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Crimson Dawn Syndicate

A ruthless and rising power in the galactic underworld during the last days of the Clone Wars. It has connections to the Empire and Pyke Syndicate, but is routinely raided by the Cloud-Riders swoop gang. The organization disappeared sometime before the Battle of Yavin, but reemerged soon after the Battle of Hoth under the leadership of Qi'ra.

Expy: The name sounds like a ripoff of Black Sun. Given that Maul used to be in charge of Black Sun and is revealed to be the leader of Crimson Dawn, with both being in the Shadow Collective prior to their official disbandment during the Siege of Mandalore, this might be on purpose. And just like Black Sun played a large role in the storylines set between The Empire Strikes Back and Return of the Jedi in Legends, Crimson Dawn is heavily involved in that same period.
Gold Makes Everything Shiny: A lot of the decor on the First Light is gold, demonstrating the syndicate's power and wealth.
Light Is Not Good: Their mobile headquarters, a fancy star yacht, has a bright interior and is called the First Light.
N.G.O. Superpower: The Crimson Dawn apparently gets along with the Empire quite well. Dryden Vos can kill a local governor and seemingly get away with it. However, by Crimson Reign, they are no longer allies.
Rape, Pillage, and Burn: They were cruel bands of pillagers who used to cut out the tongues of the people who resisted against them before structuring into a crime syndicate.
Resignations Not Accepted: According to the words of Dryden Vos, "Once you're part of Crimson Dawn, you can't leave."
Sigil Spam: The Crimson Dawn seem to like putting their logo on things...or people. Some of their employees wear jewellery with the symbol or, like Qi'ra, have the symbol branded onto their skin. The logo itself seems to be designed after an Inquisitor lightsaber.
The Syndicate: They appear to be a powerful criminal organization that can negotiate on equal footing with the Pyke syndicate.

Leadership

Crimson Dawn Syndicate Leader - SPOILERS

Maul

See Darth Maul

Dryden Vos

"You'll spend the rest of your life looking over your shoulder."

Species: Near-Human

Portrayed by: Paul Bettany

Appearances: The Clone Wars | Crimson Climb | Solo

"Once you're part of Crimson Dawn, you can't leave."

An emerging crime lord who serves as the public face of the ruthless Crimson Dawn syndicate. He hires Tobias Beckett to pull off thefts of coaxium for him.

Affably Evil: He plays the role of the concerned boss quite well. He may even mean it, even though he has the shortest of fuses.
Authority Equals Asskicking: He's the boss of the local Crimson Dawn chapter, and is a master of Teräs Käsi, which Qi'ra learned from him. And which Dryden likely learned from Maul.
Ax-Crazy: Vos tries to hide it under a polite demeanor, but he is a homicidal maniac always on the verge of exploding.
Bad Boss: He doesn't take failure very well, to say the least.
Base on Wheels: He's not based in a particular system. His headquarters/palace/yacht, the First Light, is a tower-shaped spaceship that he uses to travel from planet to planet.
Big Bad: The head of the Crimson Dawn Syndicate, who sends Han and Beckett on the Kessel job under threat of death.
The Cameo: Appears in the seventh season of Star Wars: The Clone Wars as a hologram alongside members of Black Sun and the Pykes speaking with Maul.
Canon Immigrant: His species, which is the same as Naare from LEGO Star Wars: The Freemaker Adventures.
Cat Folk: Was originally supposed to look like a mountain lion.
Collector of the Strange: His stateroom has a lot of weird curios in it. Stolen idols, urn containing the ashes of a former Republic Chancellor, crystal skulls...
The Corrupter: Seemingly one to Qi'ra. Whatever employment she did under Dryden contributed to becoming her power-hungry Femme Fatale and eventually turns against her First Love Han to serve her own interests.
The Don: He's an intimidating crime lord in charge of the Crimson Dawn, although he isn't quite the leader.
The Dragon: He makes it clear from the beginning there's someone even higher up in the Crimson Dawn that he answers to. It turns out he's this to Maul.
Dual Wielding: He uses two gold plated vibro-daggers.
Establishing Character Moment: Vos is introduced personally killing an Imperial regional governor, to demonstrate his power, impunity and propensity for violence. Then he almost immediately goes into "suave gracious host" mode to greet Qi'ra, Beckett and Han, showing that he likes to consider himself a Man of Wealth and Taste.
Et Tu, Brute?: His reaction upon learning Qi'ra has betrayed him is reminiscent of this, suggesting he actually genuinely liked her.
Even Evil Has Loved Ones: Though his "relationship" with Qi'ra is filled with disturbing undertones, his care for her, however twisted, appears genuine. He calls her the person he trusts most in the world, and he's tearful when he learns of her betrayal, practically begging her to give him a reason why he should let her live and he is caught off-guard when she turns on him in the film's climax.
Even Evil Has Standards: As bad as he is, he's unwilling to risk an all out war with other factions.
Evil Brit: He speaks with a pronounced English accent and is not what you'd call a model citizen.
Exotic Entree: He offers Han some colo claw fish aboard the First Light; colo claw fish are giant sea monsters found in the deep oceans of Naboo, where few dare to venture.
Faux Affably Evil: At first, he can appear quite charming and even disarmingly polite, querying after the wellbeing of his employees but at the turn of a word, he turns impatient, violent and ruthless. Even his polite charm only serves to make him more creepy, as you never know when he'll decide to turn it off and just kill you.
Hair of Gold, Heart of Gold: Inverted like hell. He's blond and a bastard.
Hair-Trigger Temper: It really doesn't take much to set him off.
The Heavy: Though he has a superior he answers to in the Crimson Dawn, he's the one driving the plot.
Hoist by His Own Petard: He ends up killed by his most trusted agent with one of his own vibro-daggers.
Horrible Judge of Character: In regards to Qi'ra. He puts far too much trust in her and her loyalty to him, ultimately leading to his downfall.
Human Aliens: Supplemental material confirms that he's of a near-human species, not that it shows. Becomes more distinct after his death, when his skin rapidly changes color.
Impaled with Extreme Prejudice: Qi'ra impales him in the chest with one of his own vibro-daggers, on the edge of her own sword.
Large and in Charge: He's a crime lord and played by the 6'3" Paul Bettany.
Man of Wealth and Taste: Vos prefers to surround himself in luxury, living and traveling in a very imposing and extravagant tower-shaped spaceship.
One Head Taller: Than his lieutenant, Qi'ra. He's around 6'2" or 6'3", a full foot taller than Qi'ra.
One-Steve Limit: An aversion, shares his last name with the Jedi Master Quinlan Vos.
Pet the Dog: When they first meet, he takes a liking in Han Solo for having managed to escape his scrumrat life and for being a bold and ambitious young scoundrel. Vos is also willing to give Beckett a second chance to bring him the coaxium he demands thanks to Han's interesting plan and Qi'ra's effective mediation.
Psychopathic Manchild: He flips out like a little kid throwing a temper tantrum whenever he gets slightly upset.
Red Right Hand: His face is streaked with scars. After he dies, his skin turns a blueish gray and his scars go from red to black. He also has one long, sharp fingernail on his right thumb.
Red Eyes, Take Warning: When he gets upset his scars grow more vivid and his eyes turn red.
Rubber-Forehead Aliens: The fact that his scars and eyes change color (as well as his claw-like thumbs) are about the only thing that mark him as an alien.
Serkis Folk: Was originally supposed to be played by Michael Kenneth Williams as a motion capture Humanoid Alien. When he had to be recast, they made Vos look human.
Ship Tease: With Qi'ra, although it comes off as rather creepy and one-sided. There's never any explicit reference to them being in a relationship, but his behaviour towards her does make it seem his interest in her is more than professional. He is very hands-on with her and even somewhat possessive. He talks to her in an affectionate manner, such as calling her "my dear", says she's the person he trusts most in the world and that he doesn't know what he'd do if anything were to happen to her; Qi'ra also says he was the one who taught her Teräs Käsi. When he learns that she betrayed him, he's certainly angry, but he also seems genuinely upset and tries to give her a chance to prove her loyalty to him so he won't have to dispose of her.
Unwitting Instigator of Doom: Vos ends up being the instigator of his own doom. Teaching Qi'ra Teräs Käsi enables her to defeat and kill him in the climax of Solo.
You Owe Me: Implied to be the case with Qi'ra. When Han questions her about her loyalty to Vos, Qi'ra simply says that Vos "helped [her] out of a bad situation". The novelization and comic adaptation indicate that Vos offered her a place as his right-hand woman, which was comparatively better than being a petty criminal or a slave.

Qi'ra

Lady Qi'ra

"I might be the only person who knows what you really are."

Species: Human

Homeworld: Corellia

Portrayed by: Emilia Clarke

Voiced by: Olivia Hack (Forces of Destiny)

"You're after something. Is it revenge? Money? Or is it something else?"

The ex-girlfriend of Han Solo and a top enforcer in the Crimson Dawn syndicate, Qi'ra and Han grew up together in the slums of Corellia, dreaming of one day escaping their miserable homeworld to travel the galaxy. Tragically separated just before they could fulfill that dream, their lives took drastically different trajectories, but the embers of their past romance remained...

