The POTJ Shmi Skywalker figure packs all the fun of a middle aged woman with an AC powered calculator into an action figure.  If there is the Star Wars equivalent of a schoolmarm, this is it.  As much as the old men in dresses figures highlight the fact that there is a definite collector bias in this toy line, this figure declares it with heraldic trumpets. Can you even imagine a vintage Kenner style commercial for this figure?

Announcer:  From Hasbro’s Star Wars Power of the Jedi collection.  Action figures each sold separately.

Child acting out play pattern:  I’m Shmi Skywalker.  “Anakin, after you finish your homework, it’s time for your tubby.”

Second child with Anakin figure:  “Whoopee.  Bath time!”

First child with Jar Jar figure in alternate hand:  “Meesa go poodoo in sink because meesa so funny.”

The Prequel Trilogy insisted that the back story of our beloved characters be stripped to the bone.  In an example of not really understanding storytelling, we literally know details about Anakin down to the mitochondrial level.  The only question left open about the child who would become Darth Vader is whether it was Darth Plagueis or Darth Sidious influenced the midichlorians to create him.  If this has been answered in the Expanded Universe, I really don’t care.  We had to see the minutia of Anakin’s domestic upbringing.  So naturally we need a Shim Skywalker figure to recreate these exciting scenes. 

As I’ve just wasted two paragraphs to mock the decidedly non-action aspect of this figure, it doesn’t seem right to hold the limited articulation against it.  Once again, we have a figure with swivel hips that are essentially meaningless because of the plastic skirt.  The only points of articulation that can be truly engaged are the swivel shoulders, elbows, neck and waist.  This does allow the Shmi figure to fold the arms across its waist.  Ironically, the superior ball jointed elbows often cannot strike this pose because the bend of the elbow often stops at ninety degrees.  This is about the only pose that this figure needs to achieve and it does so nicely.

For that reason the detailing becomes important, and the figure succeeds in that department.  I think the head sculpt does well at depicting a concerned expression which captures the spirit of the character although it could be a little more aged.  The costume details are nicely represented.  A house frock isn’t exactly great fodder an eye catching display piece, but Hasbro does the best they can considering the source material.  If you don’t have Anakin’s mum in your display, it’s not going to suffer in the least.  The character does not demand a spot in your collection.  But if you have that wicked collector compulsion of “if they made a figure of the character, I want it”, the POTJ Shmi Skwalker figure certainly fulfills its role.  5 out of 10.