[NPR] Diversity In Space: Tracking The First Asian Pilot In The Star Wars Movies

 

Lieutenant Telsij of Return of the Jedi is one of just a handful of Asian characters in the Star Wars film series. (Courtesy of Lucasfilm via NPR)

[NPR]

“There’s … too many of them,” a Y-wing pilot says as Imperial ships overwhelm the Rebel fleet in the climactic space battle in Return of the Jedi.

This scene is important because we’ve just learned that the Rebels have been lured to the forest moon Endor by the Emperor — it’s a trap! It’s also important for another reason: This is the first line spoken by an Asian character in the original Star Wars movies.

Later comes the final line spoken by an Asian character in those films: “I’m hit!” Then, a shower of sparks, and the cockpit bursts into flame faster than you can say “Jek Porkins.” Total time onscreen: approximately 4 seconds. (Brief, but enough to yield a Halloween costume idea, at least.)

So who is this Asian Rebel pilot? As it turns out, that’s kind of complicated.

[READ MORE]

Related Posts

• 

  [NPR] The Audacious Korean American Chef Who Mastered ‘Mission Chinese Food’
  [NPR] The Audacious Korean American Chef Who Mastered ‘Mission Chinese Food’
• 

  [NPR] Civil Rights At Issue In Korea, But Not The Korea You’d Expect
  [NPR] Civil Rights At Issue In Korea, But Not The Korea You’d Expect
• 

  Star Wars cast and director arrive in South Korea
  Star Wars cast and director arrive in South Korea
• 

  ‘Star Wars’ director J.J. Abrams, stars to visit S. Korea
  ‘Star Wars’ director J.J. Abrams, stars to visit S. Korea