The '80s: According to the film's costume designers, teenage Qi'ra's look was inspired by this era, particularly Blondie and new wave music. The over-sized jacket and skirt with leggings does have a particularly 80s vibe to it.
Absence Makes the Heart Go Yonder: Played with. After Han fled Corellia three years ago - reluctantly leaving her behind – she still has feelings for him, but seems unsure about rekindling their relationship, citing her commitment to the Crimson Dawn and the fact Han doesn't really know her anymore. She ultimately chooses to abandon him, prioritizing her own ambitions above her affections for him.
Affably Evil: Qi'ra generally seems like quite a nice young lady...as long as you're not in her way. But you don't get to be the right-hand woman of a ruthless crime lord by being nice. See also Anti-Villain.
Aloof Darkhaired Girl: More so after the Time Skip. She maintains an air of cool sophistication much of the time, though she occasionally lowers her guard to show a more playful side (usually around Han).
Alternate Character Interpretation: She's subject to this In-universe post Time Skip (as well as out-of-universe). Beckett views her as a manipulative, two-faced Femme Fatale who cares about her own survival first and foremost. Han thinks she's still the sweet, adventurous girl he grew up with on Corellia, Trapped in Villainy against her will. Vos sees her as his loyal and dependable lieutenant, pulled from the slums of Corellia and shaped into a deadly weapon for him to use. The only person who really knows Qi'ra's true nature is Qi'ra herself.
Ambadassador: Much like Leia, Qi'ra takes on a diplomatic role, albeit unofficially. She prefers talking and solutions that don't lead to death, but is capable of holding her own should it come to combat.
Ambiguous Criminal History: It's insinuated that she's done many illegal and unsavory things during her work with the Crimson Dawn syndicate, to the point she thinks her childhood sweetheart Han (who isn't exactly a model citizen himself) would instantly reject her if he knew about her record. She never goes into specifics, but it's definitely worse than picking pockets and stealing coaxium, given the Crimson Dawn are known for doing things like cutting out the tongues of those who oppose them, her boss likes stabbing people who displease him, and his boss is ex-Sith Lord Darth Maul.
Ambiguously Evil: For most of Solo, it's not entirely clear where Qi'ra's true loyalties lie or who she's going to side with. By the end of the movie she chooses to stay a member of Crimson Dawn and lies in her report to Maul to cover up her and Han's role in Dryden's death. It remains ambiguous whether she wanted to leave with Han and felt she had to stay to keep them both safe from Crimson Dawn's retribution or if she wanted to stay a member of Crimson Dawn and was willing to take advantage of her position to protect Han.
Ambition Is Evil: Her primary villainous trait is her unrelenting desire to get to the top, no matter who she has to step on along the way. This directly leads her to abandon Han to take control of the Crimson Dawn.
Anti-Villain: For much of the film, she seems to be a Nominal Villain; although she works directly under Vos, she is quite friendly and never does anything very overtly villainous onscreen. However, it's strongly implied she has done some pretty horrible things to get where she is and she's revealed to care for her own ambition and survival above all else in the end. That all said, she later organizes a massive conspiracy to destroy the Sith, and while her intentions and means of achieving this are tinged in selfishness, she does seem to consider them an evil that must be purged and she was still fairly affable throughout this.
Apologetic Attacker: She apologizes to Han after disarming him and holding him at swordpoint.
Authority Equals Asskicking: She's a lieutenant in a cut-throat criminal syndicate and she has the fighting skills to back it up.
Badass Cape: She dons a long, red and black one on Kessel, as part of her slaver disguise.
Badass Normal: Come War of The Bounty Hunters, Qi'ra has shown that Maul has trained her well enough for her to wield Electro-Swords with enough proficiency for Darth Vader to take note of her skill despite her not being Force-Sensitive. However, as he points out it's ultimately not enough for her to be able to able match Vader in a one-on-one fight.
Be Careful What You Wish For: One of Qi'ra's childhood dreams was flying all over the galaxy. As an adult she gets her wish, but only as part of her job with a criminal syndicate.
Being Evil Sucks: Implied. Qi'ra occasionally expresses some shame in the things she's done, though to what extent is unclear, and in the end her expression as she leaves Han to report to Maul appears to indicate some regret. Given the kind of guy Maul is, it's a surprise things worked out as well as they did for her.
Big Ol' Eyebrows: She has thick, expressive eyebrows, courtesy of Emilia Clarke.
Bitch in Sheep's Clothing: By the time she reappears in Han's life, her charming and friendly facade hides a more devious and calculating nature, even though deep down she still cares for Han. It's enough to convince him she's the same girl he grew up with, even though she herself warns him she's changed and not for the better.
Bitch Understudy: A possible interpretation of her is that she's this to Vos, though it's not entirely clear if she was always planning on betraying him.
Blatant Lies:
- When she tells Han she'll be right behind him in the end. The moment he leaves, she contacts Maul and then flies off to report to him, leaving Han behind.
- Her claim about what happened aboard the First Light to Maul zig-zags this, as some of it is actually true in a roundabout way: Beckett did betray Dryden and steal the coaxium. She doesn't witness his death so she can technically claim he took it and flew off. Dryden also was killed by a friend and a thief he tasked with stealing the coaxium...it just wasn't Beckett. Her claim that she "wasn't there" when Dryden was killed is straight up Blatant Lies though.
Brainy Brunette: Not so much in terms of books, but from the beginning she is shown to be quick-witted, Street Smart and good at manipulating people or events to favor her. Dryden also tends to rely on her for advice.
Break Her Heart to Save Her: When she and Leia meet she tells her that one of the reasons she left Han was because she was heading down a path that would have corrupted him, and she felt that Han still had the potential to be a hero.
Broken Bird: While she appears much more lighthearted in her earlier scenes, she's become decidedly hardened and more cynical by the time that she and Han reunite.
The Bus Came Back: Following the end of Solo, it was unknown what became of Qi'ra. She reappears in War of the Bounty Hunters about thirteen years in-universe after she was last seen, still leading Crimson Dawn following Maul's demise and the events of The Empire Strikes Back.
Character Development: She starts out as a relatively innocent and quick-witted Street Urchin who just wants to live a free life with her boyfriend. By the main timeline of Solo, she's a much more ruthless and ambitious gangster who will go to almost any lengths to survive.
Childhood Friend Romance: She has one with Han on Corellia; they grew up together and begin a romantic relationship in their late teens.
Chronic Backstabbing Disorder: She begins the film by backstabbing Lady Proxima to run off with Han. She later seemingly betrays Han to Dryden, betrays Dryden to Han, then betrays Han for real by taking control of the Crimson Dawn instead of starting a new life with him, while also pinning Dryden's death and the stolen coaxium on Beckett (though in fairness, he screwed her and Han over first).
Combat Pragmatist: She's quite willing to use trickery, backstabbing and other underhanded tactics to win a fight. This may be justified in that she's a rather small woman (around 5'2") who lives in some pretty rough areas and regularly deals with very dangerous people.
Combat Stilettos: She wears boots with heels during the Kessel heist and the climatic duel with Dryden Vos, which are no detriment to her combat abilities.
Conflicting Loyalty: As the film progresses, Qi'ra becomes increasingly torn between her loyalty to Vos and the Crimson Dawn, and her love for childhood sweetheart Han Solo, especially in the third act when Han and Vos's goals start to diverge. In the end she chooses Crimson Dawn (eventually), though she kills Vos and frames Beckett to protect Han.
The Consigliere: Acts as one to Dryden, trying to smooth over tense situations to work out a good deal for everyone and providing him with advice. At one point, he even says she's the person he trusts the most in the galaxy.
Consummate Liar: She's adept at deception, with only Beckett seeing her as untrustworthy. If it weren't for Beckett, Dryden may have continued to believe she was still completely loyal to him and even then he still trusts her enough to lower his guard around her, which proves to be his undoing. In the span of about ten minutes, she convinces Han she'll be right behind him before confidently telling one lie after another to Maul and getting away with it (Maul does seem a little suspicious, but accepts her version of events for the time being).
Conveniently an Orphan: Like Han, she grew up on the streets and has no family to speak of.
Corrupt the Cutie: She seems like a genuinely sweet girl at the start, who puts herself between Han and a blaster, dreams of gaining the freedom to explore the galaxy, and urges Han to leave her behind when she gets caught so he at least will be free. During the events of the three year Time Skip, she has been thoroughly broken by her harsh life and is now a hardened criminal who mainly looks out for number one.
Cool Sword: Wields two rapier-style Electro-Swords that house tiny thermal detonators in the hilt and can connect into a double-bladed weapon in War of The Bounty Hunters.
Cynicism Catalyst: Her Thwarted Escape from Corellia was apparently this for her, as she became much more ruthless in order to survive; she's also given up her old dream of flying off into the stars with Han, dismissing it as an impossible fantasy.
Damsel out of Distress:
