Thank you to Hasbro and Litzky PR for providing this free sample.

This is the Vintage Collection Hasbro Pulse Con exclusive for 2021, which, at the time of this review, is upcoming this Friday, October the 22nd.  This set was official revealed this past July.  The response to the announcement was mixed, but not in the sense that some liked it and some didn’t.  The reaction was mixed on an individual level.  Everyone was at once excited about a Vintage Collection Emperor Palpatine finally being revealed, and with an included throne, but at the same time, they were concerned about the offering’s exclusivity status.  At times, “exclusive” can be a synonym for “inaccessible”, and that’s if you’re in one of the three countries with access to Hasbro Pulse where this will launch next Friday at 5 P.M. ET.  For international collectors, all I can say is that I feel for you.  The packaging has a bar code, so I guess there’s a hope it will show up at international brick and mortar, which I assume is a store named Chazwazers.  The Emperor’s Throne is an essential item for any collection, so I pray that everyone who wants this item will get access to it.

The set itself comes in what can best be described as a box with a slip cover over it. The box is surprisingly large considering the contents, but there’s a reason for that.  It’s not truly a box. Once the slip cover is removed, the contents unfold in a way that is reminiscent of a pop up book.  The two halves fold down to create a mini Death Star II diorama. Each wing even contain a graphic of the familiar “tulip” consoles. This is a neat unboxing experience, but I’d be hard pressed to actually use this in my display as a substitute DSII diorama.  I want the real thing, dagnabbit.  You typically only unbox once, so this feature is really a novelty, and not something that will take up permanent residence in your display.  There is a tray at the bottom of the display underneath the throne.  This contains the accessories, which are the cane, lightning hands, and Luke’s unlit lightsaber hilt. The previous two are the same accessories that come with the main line Emperor release (more later), but the hilt is new to this Pulse Con exclusive.  The hilt does not have the peg seen on the one that comes with the Endor Capture Luke, which is used to attach it to that figure’s belt.  It also does not have the flat top to the hilt that comes with the Light Saber Construction Luke.  I don’t recognize it from a previous release, so it may be unique to this Pulse Con Emperor’s Throne set, but I’m also terrible at identifying accessories, so maybe it’s not.

Emperor Palpatine (Neutral Expression)

I’m calling this a neutral expression because “bemused expression” doesn’t have quite the same ring.  In reality, the head is sculpted with a subtle smirk. It bears resemblance to a certain colloquialism that involves a grin and scatological mastication. This is the same figure as the main line VC200 - The Emperor, but with a different head sculpt.  For an in depth review, please consult that link.  The thumbnail is that I feel the sculpt is lacking due to poor interactivity with the cane, and unruly soft goods.  I gave the main line release a score of 7 out of 10.

I’m giving this Pulse Con exclusive release and extra point for an 8 out of 10 score.  There are a couple reasons for the extra point.  The first is that the neutral head sculpt offers more versatility over the anguished head sculpt of the main line release. The second reason is that I view this figure’s primary jobs as interacting with the throne, which it does passably.  It’s not a perfect fit.  I feel like the figure’s feet are a little too high off the ground in the “wee” position.  The old articulation arms also don’t allow this Emperor to lay its arms on the rests.  It’s a shame Hasbro couldn’t cost in modern arm sculpts for this figure.  It would have made a world of difference.  Despite these limitations, when placed on the throne, it’s not so jarring as to break the fantasy.  As mentioned earlier, it’s passable, hence the increase in score.

Emperor’s Throne And Window

The throne is the star of this set, but we will start with the window back drop.  It’s not going to blow you away as an amazing piece, but it is a nice display elevator.  The Emperor and throne in a vacuum isn’t that much of a compelling display, but adding the distinctive Death Star window and a star field as a backdrop really ramps up the display quality.  The star field is a two sided cardboard insert.  One side is a blank star field, and the other depicts the final space battle in Return of the Jedi.  The only issue is that I don’t think the battle unfolds in the window directly behind the throne.  Luke stares at the battle through the window off to the right.  The backdrop is held on with three clips which are attached via screws, so you will need a screwdriver to reverse the insert.  Hey Hasbro, if I wanted to use tools, I would have gone to trade school. I’m pretty sure I’m going to develop a callus over this.

I have nearly no complaints with the throne itself.  Nearly.  It would have been nice if it was sculpted so that Luke’s hilt could sit on the arm rest as it does in the movie.  As it is, there’s no practical way to have it stay in place.  As far as the throne’s role as a chair, it’s very chair-ey.  The Emperor can sit in it, and in it, the Emperor can sit.  What I mean is that the figure’s head easily fits under the throne’s overhang.  This is the accessory’s primary - and only - job, so it’s a win.  Additionally, Hasbro included the control panels to the inside and outside of the arm rests.  They are sculpted and feature multiple paint applications, which completes the aesthetic.  These two items are a 9 out of 10, with the one point deduction due to the aforementioned lack of interactivity with the saber hilt.