Figures That Make Me Happy:  Toryn Farr

Stand by, ion control.
...
Fire.

If you're like me, you can close your eyes and hear those two short lines of dialog in your head with 100% phonographic fidelity.

Stand by, ion control.
...
Fire.

Two simple lines delivered with a stillness that belied the chaos unfolding around Echo Base. An overconfident Empire lay in wait orbiting Hoth, and celebrated their easy quarry which was fast approaching. But then a calm, cool, and collected Rebel communications officer gave the command:

Stand by, ion control.
...
Fire.

A capital ship disabled. A transport escapes. Euphoria.


I'm departing A New Hope for this week's "figure that makes me happy," but I'm not done with that source by a long shot. I'm also taking a left turn away from aliens and droids to highlight a secondary human character. In some ways, getting a secondary human character is more exciting than getting a figure of an exotic background alien, because there's an uphill battle that "boring human" character face when trying to crack the lineup. For example, there's a chance we could someday get a Yotts Oren figure, but I would stake my Sail Barge Yak Face that we will never see a figure of Galid.

I've always thought Toryn Farr was cool even when I was a wee pup watching The Empire Strikes Back. Brigitte Kahn delivers those few lines of dialog dispassionately and with military professionalism. This is why I'm so drawn to the character. I can promise you that today it would take a very confident director to allow the same performance in a tentpole movie. A lesser director would demand a spit-flying performance that sounded like Brian Johnson in For Those About to Rock. Think Kylo Ren when he orders the First Order forces to fire at Unky Luke on Crait. Kershner proved that underselling the tension of a situation can make a indelible impression on the audience.

The Vintage Collection going on hiatus in 2013 was a bitter loss for me, but finally getting a Toryn Farr figure was a consolation prize. It was one of the few 2013 Black Series 3.75" figures that I intended to also keep on card, but that plan was foiled by bubbles that refused to stay on their cards. I actually kept two Toryn Farr figures and both of them liberated themselves from the cardboard backing. Hasbro you owe me for this. Please find the right way to re-release Toryn Farr on a Vintage Collection card so I can finally have my carded sample (but be warned that it's not going to be a big seller).

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