- A rather dark example. Early in the film, the last we see of Qi'ra is her being dragged off by the White Worms gang, with Han vowing to return and save her. Three years later, however, Han learns Qi'ra Took a Level in Badass and made her own way off of Corellia, though just how she achieved this is all but stated to be pretty sordid. As mentioned under The One Who Made It Out, it's also debatable as to how 'free' she actually is.
- On one occasion, Qi'ra is captured by Hondo Ohnaka and IG-88 on Ord Mantell and not only manages to pick her handcuffs to free herself, but also manipulates the two bounty hunters into turning on each other before capturing them to claim the bounties on their heads.
Dark Action Girl: She's one of Dryden's top lieutenants and can more than hold her own in a fight. She practices a martial art called Teräs Käsi, and she's proficient with swords, which she uses to defeat Vos in one-on-one combat in the film's climax. In War of the Bounty Hunters she implies that Maul taught her, actually goes up against Darth Vader and puts up a decent fight; even he admits her skills are impressive, though she's still outmatched by him (as he lampshades when he immediately comments that he'd almost regret killing her. Almost).
Dark and Troubled Past: Besides being an orphan forced to work as a thief for most of her childhood, it's strongly implied that Qi'ra did a lot of morally questionable things in order to get to her high-ranking position in Crimson Dawn. Beckett warns Han not to trust her, Vos says that Han has no idea of what she's done in the past three years since they were separated and Qi'ra herself says that she doesn't want to tell Han about what she did, because she's afraid he'll reject her for it.
Dating Catwoman: Han's relationship with her is practically this, but clearly, not even Qi'ra will let love get in the way of her own ambitions.
Deceased Fall-Guy Gambit: When she reports to Maul at the end of the movie, she blames Vos's death entirely on Beckett, who has been killed by Han.
Decomposite Character: She shares several traits with Bria Tharen from The Han Solo Trilogy. Like Bria, she is an Old Flame to Han Solo before he met Leia, who is involved in the criminal underworld and whose eventual betrayal of Han contributes to his Cynicism Catalyst. Unlike Bria, though, Qi'ra has no involvement with the Rebel Alliance unless one counts her letting Han sell the coaxium to the Cloud Riders, with that aspect of Bria's character seemingly being taken up by Rogue One's Jyn Erso.
Derailing Love Interests: Part of the movie focuses on the eventual ship sinking between her and Han.
Distaff Counterpart: Her backstory shares some surprising similarities to Darth Vader's. Both grew up in slavery on planets that served as the asshole of the galaxy, eventually managed to escape said slavery, and betray their closest friend to become The Dragon to a Sith Lord.
Doomed by Canon: Although she's not necessarily completely screwed, Qi'ra's relationship with Han is doomed, as Han is apparently single by the events of the original trilogy and eventually gets with Leia. Qi'ra survives the events of Solo, but she sacrifices her relationship with Han to take Vos's place as head of the Crimson Dawn crime syndicate. Eventually, and after Maul's death, she became the leader of Crimson Dawn by the time of War of the Bounty Hunters. However, seeing as she's made an enemy of Boba Fett for stealing Han Solo while frozen in carbonite, things aren't looking good for her. She manages to survive, however, and hears of the defeat of the Empire in quiet obscurity.
The Dragon: After being taken away (one could easily say "saved") from Corellia by Dryden Vos, she became his right hand woman.
Dragon Ascendant: After Vos's death, she becomes the public face of Crimson Dawn, only being commanded by Maul. After Maul's death in Rebels, however, she became the leader of Crimson Dawn, with no one commanding her from the shadows.
Driven to Villainy: At the beginning of Solo, Qi'ra isn't a bad person and even after becoming Vos's lieutenant, she doesn't go out of her way to be malicious and is quite amicable much of the time. It's strongly indicated her villainous acts were initially committed out of a sense of self-preservation; she had a horrible upbringing on Corellia and likely saw joining the Crimson Dawn as a way out of her predicament. She outright tells Han at one point that "Everyone serves someone else", in which case, she is determined to serve someone closer to the top of that pecking order to ensure her own survival.
Even Evil Has Loved Ones: She seems to be more 'amoral' than really 'evil', but either way she has a definite soft spot for Han. She almost seems like her old self around him and admits that he is her "weakness". She even kills Vos to save him and seems genuinely saddened when she betrays and abandons him. Han himself still loves her and actively pursues her throughout the film. Of course, Han seemingly doesn't realise the full extent of her crimes and Qi'ra believes he wouldn't love her anymore if he did know.
Evil Brit: She has a British accent and is a backstabbing Smug Snake.
Eviler than Thou: Qi'ra is so obsessed with being on top and her own self interests, that she'll outpace any bad guy who gets in the way. She ends up topping Hondo and IG-88, and takes out Dryden Vos, but she ends up on the other end of this trope when she's intimidated by Maul.
The Face: She serves as this for Beckett's crew during the coaxium heist on Kessel, demonstrating herself to be a skilled negotiator and manipulator.
Face–Heel Turn: She goes from being a moral love interest into a power-hungry Femme Fatale, who willingly sides with Maul in the end.
False Soulmate: To Han. They're very much in love as teenagers on Corellia and share a dream of escaping the planet and travelling the galaxy together. Even after being separated for three years, Han never stopped loving her or trying to find ways to get back to her. By the time they meet again, however, Qi'ra has changed quite a bit and has different priorities, though Han doesn't see it (or refuses to). In the end Qi'ra abandons Han to pursue a career in the Crimson Dawn; even before that their relationship was on the rocks, as Han initially assumed she was the one who betrayed him to Vos, while she was potentially willing to kill him to save herself. Interestingly, as mentioned under Foil below, Qi'ra shares some traits with Leia, Han's Second Love (and future wife).
Fanservice Pack: Not that she was unattractive before (seeing as she's played by Emilia Clarke), but when we first meet Qi'ra she has a rather modest and scruffy style, befitting her current lifestyle. When we first see her after the Time Skip, she's better groomed and wearing a much more revealing Little Black Dress.
Fatal Flaw: Her need to be 'free' and in control above all else, regardless of the effect on others and even at the expense of those she cares for. She's hinted to have done some pretty nasty things to secure her position and will betray people who trust her in a heartbeat if she thinks someone else can offer her a better deal. In the end she quite willingly sides with Crimson Dawn and pledges her allegiance to Maul, despite knowing of their atrocities and having the chance to start a different life with Han. Ironically, her choice means she will likely never be truly free as she desperately wants and it may very well prove to be a 'fatal' flaw, as Maul does not sound pleased by how things have turned out. Subsequently, it also means few people are willing to trust her and she is left with a rapidly shrinking pool of allies.
Femme Fatale: She's described as such in pre-release material and in the movie Beckett warns Han not to trust her. She's an attractive and flirtatious young woman, who frequently charms her way around people to serve her own interests, although her exact loyalties and motivations are unclear for much of the film. Beckett's concerns are partially right; while she ultimately saves Han's life over Dryden's, Qi'ra pursues her own self-interests above all else and leaves Han behind. Lawrence Kasdan stated that he drew inspiration for the character from Kathie Moffat, who is one of the Trope Codifiers for the Femme Fatale.
Emilia Clarke: "She has a couple of guises, but essentially she is just fighting to stay alive. If you've got a really glamorous lady in a really sordid environment, you kind of know the glamor is hiding a few rough roads."
First Love: She was the first love in Han's life, years before he met Leia.
Foil: To Leia, the woman who would later become Han’s wife. Both Qi’ra and Leia are skilled negotiators who prefer words rather than violence but aren’t afraid to get their hands dirty if they have to. Both hold a huge influence in their respective organizations. Both are also connected to a Sith Lord (Leia is Darth Vader’s daughter, while Qi’ra is Maul’s top lieutenant). But while Leia hailed from a royalty family on Alderaan, Qi’ra grew up in the slums of Corellia. Leia uses her charisma to inspire loyalty and hope for others, while Qi’ra uses hers to manipulate others into doing what she wants or provide a false sense of security to her targets before stabbing them in the back. Leia also starts out cold toward Han when they first met but warms up and eventually falls in love with him throughout their adventures, while Qi’ra starts out being Han’s lover whom he cared very much about, but circumstances eventually force them apart. Qi'ra's new lifestyle trumps over her personal attachment to Han, and she chooses to embrace her new life rather than run away with him.
For Want Of A Nail: If she'd managed to get past the checkpoint on Corellia along with Han, her life might've turned out very differently, as would several events in Solo (given that one of the main reasons Han was looking for work with the Crimson Dawn in the first place was to get his own ship and come back to Corellia for her).
From Nobody to Nightmare: She goes from an orphaned street kid to the right-hand woman of a feared crime lord and eventually takes over the syndicate herself.
Girly Bruiser: Qi'ra has quite a feminine dress sense, even wearing high heels, jewelry and make-up on missions (and in advertising for Solo, she's heavily associated with pink and purple). She's also pretty badass and not afraid to get her hands dirty.
Good Girl Gone Bad: She started out as a kind-hearted orphan but goes through enough crap that she ends up a manipulative and self-serving Femme Fatale.
