I love me some scene specific figures.  But I love them more when they’re also versatile.  Demise of Grievous satisfies the first, but fails at the second.

During the TSC run, there were several figures that were exclusives.  Some were available at retail, a few were online only, and still others were at conventions around the world.  This one was a Target exclusive.  It carried a premium price of $12.99.  For that amount of cash, you got a TSC quality figure, but with a clamshell package.  As we’ve stated several times, we’ll take a random character that would otherwise be a dud at mass retail and pay a premium for it if the alternative is that there was no chance to ever have it.  In this case, the added accessories to an existing mold of Grievous (along with a slight retool) are probably something that could have been offered as part of the main line.

This is a base mold that goes back to the sneak preview figure, and was most recently seen (in reference to this figure in 2006) during the Saga Collection run as TSC 030.  For the time, it wasn’t a bad figure, but Hasbro has struggled with designing an excellent Grievous in the 3.75” scale even through today.  This mold lacks ankles and wrists, and has only swivel elbows.  As such, it’s difficult to pose.  In fact, it’s tough to stand upright without tipping over.  At least the previous releases has the hard plastic cape that touched the ground and could act as additional support.

The base figure is retooled slightly.  First, it has holes instead of eyes, to accommodate the flame attachment.  Second, the armored forearms are new here and were sculpted to simulate some battle damage.  Otherwise, it’s nearly identical to what came before.  The paint details of the figure are as good, if not better, than previous.  But that is generally not as important because of the orange highlights that are intended to appear as the glow from the included flames.  It’s a pretty nice effect.

For accessories, this figure ditches the cape and lightsaber(s) from earlier versions, but keeps the blaster and electro staff (non electrified).  The real draw here are the two flame pieces.  The one around the body is actually not removable, even though it is loose and can be positioned around the torso.  The removable flame is for the eyes.  Pegs fit right into the eye sockets, and help replicate the moment when fire was shooting right out of Grievous’s eyes.

So besides the weak articulation, the problem with the figure is mainly that the body flames cannot be removed.  That definitely sticks this figure in a the moment of time after he is shot by Obi-Wan.  Therefore, he’s not at all versatile, and can’t work in other movie accurate scenes.  I was going to complain that he doesn’t come with an electrified staff, which he has in hand as Obi-Wan shoots him in the chest, but in rewatching Revenge of the Sith, it seems that there is no frame of film where the ignited staff is seen after getting shot.  He releases the staff instantly, and the next time we see it, it is unlit on the ground beside him.  Also, you can’t technically display the figure accurately in the moments before the flames shoot out of the eyes, because…he has no eyes.  Also, the glow effect painted on the body would make removing the torso flames a useless endeavor anyway.

Bottom line, this figure is good for a few seconds of screen time.  In that sense, it does its job well.  As an action figure, though, it’s definitely lacking.  I’ll give it a respectable 6 out of 10.  It’s definitely worth owning, but it’s also a bit disappointing, especially when it was offered at a high premium price.