Star Wars introduced several new characters while bringing back familiar ones in 2023, leading to incredible stories throughout the year. While The Star Wars movies and TV shows generally receive the most attention and praise for their outstanding characters, the books, comics, and video games feature just as many compelling heroes and villains. From Jedi to Inquisitors, soldiers to admirals, all kinds of characters had a chance to shine in 2023 across every storytelling medium.
However, the year’s best characters were the most memorable for their growth, uniqueness, and faithfulness to source material for returning characters. Each character has a different motivation driving them, contrasting methods for achieving their goals, and distinct traits that keep viewers invested. 10 Star Wars characters embodied these traits the most throughout the year and deserve to be recognized as the best of 2023.
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10 Iskat Akaris/The Thirteenth Sister
Star Wars: Inquisitor – Rise Of The Red Blade
Iskat Akaris, the Thirteenth Sister, received a detailed backstory in Star Wars: Inquisitor – Rise of the Red Blade by Delilah S. Dawson, chronicling her fall to the dark side after Order 66. The novel brilliantly showcased her inner struggle as a member of the Jedi Order, following every teaching yet still feeling like an outcast. However, she discovers her talent for battle and believes that she could do more with greater freedom, leading to her inevitably joining the Inquisitorius. Iskat’s arc is a familiar Star Wars story but is told with breathtaking detail, making her highly relatable yet thoroughly terrifying.
9 Aau
Star Wars: Visions – Volume 2
The final episode of Star Wars: Visions season 2 introduced Aau, a young girl who rarely spoke but connected to the Force by singing. This was an incredibly fascinating exploration of the Force that had never been seen before, and Aau’s song was brought to life with stunning animation and brilliant sound design. With a curious nature and a good heart that made her want to help others, Aau was one of the year’s most likable and unique characters.
8 Ezra Bridger
Ahsoka
Ezra Bridger made his long-awaited return to Star Wars in Ahsoka, played perfectly by Eman Esfandi. The live-action Ezra perfectly captured the core traits of his animated counterpart while feeling like an older and wiser version of the character, and Esfandi has a joyous onscreen presence. Ahsoka brought Ezra back, made him an even better character, and brought him home to appear in future Star Wars projects.
7 Bo-Katan Kryze
The Mandalorian – Season 3
Bo-Katan Kryze arguably had the most compelling Star Wars character arc of 2023, ending The Mandalorian season 3 in a completely different place from where she started. The season began with Bo-Katan having given up after losing the Darksaber, only to gradually find hope again after working alongside Din Djarin. She even became a member of the Children of the Watch, the people she had once looked down on, later bringing two opposing clans together to retake Mandalore. Combined with superb action scenes and a strong performance from Katee Sackhoff, Bo-Katan’s journey was incredible in The Mandalorian season 3.
6 Cal Kestis
Star Wars Jedi: Survivor
Cal Kestis was a wonderful character in Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order and the developers made him even better in the sequel. His commitment to fighting the Empire and restoring the Jedi Order is admirable, especially after his closest allies chose a different path, and he remains a good man no matter what turns the story takes. Cal is often the group’s moral compass, leading to fascinating cutscenes between him and the antagonists, but he gains new wisdom throughout the game. His goals have changed by the end as he carries a new weight on his shoulders, adding complexity to an already great character.
5 Tech
Star Wars: The Bad Batch – Season 2
Because of his high intellect, Tech has always been the most emotionally distant member of the Bad Batch, which made his character arc the most fascinating in Star Wars: The Bad Batch season 2. His seeming lack of concern over Crosshair’s betrayal and Echo’s leaving put him into conflict with Omega, bringing him out of his shell and creating a surprisingly heartfelt bond between them. Tech continued to grow and express greater emotional intelligence throughout the season, making it heartbreaking when he chose to sacrifice himself to save the group. As tragic as this moment was, it was a compelling end to Tech’s journey throughout the show.
4 Avar Kriss
Star Wars: The High Republic – The Eye of Darkness
Jedi Master Avar Kriss only returned for one book in 2023 but played a crucial role in kicking off Phase III of Star Wars: The High Republic. Having gone off on her own for a year, she returns from Nihil space to bring hope to the galaxy while dealing with trauma and an old attachment to a fellow Jedi. Master Kriss is the High Republic era personified, embodying light, life, power, and synergy but with the danger of attachment threatening to cause a downfall. 2023 was the character’s best year yet, helping to get the next phase of The High Republic off to an emotionally satisfying start.
3 Grand Admiral Thrawn
Ahsoka
Ahsoka and the other Mandoverse shows successfully brought several animated Star Wars characters into live-action, but none were as faithful as Grand Admiral Thrawn. Lars Mikkelsen returned to play Thrawn in Ahsoka, making the character’s voice, mannerisms, and personality consistent with Star Wars Rebels. Thrawn manages to be intimidating without raising his voice or attacking another character, outsmarting his enemies through strategy and deduction. These traits were highlighted by Thrawn’s victory over the heroes, setting up his war with the New Republic in Dave Filoni’s Star Wars movie.
2 Bode Akuna
Star Wars Jedi: Survivor
Bode Akuna was the most shocking Star Wars character of 2023, with his villain reveal being the year’s most significant twist. Star Wars Jedi: Survivor committed to making Akuna Cal Kestis’ friend throughout the game, making his betrayal surprising and devastating. Rather than stop there, the game revealed that Akuna was a former Jedi who could mask his presence in the Force, making his actions especially unforgivable as the game title’s double meaning becomes clear. Driven to the dark side to save his daughter, Akuna’s death was one of 2023’s most tragic Star Wars moments.
1 Baylan Skoll
Ahsoka
Baylan Skoll was one of Ray Stevenson’s last performances before his death and will undoubtedly be remembered as one of the best of his career. Stevenson’s charisma, reserved nature, and physicality elevated a character that was already exceptionally written, making Baylan a perfect Star Wars villain. Baylan’s goals are highly intriguing, and his motivations are always understandable, yet he’s still a ruthless antagonist. Stevenson may not have had the chance to return for Ahsoka season 2, but fans will always be grateful for his role in season 1 and remember him as the best Star Wars character of 2023.