Had to Be Sharp: Growing up an orphan in the worst parts of Corellia, she had to learn to be quick-witted and pragmatic in order to survive. She insinuates that the only reason she lasted so long with the Crimson Dawn is because she became willing to do whatever was necessary to 'stay in the game', leaving little room for things like sentimentality and friendship.
Happy Place: She tells Han that to keep her spirits up she'd imagine herself flying across the galaxy with him like they used to talk about on Corellia.
"Smile. That's the word. Whenever I imagined myself off with you on some adventure, it always made me smile."
Hated Hometown: She is eager to escape from Coronet City and by extension Corellia in its entirety, and laughs along with Dryden when he refers to her homeplanet as a "putrid sewer". Considering what her life was like there, one can hardly blame her.
Heel–Face Revolving Door: She changes her allegiance several times in the movie, most of them in the span of 10 minutes. One moment she betrays Han, and then she sides with him, only to turn on him again to side with Maul.
He Is Not My Boyfriend: Played with. When she introduces Han to her boss, she makes a point of telling Dryden that she and Han "grew up together on Corellia", leaving out the part where they were lovers who once planned to run away together. Dryden eventually figures out that they have romantic feelings for each other, telling Qi'ra that Han is her "weakness" and tries to get her to kill him as a show of loyalty after Han double-crosses him.
Heroic Sacrifice: To an extent. At the start of the film, Qi'ra gets caught while trying to escape from Corellia and begs Han to run for it, knowing there's nothing he can do and not wanting him to be caught too.
High-Heel–Face Turn: Zig-Zagged. She clearly still has romantic feelings for Han and turns on Vos to save him...but she ultimately leaves him behind to secure her own position as a crime boss rather than join him to start a new life.
I Am Very British: Especially when voiced by Olivia Hack (in Forces of Destiny).
I Did What I Had to Do:
- Tells Han that she did what she had to do to survive after leaving Corellia. She doesn't elaborate in the movie but the novelization mentioned she killed guards while trying to escape Dryden.
- After killing Dryden Vos, she states "I had to do it". It's unclear whether she's trying to reassure Han, herself, or possibly both.
I Just Want to Be Free: In the beginning of the movie, she excitedly talks about how once she and Han escape Corellia, they'll never be controlled by anyone again. And if that means betraying Han so she can be the one in control, then that's what it takes. Ironically, by becoming the new leader of the Crimson Dawn, she now answers directly to Maul, which means she can never be free again for as long as he lives. However, she ends up outliving Maul and her leadership position seemingly has no more strings attached.
Improbable Age: Qi'ra is one of the highest-ranking lieutenants in Crimson Dawn by the time she's in her early twenties and was eighteen, at the youngest, when she joined the organization. It makes you wonder just what the hell she did to rise through the ranks that quickly.
Innocent Blue Eyes: She has big blue eyes that give her a veneer of demureness and innocence, but she's actually anything but.
Insecure Love Interest: She has shades of being one towards Han after they're reunited. Because of all the awful things she did while working for Crimson Dawn, she thinks Han wouldn't love her anymore if he knew the truth and that he's too good a person for someone like her. It's partly because of this that she's reluctant to pick up where they left off and it's further implied this part of the reason she leaves him in the end.
Han: Nothing's gonna change the way I'm looking at you right now...
Qi'ra: You don't know that, you don't know what I've done...[Han kisses her]
In the Back: How she takes down Quay Tolsite during the Kessel heist.
Irony: She tells Han she knows he's actually not a bad person deep down, but her treatment of him is implied to be one of the reasons Han Took a Level in Jerkass to become a ruthless smuggler.
It's All About Me: Although she does display some altruistic behavior throughout Solo, she's primarily concerned with her own interests first and foremost. This is likely due to being raised in the dog-eat-dog slums of Coronet City; after losing Han she had no one who truly cared about her and had to rely entirely on herself to get by.
"It's what we learned on the street, Han; someone falls, you keep running. It's how you stay alive."
Just a Gangster: Han repeatedly suggests she leave Crimson Dawn and start a new life with him, but she seems reluctant, also hinting that she cannot just up and leave because of Vos. After she kills Vos, she gives Han the impression she's going to take him up on his offer...but it turns out she was lying to get him out of the way before cozying up to Maul to secure her position.
Klingon Promotion: At the end of Solo, she kills Vos and is given his job by Maul. However, she doesn't let slip that she killed Vos, instead framing Beckett for it.
Lady in a Power Suit: She wears a black pantsuit in the climax of Solo, where she kills Vos and takes his place as head of the syndicate.
Lady of War: She's a Dark Action Girl who usually has a cool and collected demeanour and dresses quite elegantly.
Laser-Guided Karma: She's done a lot of bad things, and after betraying Han for the last time, she finds herself forced into submission by Maul. However, she ended up outliving him and became Crimson Dawn's new boss.
Little Black Dress: She is seen wearing one while at Dryden's mobile palace, a rare case of "Earth clothing" in Star Wars.
Love-Interest Traitor: Downplayed. While she does abandon Han at the end to become leader of the Crimson Dawn, she never directly antagonizes him and even lies to protect him from her new boss, Maul.
Love Is a Weakness: She seems to believe this by the end, agreeing with Vos' assessment that Han is her weakness. This likely factors into her decision to ditch Han to secure her position in Crimson Dawn.
Made a Slave: The novelization reveals that around a year after her failed escape attempt, Lady Proxima sold Qi'ra to a slave dealer named Sarkin Enneb, who later sold her to Dryden Vos. Of course, under Lady Proxima she wasn't much more than a slave, either.
Makeup Is Evil: She tends to wear heavier make-up after joining the Crimson Dawn.
Manipulative Bitch: Qi'ra can be very persuasive when she wants to and is good at charming her way around people to get what she wants. See also Femme Fatale.
Meaningful Name: Qi'ra is pronounced the same as Kira, which can be a variation of the Irish name Kiara/Ciara, meaning "dark-haired" or "little dark one". Kira is also possibly the feminine Russian form of the Greek name Cyrus, meaning "ruler" - both of these meanings seem quite appropriate for Qi'ra, a short, morally ambiguous brunette who helps run a crime syndicate. Additionally, her name is potentially a Shout-Out to Akira Kurosawa.
Ms. Fanservice: She is made for this trope due to being a very beautiful woman. Considering the fact that she is portrayed by Emilia Clarke, it’s unsurprising that she qualifies as this. Several of her outfits have low necklines or are very form-fitting; special mention should go to her Little Black Dress, which shows off a fair bit of skin.
My Nayme Is: Her name is pronounced "Kira", but spelled "Qi'ra".
Mythology Gag: She borrows traits from Bria Tharen from The Han Solo Trilogy.
Near-Villain Victory: A rare Anti-Hero example of this trope, she nearly has defeated Emperor Palpatine and Darth Vader by trapping them in the Fermata Cage on the Amaxine Station via tricking them into thinking there's a Sith Lord trapped inside, and was almost on her way to defeat the Empire. However, the Knights of Ren ruined it by firing upon the cage and freeing the Sith Lords from their prison in order to become servants to them. Palpatine even notes this upon being freed.
Emperor Palpatine: Oh, Qi'ra...so close...and yet '''SO FAR'''.
Noble Top Enforcer: Has shades of this role towards Dryden Vos. It's downplayed in the sense that she still goes along with his crimes and her primary goal is helping herself, but Qi'ra comes across as a lot more benevolent and a lot less Ax-Crazy than Dryden. This is most clearly demonstrated in the scene where Han and Beckett pitch the Kessel heist to Dryden; Qi'ra makes efforts to soothe her boss' anger over the crew's previous failure and suggests ideas to make the heist a viable plan. When it comes down to it, she also kills Dryden over Han, although she doesn't leave Crimson Dawn either.
Noodle Incident: Whatever it was she did to become Vos's most trusted lieutenant in just three years.
Nothing Is Scarier:
- We never find out what Lady Proxima did to Qi'ra after catching her trying to escape, but it probably wasn't pleasant. According to the novelization, she eventually sold her to a slave dealer, which was how she met Dryden Vos.
- As mentioned under Noodle Incident, we don't find out the details of what she did to survive and earn Vos' favor during the Time Skip, but it's telling that both Qi'ra and Vos himself think Han would be shocked if he knew.
Not Me This Time: In the climax, when Dryden reveals he knows about Han double-crossing him, Han initially assumes Qi'ra told him. However, she's just as shocked as him and it's soon revealed that it was Beckett who snitched on him.
Number Two: Dryden Vos calls her his "top lieutenant"; in the film itself we see her accompanying him to meetings to act as The Consigliere and going on the Kessel heist at his command to ensure it goes smoothly. She appears to have a lot of influence within the Crimson Dawn especially considering she is known to Maul, the overarching leader, and is able to assume Vos' position with little fuss.
Official Couple: With Han at the beginning of Solo. They get back together in the middle of the film, but we know it won't last.
Oh, Crap!:
- Her reaction when Han tries driving their landspeeder sideways through a narrow alley to escape the White Worms; she correctly predicts they won't fit.
- Has a subtle yet noticeable moment of this at the end, when Maul ignites his lightsaber in front of her and tells her they'll be "working much more closely from now on". There's another layer to this: The idea we get from Han in A New Hope is that the galaxy considers Force users, who as far as they knew were all Jedi, to be extinct at the end of the Clone Wars (to the point that some believe them to be a myth), Qi'ra herself being no exception. So when she finds out her boss is a Force-user, but almost certainly the complete opposite of a Jedi, it's pretty clear that it's most certainly not a "hokey religion" and she's trapped in that world forever.
