doing something that mattered. He died a good death, and made his enemies pay for every step they took. It was expertly written, exciting, sad and moving.

8: Obi Wan vs Durge, Knight of the Old Republic.

Obi Wan is not one of my all time favorite characters, but he does have his moments when he simply shines. This is one such moment. We get to see first hand why Obi Wan was regaurded as one of the finest Jedi Knights of his age. The whole concept of speeder bike jousting was perfect, and the ground fighting between the brawler Durge and the elegant Obi Wan was perfectly contrasted. Obi Wan is a gymnast

7: Attack of the Clones.

The nearly dialogless first special operation of the ARC troopers cartoon showed why the Republic put its faith in the program to begin with. Having a group of raw Jango Fetts is an absolute terror, and dispite their low numbers, they're able to tear through superior resistence in a matter of minutes. The Republic Commandos have their own unique style, but here I was sold on the idea that a few million clones made the difference in a galactic war.

6: Anakin Skywalker vs Durge.

Here was, in the EU, the definative proof that Anakin Skywalker was every bit the great warrior Yoda said he was. Durge was a regenerating physchopath who had killed dozens if not hundreds of Jedi and soldiers in his life, many of them "Old Republic-class". While his killing of Count Dooku made him a legend, his destruction of Durge proved Anakin could roll with the best of them. He did what he had to do to win, totatlly in character. Anakin's arrogance had to be justified for his fall to make sense, he HAD to be better than everyone else in most ways. I gave up a cheer when old trasher talker Durge could do nothing but gurgle a cry of fear at his firey fate. A fitting end to one who had taken so many noble lives.

5: The mission to Adumar.

What wasn't great about this mission? Strange cultures, romance, action, and enough humor to warm even the most jaded cynic's heart. This showed beyond a doubt you don't need Jedi to write a great Star Wars story.

4: Darth Vader vs the Dark Woman.

At long last, seeing an actual Vader-Jedi hunt in full force. Vader shows here not only his insane power, but his idealogical differences with the Jedi. In fact, he seems to make his point by beating the Dark Woman around like a steel drum. His prey is no pushover, but the outcome is never in doubt. Make no mistake, the darkside can give great power. While the uppity Jedi may have gotten the last word, the final little dagger twist on her grave was a nice touch; crushing the life out of the flower which symbolised the Jedi.

3: Darth Vader vs Darth Maul.

One word answered all the questions we ever wanted to know about Darth Vader. That's in addition to perhaps the best choreographed lightsaber fight in Star Wars comic.

"What... could you possibly hate enough to destroy me?"

"Myself."

2: Atris left to her fate.

I really did hate Atris. From the moment I met her, I saw through her neat and tidy little view of the world. I was at first shocked the goody two shoes was in fact the traitor who sold the Jedi down the river, but her maliace against the Exile was a clear hint of this. The ultimate devotee to the Jedi Code wanted to execute him, and hated the Exhile because he was all she could never be. Seeing the manipulator, the dirty little hypocrite getting her come uppance at the hands of the Sith spirits she fawned over was too sweet for words. The Exhile was NOT a Jedi according to the old ways, and this option I felt, showed it the best. It reminded me of Batman Begins, "I won't kill you... but I DON'T have to save you."

1: Revealations at the Dantooine Academy.

This was a scene, so simple, disturbing, chilling, emotional, and thrilling I was nearly in tears at the end. Here was where it all came together. The Jedi have become as bad as the Sith, they have lost their way. You are a wound in the very fabric of the force. Traya has left to try to kill the force itself. Everyone you love is now in peril. Nothing makes sense anymore, nothing is simple anymore, yet good and evil still exist. Everything, the music, the dialog, what happenes to the Jedi Council, and what Traya does to you are perfect.

"I... I believe in the force! Don't do this!"

You are a pawn, yet everything depends on you. You can't count on your heroes. They won't always come through and save you. So what do you do? You become a hero. The Exhile stayed true to what he believed, true to himself, and had the power to act of his own free will, and that carried him through. That touched me in a way no other EU has because it was a personal experience more than anything else.

*Bonus*

I changed this because it really counts as a movie moment. We typically only see one side of the conversation between our lovable narrators. It was a treat when in Enemy Lines, we FINALLY got to see what a little sass bucket R2 was. Fantastic.

"I can't really explain the feelings that this stirred up in me. I suspect that it probably hit something very personal and buried so deep that I don't know why it affected me that much."

