STAR WARS Has A Problem With Making Villains Who Die Like Punks Bad Ass
I've been reading the Star Wars expanded universe novel Phasma over the past couple days, and after making my way 2/3rds of the way through the book I've come to one conclusion...Phasma shouldn't, and couldn't have died like this:
One of the Scyre's fiercest warriors who has taken down numerous threats in her lifetime and been an expert of spear based combat since childhood was defeated by a comedic one-liner and a sucker punch? Also that armor is supposed to be wayyyyy more durable than Stormtrooper armor that shit isn't for show.
Of course, we don't know Phasma is actually dead, and judging how Star Wars has handled characters like this in the past, Phasma will live on through properties outside of the film universe. For example...:
The most fearsome bounty hunter in the galaxy ladies and gentlemen. Of course, expanded universe fans know Fett survived, although we're not entirely sure of that now that Disney has erased various parts of the canon.
Let's also not forget Darth Maul:
Sliced in half, has to be dead right? WRONG:
Was it awesome that Maul got an arc in Star Wars: Rebels? Absolutely. Once again though, why did they have to kill him, Fett, and Phasma in the most stupid way, and then immediately write backstories to justify how awesome these seemingly worthless film characters were? Especially when someone like Phasma, given what we know about her lore, would absolutely destroy Finn in a fight without question? At least give us a reason as to why Finn bested her beyond the fact that he said "Hey," and duped her into turning around!
Let's show some more respect to our Star Wars villains Lucasfilm, or at least, stop commissioning side stories that directly conflict with what is shown on screen. Is that too much to ask? BTW read Phasma if you haven't gotten the chance, it's incredible.