Old Flame: She was Han Solo's first love before they were unfortunately separated, and the two of them reconnected by accident three years later.
One Degree of Separation: She's casual acquaintances with Hondo and IG-88, she's a childhood friend of Han's and meets Chewbacca and Lando, and becomes The Dragon to Maul. War of the Bounty Hunters also reveals she encounters Boba Fett, she having temporarily stolen the frozen Han Solo from him and even added Ren and the Knights of Ren to her roster. ^note
One Head Shorter: Than her boss, Dryden Vos. At 5'2", Qi'ra is a foot shorter than Vos, barely coming up to his shoulder even when she's in heels.
The One Who Made It Out: Subverted. When she and Han meet for the first time since his escape from Corellia, he asks her how she made it out. She replies "I didn't". It's heavily implied she 'got out' by pledging her services to Dryden Vos and is clearly under his command now. She may be better off now than she was in the slums of Corellia, but she isn't free.
Only Friend: She appeared to be Han's only companion as they were growing up on Corellia, in addition to being his First Love. He later makes other friends like Chewbacca and Lando and finds out the hard way that Qi'ra is no longer someone he can trust.
Only One Name: Her name is just Qi'ra. This is presumably because she's an orphaned scrumrat, the same as Han.
Opportunistic Bastard: Qi'ra tends to side with whoever she thinks will offer her the best chance of survival and prosperity. Notably she chooses to install herself as Maul's new lieutenant after betraying and killing Dryden Vos.
Orphan's Ordeal: Qi'ra had a rough upbringing on the streets of Coronet City, turning to crime in order to survive. Han was apparently her only real friend during this time and after they're separated, she has no one.
Outlaw Couple: With Han on Corellia, with the two mostly carrying out scams and petty thievery for the White Worms and eventually making a break for it with stolen coaxium. They also briefly become this again for the coaxium heist on Kessel.
Out of the Frying Pan: At the end of Solo, she's killed Dryden Vos... only for Maul, who's much worse in every regard than Vos could ever hope to be, to promptly summon her to Dathomir.
Pet the Dog:
- Even though she betrays Han to serve Maul at the end, she puts all of the blame for the climax on Beckett and allows Han to get away scot-free.
- She takes the opportunity to slip Han back his lucky dice on Kessel...by punching him in the stomach.
- She ultimately lets Han give the coaxium to the Cloud Riders, even though keeping it to hand over to Maul would probably be better for her.
Pint-Sized Powerhouse: Rather like Leia, Qi'ra is only about 5'2" but can still kick ass when she has to.
Pre-Asskicking One-Liner: "It's what I was taught. Find your opponent's weakness and use it. And today...I'm your's".
Pretty in Mink: She wears a fur stole when she goes to meet Lando and some of her jackets are lined with fur on the inside. May overlap with Fur and Loathing, considering she's The Dragon and a Femme Fatale, though at this point in the film, she's pretty amicable. And she does look very fabulous in it.
Punctuation Shaker: Her name has an apostrophe dropped in the middle of it, although it doesn't seem to affect the pronunciation (it's pronounced the same as "Kira").
The Queenpin: By the end of Solo, she's become the new head of the Crimson Dawn, though she's not quite the true leader as she answers directly to Maul. It's played completely straight by the events of War of the Bounty Hunter; Maul is long-dead by this point and Qi'ra is fully in command of the organization.
Rags to Riches: During the three year time skip, she goes from an impoverished scrumrat trying to survive the slums of Corellia, to living the high-life on a fancy star yacht. However, it's clear she's paid a heavy price for her wealth.
Rank Up:
- At the end of Most Wanted, she gets promoted to Head Girl in the White Worms gang.
- During the three year time skip in Solo, she manages to become Dryden Vos's most trusted lieutenant in the Crimson Dawn. And then at the end of the film, she gets herself promoted to Vos's old job, serving directly under Maul, the head of the syndicate.
- After Maul's death in Rebels, she is now at the top of the syndicate's chain of command.
Recruited from the Gutter: Dryden Vos more or less 'saved' her from a life of poverty in Corellia's slums and gave her a high-ranking position within the Crimson Dawn. As a result, she is loyal to him and his syndicate until she sees an opportunity to take his place, that is. Previously, Lady Proxima also reminded Qi'ra that she "pulled [her] out of" the Silo, a particularly dire part of Coronet City where she'd been living prior to being recruited by the White Worms.
Recurring Element: She's the fifth white brunette female lead in the series, and the third of those to be portrayed by a British actress. She's also the third lead main character to have only one name, after Rey and Finn.
Red Eyes, Take Warning: While she doesn't have them herself, the glow of Maul's saber in the hologram reflects on her eyes, giving them a red color. She's also now become the new leader of Crimson Dawn.
Redemption Rejection: Han extends an offer for her to join him to start a new life, but she refuses out of her lust for power. It's also possible she believes she's done too much to give up her position now.
Red Herring Mole: It's implied that she is secretly reporting the activities of Beckett's crew to Dryden, given her loyalty to him and the fact he sends her to Kessel specifically to keep an eye on things. However, in the climax it's revealed that Beckett was actually The Mole all along, while Qi'ra herself apparently intended to keep quiet about Han teaming up with the Cloud Riders.
Restraining Bolt: In the novelization, L3 says she must have some kind of psychological one that causes her to go back to Dryden Vos even though he sent her to Kessel unsupervised.
Saved by Canon: The War of the Bounty Hunters comic confirms she outlived Maul, as she's still alive and running the Crimson Dawn around the time of The Empire Strikes Back.
Savvy Guy, Energetic Girl: Gender-flipped version; she's the sharp-witted, pragmatic Savvy Girl to the upbeat and headstrong Han's Energetic Guy.
Say My Name: When she's captured by Proxima's goons, Han desperately screams her name as she's dragged away, while she begs him to run.
Sci-Fi Bob Haircut: Her initial hairstyle, though it's a bit softer and messier than most examples. By the time she meets Han again, she's grown her hair out.
Screw This, I'm Outta Here: Despite having worked her way up to 'Head Girl' in the White Worms gang (quite a high position), she despises her life with them and attempts to escape with Han.
Sexy Backless Outfit: Her black party dress.
Sexy Slit Dress: Her black party dress has splits that show a bit of her nice legs.
Shadow Archetype: She and Han are quite similar in many ways, the main difference being that Qi'ra actively embraces all Han's worst traits while downplaying his positive qualities, namely greed, self-centeredness, disloyalty, cynicism and ruthlessness. She represents the kind of person Han could potentially have become if he didn't decide to help his friends and the Rebellion over his own self-interests. While Han eventually comes to believe in the Rebels' cause and fights to free the galaxy from tyranny, Qi'ra believes there's only 'the game', in which the objective is merely to stay in it as long as possible through whatever means necessary. She gives up freedom for power, usually only helps others if there's something in it for her and - most crucially - believes she cannot change and is stuck in this life forever.
She Cleans Up Nicely: Holy Ashla does she look nice at Dryden's cocktail party.
She-Fu: When taking out Quay Tolsite and during her fight with Han and Vos, she does a few acrobatic flips and spins. This may be justified in that she practices Teräs Käsi, a martial art specifically tailored to fighting Jedi.
Shoot Your Mate: After Vos catches her lying to him about Han's intentions she herself suggests killing Han to prove her loyalty to him. However, due to the subsequent events, we don't actually see if she would really have gone through with it to save her own skin, and she actually ends up killing Vos instead.
Shout-Out: Her name seems to derived from that of Akira Kurosawa, a major influence on George Lucas during the making of Star Wars (it's pronounced the same as Kira, just spelt differently). Kira was also Rey's name in the original script for The Force Awakens.
Single Woman Seeks Good Man: She all but states this is the reason she loves Han; despite his attempts to come off as a scoundrel, she sees that he's really a courageous, loyal and goodhearted person despite everything that's happened to him. Unfortunately, it's precisely because of this she also thinks they can't be together anymore.
Significant Wardrobe Shift: At the beginning when she's a street thief on Corellia, she's wearing a slightly scruffy outfit not unlike what a teenage girl on Earth might wear. Three years later, after she's joined the Crimson Dawn, she's better groomed and wears more elegant and expensive-looking gowns and pantsuits, showing how she has changed to move up in the world from her lowly beginnings.
Silly Rabbit, Idealism Is for Kids!: Has shades of this following the Time Skip, although it's not just growing up that made her cynical. This is used to contrast her against the more idealistic Han, although she's never unnecessarily harsh about his outlook.
Han Solo: We're gonna win.
Qi'ra: It's not that kind of game, Han. The object is not to win, but to stay in it as long as you can.
Slave Brand: She has the Crimson Dawn symbol iron-branded on her arm and the back of her neck.
Smug Snake: Her lust for power makes her confident enough to eventually put herself in service to Darth Maul, after getting Vos out of the way. However, Maul swiftly reminds her of just who she's dealing with, much to her chagrin.