It's the same with me and my #1. I can't explain why it affects me so much, it just does. happy

 

-----signature-----
Peace to corrupt, no less than war to waste.
Locked Topic | Active Topic Notification | Private Message | Post History
Excellence  24488 posts
Registered: Jul '02
6338_New Republic Seal
Date Posted: 11/1/05 10:53pm Subject: RE: Mike's 20 Most Memorable EU Moments

That Adumar mission rocked, I admit.

 

-----signature-----
Rock-a-by baby, on the treetop,
Beaming with pride, the filth they hold,
But when the wind blows, my temper implodes,
High above a pit, filled with sharkticons,
Down will come hardcover addicts, beaming no more. ©
Locked Topic | Active Topic Notification | Private Message | Post History
Excellence  24488 posts
Registered: Jul '02
6338_New Republic Seal
Date Posted: 11/2/05 3:07am Subject: RE: Mike's 20 Most Memorable EU Moments - Date Edited: 11/2/05 3:14am (2 edits total) Edited By: Excellence

Argh, horrible typo above! Can a mod add "didn't"? cry

This is exactly what Dark Horse should do: hardcover a book like the upcoming Art of George Martin's Song of Ice and Fire, famous people and places and events, Star Wars style. Not the Vader-forsaken movie locales again, but iconic moments of EU in art. I'm predicting this child in three years time, at least. Only not 20 moments of history, but 150. wink

 

-----signature-----
Rock-a-by baby, on the treetop,
Beaming with pride, the filth they hold,
But when the wind blows, my temper implodes,
High above a pit, filled with sharkticons,
Down will come hardcover addicts, beaming no more. ©
Locked Topic | Active Topic Notification | Private Message | Post History
Tam_Elgrin  4205 posts
Registered: May '04
46300_Ahsoka Tano (3164)
Date Posted: 11/2/05 10:32am Subject: RE: Mike's 20 Most Memorable EU Moments
Sigged, Ex, sigged.

 

-----signature-----
hey, who turned out the lights?
Locked Topic | Active Topic Notification | Private Message | Post History
Rogue1-and-a-half  22151 posts
Title: Manager: Amphitheatre
Registered: Nov '00
16485_Wedge Antilles
Date Posted: 11/2/05 2:09pm Subject: RE: Mike's 20 Most Memorable EU Moments
Excellence posted:

Argh, horrible typo above! Can a mod add "didn't"? cry

This is exactly what Dark Horse should do: hardcover a book like the upcoming Art of George Martin's Song of Ice and Fire, famous people and places and events, Star Wars style. Not the Vader-forsaken movie locales again, but iconic moments of EU in art. I'm predicting this child in three years time, at least. Only not 20 moments of history, but 150. wink


Ah, now this would be fun! grin

I have my twenty chosen, as well as, just for fun, five of the worst EU moments. I'll start posting them tomorrow. So watch for that, all you maniacs!

You especially, Excellence! tongue

 

-----signature-----
Don't be a fool, don't be blind
Heart of mine
If you can't do the time, don't do the crime
Heart of mine
Locked Topic | Active Topic Notification | Private Message | Post History
LAJ_FETT  28370 posts
Title:
•Tech Admin, Collecting
• CCG/TCG Boardgames

Registered: May '02
6218_Boba Fett
Date Posted: 11/2/05 2:22pm Subject: RE: Mike's 20 Most Memorable EU Moments
I definitely agree with #6. Last One Standing Is one of my favorite Fett stories.

 

-----signature-----
BF - 'Bounty Hunter Wars':
"Don't be an idiot. Or at least not any more of one than you have to be."
"All that matters is my life and my business."
"I do the things I'm good at, and for which I get paid the best."
http://www.lajfett.yolasite.com
Locked Topic | Active Topic Notification | Private Message | Post History
RK_Striker_JK_5  20142 posts
Registered: Jul '03
49046_Tenel Ka (81109)
Date Posted: 11/2/05 2:23pm Subject: RE: Mike's 20 Most Memorable EU Moments
Good lists, all. I think I'll get a list of my own together, if it's all right.

 

-----signature-----
E-married to the wonderful DarthIshtar. Now also her Padawan.
Member of the Y.J.K. Revolution
Staring into the Darkness
http://boards.theforce.net/beyond_the_saga/b10477/27537567/p1/?23
Locked Topic | Active Topic Notification | Private Message | Post History
Rogue1-and-a-half  22151 posts
Title: Manager: Amphitheatre
Registered: Nov '00
16485_Wedge Antilles
Date Posted: 11/2/05 2:37pm Subject: RE: Mike's 20 Most Memorable EU Moments
Okay, I decided to go ahead and start mine. I'm starting with one of my bottom five and then I'll do some of the top twenty and then another bottom one, etc. So, this should break up the monotony or something. tongue

Here's my pick for one of the bottom five EU moments of all time:

5. That Ol’ Sinking Feeling . . . – Dark Tide I: Onslaught – Michael Stackpole

The NJO is off and running. Vector Prime has whetted everyone’s appetite, but it is in this, the first paperback novel, that we will really get a feel for things. It is solid, workmanlike, hardly of the genius Stackpole showed in his original X-Wing works, but hardly disappointing.

