Editor’s Note:  This review has been updated with our second look at TVC…

Original Review:  Bret- 2/8/2011 02:10 AM

Wave 4 is off to a magical start.  This figure is another win for the most part, and will probably be the definitive Zam Wessel for years.  I would have liked to see what they could have done with soft goods on this figure to give it a little more range of motion.  I also would have preferred that the binoculars (or trioculars) were molded into the helmet instead of an independent movable piece.  It does add an action feature, but it isn’t executed well.  It’s hard to get the viewer in position to recreate the movie scene accurately.  As such it adds little to the playability, but manages to detract from the aesthetic.  Only a one point deduction for this as this figure more than delivers and comes with a ton accessories to recreate several scenes. 9/10.

Updated Review: Bret - 5/28/18 07:05 AM

This holds up well, and is still a great figure.  The sculpt is excellent.  The paint is fairly complex, and applied well.  The skirt is a flexible plastic, but not soft enough to allow for a truly full range of motion, and can hinder a sitting position.  The sculpted detail in the skirt actually seems to be very similar to the style worn by the Kessel Guards in Solo, which we reviewed recently.  The articulation allows for a range of poses, and the figure is also well-balanced, despite the slightly non-neutral stance when at rest.  The swappable head sculpt is awesome, and is a huge upgrade from the original AOTC (Blue Saga) release.  This is loaded with accessories, although not everything is executed perfectly.  The trioculars can be placed in an upright or forward position, although not quite convincingly so, as indicated in the original review.  The helmet is removable (as are the trioculars).  Also, you get a veil to cover Zam’s face, or it can be unfastened and draped to one side, as she does while riding in her speeder.  These accessories work together in several combinations, including with either the human or Clawdite head sculpt.  The trioculars don’t work well with the veil in anything other than the upright position.  In addition to the headgear, Zam comes with a long sniper rifle and a pistol.  Both weapons can be held convincingly by the figure, and Zam can execute the THWG with the rifle, faithfully to the scene where she tries to kill Obi-Wan.  The pistol fits fairly well in the holster.  One other thing to note, this figure lacks the removable right arm (hacked off by Obi-Wan in the night club) that her predecessor has, but to add it might possibly have compromised the aesthetic or articulation.  I have no problem with the omission, but if Hasbro were to ever do something for this character, say 25 years from now, it might be worth a look.

The biggest problem with the figure is perhaps not actually blameworthy.  It doesn’t fit well inside Zam’s speeder cockpit.  The speeder design is a bit bizarre, and the cockpit can only accept the figure lying flat, which just looks silly.  It is unable to interact with the controls, or even look like it is actually flying the speeder, as opposed to just being a passenger along for the automated ride.  Zam’s Speeder from 2002 appears to be the inspiration behind the crashing action feature included in Solo’s M-68 Landspeeder.  It’s actually a better toy than the Solo speeder, because not only are their pieces that fly off, but the crashing mechanism can lock into place, allowing you to display the speeder with the smashed damage. 

I won’t hold it against the figure, as it was not designed to necessarily interact with the speeder, which debuted almost 9 years before the figure.

Verdict:  No Action 

Zam Wesell is a fantastic figure, but commands only a slight premium on Ebay.  This is the definitive version of Zam.  No need for Hasbro to revisit as either a resculpt or a repack.  If you’re a fan of great figures from the PT, check the link below and pick one up.

Verdict Guide:
Re-sculpt = The figure is not definitive, and a new version should be developed.
Re-issue = This version is definitive (or close enough), and shows sufficient secondary market demand to warrant a straight repack.
No Action = This release does not require new attention.