Social Climber: Of the backstabbing kind; she weasels her way up the ranks of the criminal underworld by making herself useful and/or endearing to the right people, then cuts them loose or screws them over the moment she has everything she wants from them. She's pretty good at it, considering that in just three years she's helping run one of the most powerful criminal syndicates in the galaxy.
Sole Survivor: She claims to Maul to be the only survivor of the Crimson Dawn personnel aboard the First Light following the climax. She doesn't mention Han and Chewie to protect them and also conveniently leaves out the part where she killed Vos.
Starcrossed Lovers: With Han. When they try to escape from Corellia together, she is captured and urges him to flee, and they only meet again by chance three years later, by which point Qi'ra is sworn into the service of Dryden Vos and can't just run off with Han without endangering them both. By the time they could actually be together due to Qi'ra killing Vos, she ends up choosing Crimson Dawn over Han and flies away without him.
The Starscream: She's Dryden Vos's most trusted lieutenant. She eventually kills him and takes his place, serving Maul. It's not clear if she had been considering this all along, but she quickly grabs the opportunity when it arises.
Street Smart: She grew up on the streets on Coronet City and is quite capable of looking after herself. She's never had a formal education, but she's still intelligent, quick on her feet, resourceful and usually a good judge of character. Most Wanted and deleted scenes in Solo also emphasize that she knows lots of shortcuts, hiding places and alternate routes around her home city. Her smarts have enabled her to survive and adapt to life in organized crime.
Street Urchin: Started out as one alongside Han.
Stylish Protection Gear: Even the more practical outfits she wears during and after the Kessel heist are very stylish and elegant, right down to her gun holster.
Sudden Sequel Heel Syndrome: A singular movie Time Skip example; she goes from being an innocent Love Interest orphan to a backstabbing and power-hungry Femme Fatale the next time she is seen. There are hints given throughout Solo as to how and why this happened, though the details remain murky, both because Qi'ra feels too ashamed to tell Han, and to maintain an air of mystery and ambiguity to her.
Sympathy for the Hero: She regards Han with a great deal of sympathy, at one point even telling him that despite what he thinks, he is "one of the good guys". She seems to view his optimism and idealism as endearing, yet ultimately unrealistic, and she is genuinely happy he managed to gain his freedom. As he's on the receiving end of most of her Pet the Dog moments, he's also a Morality Pet to her.
That Woman Is Dead: It becomes increasingly clear that the sweet and relatively moral First Love who was arrested and taken away from Han on Corellia died a long time ago.
Thwarted Escape: At the beginning of Solo, she and Han make a daring escape across Coronet City with a stolen vial of coaxium, hoping to bribe their way past an Imperial checkpoint and start a new life. Unfortunately, just as she's about to step through the gateway after her boyfriend, Lady Proxima's Mooks snatch Qi'ra and the Imperial officer sounds the alarm, leaving Han trapped on the other side of the gate and unable to reach Qi'ra. The novelization also reveals she made a number of failed attempts to escape from Dryden Vos, until he eventually offered her a position within the Crimson Dawn, he having been impressed by her skills and the lengths she was willing to go.
Took a Level in Badass: In the span of three years, she goes from a Corellian petty criminal, to a top lieutenant in one of the biggest criminal syndicates in the galaxy, and then to the leader of said syndicate.
Took a Level in Jerkass: The three years of sole survival on both Corellia and with the Crimson Dawn has made her selfishly power-hungry and deceptive. It should be noted that this isn't immediately obvious.
Tragic Dream: She tells Han that after they got separated, to comfort herself she'd imagine she was off on an adventure with him in the ship they always talked about owning. By the end of the film, she could possibly have a chance to make the dream come true, as Han asks her to come with him...but chooses instead to carry on with her criminal lifestyle, ending that possibility forever.
Tragic Keepsake: Han's dice. He gave them to her as they were attempting to flee Corellia, only for her to be captured and separated from him. She kept the dice with her for three years and they were likely a constant reminder of what she'd lost (both Han and her shot at freedom). She eventually returns them to Han.
Tragic Villain: It's strongly implied she started out as this. Qi'ra was never originally interested in rising up the ranks of the criminal underworld, only turning to crime to survive due to her circumstances, while dreaming of a better life. After a few years though, she's completely given up on most of her childhood dreams of freedom and now just does whatever she can to survive. Part of her seems very much aware that she's done some truly horrible things, but clearly she feels it's too late to do anything but stick to her path.
Trapped in Villainy: She seems to be a case of this at first, especially given Vos' statement that "Once you're part of Crimson Dawn, you can't leave". Han, at the least, seems to view it this way. However, given certain implications and especially her actions at the end of the film, it's implied to be a bit more complicated than that. Namely, Qi'ra had a perfect opportunity to leave Crimson Dawn after killing Vos (or as L3-37 notes in the novelization, she could've also done a runner during the Kessel heist, she having been sent there unsupervised), but she instead willingly chooses to stay and secure her position within the syndicate, implying she's now more interested in power than flying off into the sunset with Han.
Underestimating Badassery: She severely underestimates Darth Vader; while everyone else is freaking out she remain calm and confident, demands he pay her what she's owed, and believes her training under Dryden and Maul will be enough for her to match him in a fight. Vader quickly proves her wrong and she's lucky he gets distracted by Luke's arrival or she'd be toast. Crimson Reign and Hidden Empire shows she underestimates Emperor Palaptine himself, though she nearly won against him and Vader/Anakin, only for the Knights of Ren to betray her and destroy the Fermata Cage.
The Unfettered: She appears willing to do whatever she feels is necessary to survive, even if that means screwing over her so-called friends; it's also insinuated she's committed a long line of serious crimes to get ahead. She's not entirely comfortable with this, however.
Unkempt Beauty: Teenage Qi'ra has messy hair and stained clothing, but she's still attractive (especially considering she's played by Emilia Clarke). By the time she's in her twenties, she looks much cleaner and more glamorous.
Unwitting Instigator of Doom: Her war against Palpatine and his Empire involving the Fermata Cage would allow the Scourge to infect various droids across the Galaxy in Dark Droids.
Villainous Friendship: Zig-zagged with Dryden Vos. They seem quite amicable and Vos openly calls her the person he trusts most in the world, but Qi'ra also seems uncomfortable with his closeness to her; it's also unclear if she's just playing up their intimacy to secure her position. After killing Vos, Qi'ra seems a bit shaken and states "I had to do it", muddying the waters further.
Violently Protective Girlfriend: She duels Vos to the death to protect Han.
Waif-Fu: Despite being quite petite, she's skilled with martial arts and swords, and manages to defeat Han and Vos, both of whom are much taller and more physically imposing. In fairness, however, neither of them were really expecting her to attack them, which she likely uses to her advantage. During the heist on Kessel, she notably charms her way around a Pyke Syndicate member to get him alone and then strikes once his back is turned, so it seems likely she frequently uses trickery and her apparent delicateness to overcome opponents.
What You Are in the Dark: When Qi'ra reports Dryden's death and the missing coaxium to Maul, she pins both on Beckett but notably omits any mention of Han and Chewie being involved, demonstrating that while she is a self-serving opportunist, she has enough remaining decency not to sell out her childhood love and his best friend. As she's flying away alone in the First Light, she can also be seen staring sadly at Han back on the ground, indicating she's not completely happy about her choices.
Woman Of Wealth And Taste: After joining Crimson Dawn, Qi'ra has altered her style to be more elegant and classy, wearing simple but expensive-looking jackets, gowns, suits and so on, paired with gold jewellery. She fits right in with the other crims on the First Light.
Wrecked Weapon: A downplayed variant where it actually works to the wielder's advantage. During her fight with Dryden, he cleaves her sword in two with a vibro-dagger, but this causes the dagger to become stuck in the blade. Qi'ra is able to disarm him and then stabs him in the chest with his dagger on the end of her own weapon.
You Are Better Than You Think You Are: Han briefly tries to convince her of this in the climax when she has him at her mercy, saying he knows who she really is beyond her role as a Crimson Dawn lieutenant. She ends up turning on Dryden to save Han...but she ultimately rejects his offer to leave with him and start over, instead securing her ascension to Maul's second-in-command.
You Did Everything You Could: Upon being reunited with Han, she reassures him he did the right thing by leaving her behind on Corellia when he expresses regret over it.
Han: That day...Sometimes, a lot of times, I think if...
Qi'ra: If you'd have stayed, they would've killed you. I'm glad you got out.
You Do Not Want To Know: Played for Drama. She is deliberately vague about what her life has been like since she and Han were separated, in particular around what she had to do to survive. At one point, she says to Han that she wants to tell him everything "but I know if I do you won't look at me the same."
Young and in Charge: At just 21, she's second-in-command to crime lord Dryden Vos and takes his place by the end of Solo. After Maul's death at the hands of Obi-Wan, she remains unopposed in Crimson Dawn's leadership hierarchy.