And then, near the climax, Corran Horn and Ganner face off with some of the enemy in an attempt to rescue some slaves. Corran takes a poisonous spear to the head or somewhere equally vulnerable and as he fades into darkness, he is overcome with a sensation of weightlessness and of rising into the air.

Yes, Corran Horn dies. Again. Apparently there were some who were shocked by this. I was not among them. Horn dies in Wedge’s Gamble and is resurrected, Horn dies in The Bacta War and is resurrected, Horn dies in Isard’s Revenge and is resurrected. Talk about sucking all the suspense out of a character. Mike, if you ever really do kill this guy off, I will personally eat the final chapter of Onslaught.

Of course, he survives. The sensation of rising? Well, turns out Ganner is hoisting him up into the ship. Yeah, that works. Or it would have, had this guy not died and been resurrected three times already. Please, let it go.

So, the NJO is going to shake off all the old clichés, they said. And then Stackpole said, “Well, not all of them . . .”

 

-----signature-----
Don't be a fool, don't be blind
Heart of mine
If you can't do the time, don't do the crime
Heart of mine
Locked Topic | Active Topic Notification | Private Message | Post History
Charlemagne19  26812 posts
Registered: Jul '00
6408_Jedi Outcast
Date Posted: 11/2/05 2:49pm Subject: RE: Mike's 20 Most Memorable EU Moments
Spiffy!

 

Locked Topic | Active Topic Notification | Private Message | Post History
Bodknocks_  509 posts
Registered: Apr '04
14709_Luke's Hand
Date Posted: 11/2/05 6:25pm Subject: RE: Mike's 20 Most Memorable EU Moments
Not a bad list, CooperTFN. I'm glad to see you appreciate the Han/Yoda dialogue in the ANH Infinities as much as I do. grin

 

-----signature-----
http://boards.theforce.net/Board.aspx?brd=10417 -- The Hoosier Alliance
"Believe me, buddy, if I were you, I'd go right up there and ask her if she wants to ride on my rancor."
-- Han to Luke
Recipient of Thrawn McEwok's Twin Twi'lek Masseuses™
Locked Topic | Active Topic Notification | Private Message | Post History
Jediflyer  7235 posts
Registered: Dec '01
6475_Corran Horn
Date Posted: 11/2/05 7:52pm Subject: RE: Mike's 20 Most Memorable EU Moments
While I don't have the time or the will to make a top 20 list and explain it, I would like to offer up a few momements for consideration:

The Rancor Keeper's Story from Tales from Jabba's Palace:

It's not really a moment, but that story has always stayed with me. The way it manages to take this extremely insignificant character in ROTJ who cries in the background when the rancor dies and give him backstory and a dream to escape simply struck a cord with me.

Death of Ton Phanen in X-Wing: Solo Command

I can't remember the details off the top of my head, but it really hit hard. The great thing about Aaron Alliston is that he would create such great characters. You almost felt like you were loosing a friend.

In addition to those two, I would like to second Anikan Solo's death, Ganner's Stand, Corran Horn's return from the dead, Grand Admiral Thrawn's death, and the whole books of Rouge Squadron, Wraith Squadron, and Starfighters of Adumar.

 

-----signature-----
As long as the differences and diversities of mankind exist, democracy must allow for compromise, for accommodation, and for the recognition of differences. -Eugene McCarthy
There are no dialogues, only intersecting monologues -Mark Twain
Locked Topic | Active Topic Notification | Private Message | Post History
Excellence  24488 posts
Registered: Jul '02
6338_New Republic Seal
Date Posted: 11/2/05 9:33pm Subject: RE: Mike's 20 Most Memorable EU Moments

Malakili the rancor keeper was in Emissaries to Malastare too! love

 

-----signature-----
Rock-a-by baby, on the treetop,
Beaming with pride, the filth they hold,
But when the wind blows, my temper implodes,
High above a pit, filled with sharkticons,
Down will come hardcover addicts, beaming no more. ©
Locked Topic | Active Topic Notification | Private Message | Post History