Are The Fan Channel Waves Introducing Too Many Duds Into The Line?

The bifurcation of the line into brick and mortar waves and fan channel waves is a great thing. Certain figures appeal to the hardcore collectors that shop Fan Channel, but they would be duds to the "casuals" who cruise the aisles of big box. Conversely, those casuals needs access to the core characters in order to draw them into the line. So, in concept, I feel that this is one of the best recent developments in the line. I don't think the brick and mortar overlords have always made the correct calls with regard to what they choose to reject. The Phase I Clone, Dooku, and the upcoming Snowtrooper are all supremely viable for Walmart and Target, but that's a subject for a different day.

Not only do I like the idea of Fan Channel, it has been a godsend this year. It's no secret that 2024 has been a downer for the Vintage Collection. It would have been even worse without these Fan Channel waves. FC figures such as the Phase I Clone Trooper, Count Dooku, Kanan Jarrus and Zeb, are among the best figures of the year. So far, separating the assortments is paying huge dividends by way of the aforementioned figures, but it's also bringing us some of the most truly uninspired offerings in the line.

As mentioned, main line in 2024 has been no prize pig. It has the infamous "fan favorite" Axe Woves, and the "different shoulder" Bo-Katan. While I could never muster an argument in favor of Axe, the Bo-Katan is somewhat justified. I know the fans grumbled at multiple Din Djarin figures, but they will play to the casual collectors. The duds in Fan Channel, however, are absolute groaners.

Exactly zero fans were asking for a third shot at Cassian Andor or another chance at Episode VII Finn, which enjoyed a 70 week residency in the Walmart clearance section during its previous release. While fans of Jedi Survivor might have some interest in an ISB Cal Kestis, the fact that it has the wrong rank badge makes it impossible to see as anything but a gratuitous tooling reuse. I think it all came to a head with the announcement of the repack of 2012's Aurra Sing. It's a figure without ankles and with fewer accessories than its initial release all while deleting many of the previous paint applications. It's a bitter pill to swallow.

I don't think these figures help the line at all. In fact, I think they damage TVC because I can't imagine any of them completely selling through without going on discount. It's in the name. "Fan" Channel. It shouldn't have figures that irritate those fans. That's like advertising a concert for Where's Fluffy, but when the lights go down, Are You Randy takes the stage instead. Tim says some of my references are really obscure, but I'm sure you've all seen Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist. Right?

As we all know, a repack doesn't take the place of a newly tooled figure. They are extras, or fillers, in the line. If they get nixed, nothing else will take their place (unless it's also a repack), but that's the point. Sometimes, nothing is better than duds that might someday be ticketed for Ollie's. Unless Hasbro is going to mine some of the Legacy Collection for repacks that would actually get fans excited, I say less is more. Instead of two Fan Channel waves a year, half of which are duds, perhaps we would be better off with one Fan Channel wave that is a home run from top to bottom.

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