Underlings

Aemon Gremm

Aemonn Gremm

Species: Hylobon

Portrayed by:

Appearances: Solo

A male Hylobon who serves as the commanding officer of Dryden Vos's security forces.

Faceless Goons: When his helmet is closed. However, he usually has it open so that his face can be seen, setting him apart from the likes of Toht Ra and the other Hylobons.
First-Name Basis: Vos calls him by his first name rather than his surname.
Good Scars, Evil Scars: He has a scar across his face.
Killer Space Monkey: As a Hylobon, he's a particularly apelike alien.
Mook Lieutenant: He isn't quite The Dragon, but commands Vos' guards.
Neck Snap: In the Novelization, it's revealed that Enfys Nest breaks Gremm's neck in battle.

Toht Ra

Species: Hylobon

Portrayed by: Jason Wong

Appearances: Solo

A male Hylobon who serves in Dryden Vos's security forces. He's tasked to ensure no armed individual enters the First Light (the headquarters/yacht/mobile palace of Vos).

Bouncer: He checks the people who enter the First Light and keeps their weapons while they're inside.
Faceless Goons: He wears a helmet that conceals his face.
First-Name Basis: With Qi'ra.
Killer Space Monkey: Ra and his fellow Hylobons are gorilla-like Humanoid Aliens. Many members of his species serve as henchmen for the Crimson Dawn.
Shout-Out: He's named after Arnold Toht, the Gestapo agent in Raiders of the Lost Ark (written by Lawrence Kasdan, the co-writer of Solo), who burns his hand trying to get the headpiece of the Staff of Ra.

Margo

Species: Imroosian

Homeworld: Imroosia

Portrayed by: Charlotte Louise

Appearances: Crimson Climb | Solo | War of the Bounty Hunters | Crimson Reign | Hidden Empire

An Imroosian concierge who handles guest amenities aboard the First Light, Margo eventually rose to become one of Qi'ra's top lieutenants in the organization.

Bald Mystic: Her head naturally lacks hair (and eyebrows). Her appearance is actually based upon early concept art for Qi'ra, who was originally envisioned as a human-like alien.
Defeat Means Friendship: Once she is defeated in her bid to take control of Crimson Dawn herself and understands Qi'ra's motives, Margo becomes her closest friend and confidant.
The Dragon: After Qi'ra takes over Crimson Dawn, Margo becomes her second-in-command.
Hated Hometown: According to expanded material, Margo doesn't like the intense heat of her homeworld and much prefers the cooler living conditions of the First Light.
Little Black Dress: Her outfit consists of an elegant black dress.
Rubber-Forehead Alien: She looks mostly human save for her skin, which is very pale and has a cracked and flinty or chalk-like appearance, due to living on a volcanic world.
The Starscream: Attempted to kill Qi'ra and take control of Crimson Dawn for herself three times, only to be spared by Qi'ra on each attempt.
Undying Loyalty: Developed this for Qi'ra after initially resenting her for taking over Crimson Dawn. This resentment led to three attempts to kill Qi'ra, who spared Margo each time, which she first thought was weakness, then contempt, until realizing after the third attempt that Qi'ra was sparing her because she saw value in her. As recognition of her talents was all Margo had ever sought, and the two become close friends and confidants.
Woman Of Wealth And Taste: She dresses in elegant and expensive-looking clothes and accessories; according to the Visual Guide for Solo, her gown is made from shimmersilk, a very pricey fabric. To put this further into perspective, a shimmersilk scarf can cost around a thousand credits; Margo's entire gown is made of the stuff.

The Archivist

The Archivist / Sava Madelin Sun

https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/madelin_sun_sw.png

Species: Human

Appearances: War of the Bounty Hunters | Crimson Reign | Doctor Aphra | Hidden Empire

Once a Sava at the University of Bar'leth, Madelin was a scholar who specialized in the history of the Jedi and Sith, particularly Sith artifacts. The rise of the Empire and purging of all knowledge that threatened Palpatine's rule drove her out of her job, and she was eventually recruited by Qi'ra who revealed to her the truth about Palpatine being a Sith Lord and Crimson Dawn's plot to destroy him.

The Cynic: She focused her studies on the Sith and the dark side because she believed it was more realistic about people and who they were. However, her time on Dagobah and visions in the cave caused her to realize the light side offered glimpses of who someone could be.
Good Feels Good: Her decision to keep Yoda's survival and location hidden causes Madelin to feel happy for the first time in years.
Locked into Strangeness: Prior to her visit to Dagobah, the Archivist had pinkish hair and normal human skin tone. Whatever she saw in the cave on Dagobah turned her hair white, her skin deathly grey, and blinded her left eye.
Noodle Incident: Whatever she saw in the cave on Dagobah is a secret that she alone knows, and is one of the few things she does not record in her holocron.
Only Sane Woman: She's one of the only people in Qi'ra's inner circle who thinks the plan to defeat Palpatine and his Empire isn't going to work when the Knights of Ren call it quits, but Qi'ra keeps insisting it's all going to plan.
Saved by Canon: Her survival of Crimson Dawn's plot to destroy the Sith was guaranteed due to having recorded her knowledge of the event into a holocron in its aftermath.
Secret-Keeper: After discovering Yoda was alive and hidden on Dagobah, the Archivist decided to withhold that knowledge from Qi'ra.
Supernatural Sensitivity: She is slightly Force-sensitive, which enables her to feel things but not utilize the Force directly. Being on Force-rich planets like Dagobah can allow her to "see" how the Force connects all life.
Took a Level in Idealism: Her experiences on Dagobah with the cave and Yoda made her realize that her belief that the dark side was more realistic and truer to people's nature was wrong, and that the light side showed hope and how people could change.
Unperson: The University of Bar'leth wiped all records of her from their system after the rise of the Empire. However, some people like Dr. Aphra were still able to learn of her by slicing into the school's records to see what they had deleted.
What You Are in the Dark: With knowledge of Yoda's survival and location, Madelin could have used that information to gain anything she wanted from Qi'ra or Palpatine. Instead, realizing that Yoda had been teaching her, entrusting her with knowledge about him, and that he was too important to be a pawn in Qi'ra plan or sold out to the Sith, she decided to claim to Qi'ra that Yoda was dead.

Associates

Tobias Beckett's gang

In General

A gang of specialized scoundrels Tobias Beckett assembled to carry out risky but very profitable heists involving coaxium for Dryden Vos.

Anyone Can Die: Quite a few of them die over the course of Solo. In order, Rio Durant, Val, L3-37 and eventually Beckett himself.
Arch-Enemy: They often run into Enfys Nest's gang, the Cloud-Riders, when on big jobs.
Badass Crew: One that includes three future heroes of the Rebel Alliance at some point.
Caper Crew: A crew that specializes in heists involving coaxium.
- Beckett is the Mastermind.
- Val is the Gadget Guy (well, Gal) and Partner in Crime on Vandor-1.
- Rio Durant is the Driver on Vandor-1, replaced by Han Solo.
- Han Solo is the New Kid on Vandor-1, and also Burglar then Driver in both heists.
- Chewbacca is the Muscle in both heists.
- Qi'ra is the Conman and the Roper on Kessel.
- Lando Calrissian is the Driver on Kessel, again replaced by Han.
- L3-37 is the Hacker and the Distraction on Kessel.
Foil: The crew as they are structured during the Kessel Run come across as this to the original group of heroes from A New Hope.
- Beckett, like Obi-Wan Kenobi, is the older, more experienced member and Team Dad, who takes The Hero under his wing. However, while Obi-Wan is a selfless and virtuous Jedi Knight who acts out of altruism for others and sacrifices himself to save his apprentice, Beckett is an amoral and cynical thief who looks out for number one first and eventually betrays his protege to save himself, leading Han to kill him. Also, Obi-Wan has expressed distaste for guns and much prefers a lightsaber if he absolutely has to fight, while Beckett is a crack shot who wields two pistols at once.
- Han and Luke are both wide-eyed newcomers with humble backgrounds, both Ace Pilots and both dream of adventure. However, Luke was raised on a farm with his loving aunt and uncle, while Han lost his only family at a young age and grew up on the streets as a pickpocket and scam artist. While Luke's story arc ends with him taking his first steps to become a Jedi and hero of the Rebels, Han's ends with him Taking a Level in Cynic and becoming a smuggler.
- Leia and Qi'ra are both smart, independent Action Girls whom the hero wants to rescue from the Big Bad. However, while Leia is a courageous and selfless rebel agent, Qi'ra is a manipulative and self-serving gangster. Leia helps orchestrate her own escape and becomes firm friends with the rest of the group, while Qi'ra willingly stays with the villains and either betrays or cuts ties with the group to serve herself.
- Lando and Han are both Lovable Rogues who get hired to pilot the team aboard the Millennium Falcon. While Han comes back to help the heroes out even after completing the job, Lando flies off and doesn't look back.
- L3-37 is the technical whiz of the group, though she's a lot snarkier than C-3PO. Like R2-D2, she also gets badly damaged during one of the main missions though unlike R2, L3 cannot be saved.
Train Job: Han Solo and Chewbacca join them as they plan a heist on an Imperial Conveyex magnetic cargo train on Vandor-1.
Two Girls to a Team: Somewhat; during the Kessel heist, the crew has Dark Action Girl Qi'ra and L3-37, a droid with feminine programming.
Two Guys and a Girl: The initial crew consists of two guys (Beckett and Rio) and one girl (Val); Beckett and Val are romantically involved.

Original members

Tobias Beckett

"If you come with me, you're in this
life for good."

Species: Human

Homeworld: Glee Anselm

Portrayed by: Woody Harrelson

Appearances: Beckett | Solo

"Let me give you some advice. Assume everyone will betray you, and you will never be disappointed."

A veteran criminal working for Dryden Vos.

Aerith and Bob: His name and surname wouldn't be out of place at all in real life, with possibly one of the most normal names in the franchise.
Affably Evil: Beckett is a charming rogue who considers his crew to be family, but he's also a deeply amoral thief with a ruthless streak. He ultimately betrays Han, abandoning his protege to a grisly end, but takes no pleasure in it and accepts his own death gracefully.
Alas, Poor Villain: Han does shoot Beckett, but he took no pleasure in killing the man who ultimately took him under his wing. Han takes Beckett's hand in his last breaths and they make peace with one another.
Asshole Victim: Downplayed. Although his death is treated with a degree of tragedy and his killer took no pleasure in it whatsoever, Beckett still kinda had it coming considering he betrayed Han – who trusted and looked up to him – in a heartbeat, didn't seem to care all that much about what Vos would do to him and outright admits he would've killed Han if Han hadn't shot first.
Badass Longcoat: He favors a long coat, and is a lethal gunslinger.
Big Bad Ensemble: Vos, as a powerful crime lord, is the far bigger threat. However, after Beckett sells Han out to him he decides to take the coaxium for himself, leading to one final confrontation after Vos is killed.
Chronic Backstabbing Disorder: He seemingly betrays Vos to let Han and Qi'ra cheat him out of the coaxium. Then it turns out he betrayed the plan to Vos, whom he was secretly reporting to the whole time. However, when he learns Han anticipated the betrayal and had the Cloud Riders take out Vos' troops, he screws Vos over and takes Chewie hostage to steal the coaxium for himself.
Distressed Dude: The novelization says he was once kidnapped by a queen who wanted to marry him and had to be rescued by Val.
Dressing as the Enemy: He disguises himself as an Imperial officer while on Mimban with Val; he's forced to improvise orders when his "superior" is killed.
Evil Cannot Comprehend Good: A Tearjerker example. Han probably wouldn’t have shot him, but Beckett forced his hand when he prepared to kill him despite the fact that Han had already cornered him and asked him to surrender peacefully.
Even Evil Has Loved Ones: Although he's a ruthless and amoral thief, he is shown to genuinely care for Val and Rio and is clearly distraught by their deaths, taking the time to make graves for them. He also grows to care for Han, taking him under his wing although this doesn't stop him from screwing him over and abandoning him to a horrible fate when it suits him. Even when Han fatally wounds him, he doesn't appear to resent him for it, even expressing pride that Han shot him first, as he would've killed him if he hadn't. It is shown in his own one-time comic Beckett, that he went through a lot of trouble to give Val a romantic evening.
Evil Mentor: He sells out Han to Dryden when Han tries to double-cross Crimson Dawn to give the coaxium shipment to the Cloud Riders; he also makes it clear he would've killed Han to save himself during their final confrontation.
Expy: According to the screenwriters, Beckett is based on Long John Silver of Treasure Island.
Face Death with Dignity: After getting shot, he accepts his death with a good amount of courage.
Foil: To the older Han Solo of The Force Awakens. Beckett is a scoundrel and a smuggler who's been working in the criminal underworld for so long that even the loss of loved ones and friends barely slow him down in his search for his next big score. Whereas Han held on to a tiny core of altruism and hope that led him to Luke, Leia, and the Rebellion, Beckett never did. This contrasts with Han's fate in The Force Awakens, where Han's faith in others (as opposed to Beckett's belief that you should assume everyone will betray you) leads the elder hero to his death.
Graceful Loser: After Han fatally shoots him, he spends his final moments telling him he made the right choice, as he definitely would've tried to do the same had Han given him the opportunity.
The Gunslinger: He is extremely fast and skilled with his blaster pistols, the RSKF-44 heavy blaster and DG-29 sideloader, and his DL-44 blaster (while it was in rifle form). Leading to Han shooting him mid-sentence in their final standoff while his gun was already drawn, knowing he'd never win in a fair gun-draw battle.
Gun Twirling: He's not only a hell of a shot, but Tobias also knows how to draw and holster with style. Han even asked for some pointers on it, which Tobias flatly refused.
Jerkass Has a Point: Unfortunately, he's right to warn Han about how overly trusting he is of others. By the end of the film the only main character who hasn't double-crossed Han in some way is Chewie.
Jerk with a Heart of Jerk: Played with. Beckett is a surly and cynical thief working for a notorious criminal syndicate, but he also genuinely cares for his crew, mentors and comes to care about Han, and seems to be looking forward to retiring after One Last Job. However, it's made clear by the end that despite these traits, he is still deeply self-centered and ruthlessly pragmatic, and just because he cares about someone it won't stop him from selling them out if his own neck is on the line.
Killed Mid-Sentence: How Han ultimately dispatches him.
Laser-Guided Karma: Tobias betrays Han in the finale, reminding Han of his advice regarding trusting others and leaving Han for dead. When Han catches up to Tobias later on, he finally takes the advice to heart and shoots Tobias down mid-sentence. Notably, Tobias himself actually takes it well and expresses pride for Han learning the right lesson and shooting before Tobias could pull his gun.
The Mentor: He takes Han under his wing when he joins his crew. He gives at least one important lesson to Han — that he has to assume betrayal can come from anyone. Sadly, he has a point.
Mentor Occupational Hazard: He is killed by Han, his own protege, by the climax of the movie after he betrays him.
The Mole: It's revealed near the end that he was always loyal to Vos, secretly reporting to him during the heist and telling him of Han's intention to sell the coaxium to the Cloud Riders.
Noodle Incident: Apparently, he killed a fearsome Bounty Hunter, Aurra Sing. She appeared in The Phantom Menace and The Clone Wars, and in a few comics..
One Last Job: He projects to retire from his life of crime once the coaxium thefts Dryden Vos orders him to accomplish are done.
Opportunistic Bastard: Most clearly demonstrated in the climax, where he switches sides again to steal the coaxium shipment for himself, after learning Han and the Cloud Riders anticipated his betrayal and ambushed Vos' mooks, and that the supposedly 'fake' coaxium is real.
Outlaw Couple: With Val; they're established to be in a relationship and carry out heists together.
Parental Substitute: He is the closest thing Han has to a father figure, which makes killing him an even harder task to do.
Post-Final Boss: After Dryden Vos' death in a climactic battle, Han goes after Beckett to rescue Chewbacca and retrieve the coaxium. It looks as though there's going to be a gunfight...only for Han to unceremoniously shoot Beckett in the chest mid-conversation. Beckett doesn't even have a chance to draw, thus highlighting Han's Character Development into a more pragmatic and cynical person.
Retirony: He planned to retire after the coaxium heists. His betrayal of Han earns him a blaster shot in the chest.
Revolvers Are Just Better: He favors two revolver-styled blaster pistols.
The Scapegoat: At the end of Solo, Qi'ra pins the blame for Vos' death and the stolen coaxium on him, covering for herself and Han respectively. Beckett isn't around to refute this. Also, the part about the coaxium technically is true – he did actually betray Vos and steal it from him; Qi'ra simply doesn't mention that Han took it back after shooting him. Considering this and the fact he's not exactly the most moral guy around, Qi'ra's story is reasonably plausible.
Screw This, I'm Outta Here: Beckett has no interest in helping Han in his plan to betray Dryden but gives him some last-minute advice before leaving. Subverted as it is revealed that he told Dryden about Han's plan. Then doubled subverted when he learns the coaxium is actually real and the Cloud Riders have taken out Dryden's mooks, at which point he betrays him and makes off with the coaxium.
So Proud of You: A darker example. After being fatally shot in the finale, he congratulates Han for finally taking his advice, as he would've tried to kill Han had he shown him mercy.
Swiss-Army Gun: His DL-44 heavy blaster pistol (which he later gave to Han) can be converted to a sniper blaster rifle as seen during the Battle of Mimban.
Teeth-Clenched Teamwork: Although he's professional enough not to be openly hostile towards her, Beckett makes it very clear in private that he doesn't trust Qi'ra one bit and warns Han not to trust her either. He turns out to be right in the end, though only to a certain extent, as Qi'ra ends up saving Han's life.

Val

https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/val_sw.png

"I can take out the guards at the perimeter. Signalman, pilot, hell I'll just take them all out."

Species: Human

Homeworld: Solarine

Portrayed by: Thandiwe Newton

Appearances: Beckett | Solo

Tobias Beckett's most trusted teammate and girlfriend.

Advertised Extra: She's featured on the theatrical release posters for Solo (being even more prominent than L3-37 in one of them) and got her own character poster, but in the film itself she's only prominent in the first act before being killed off less than half-way through, partly to show that Anyone Can Die in her line of work.
Afro Asskicker: She's got an afro hairstyle, and she's skilled enough with blasters to take out a few Imperial security probe droids during the Train Job.
Deadpan Snarker: She gets in a bit of snark, especially where Han is concerned.
Han: What company do you...
Val: None of your business company. And we’re full up.
Demolitions Expert: She's handy with explosives and sets the charges during the train heist.
Dressing as the Enemy: She disguises herself as an Imperial mudtrooper while on Mimban with Beckett.
Due to the Dead: Beckett makes a grave for her next to Rio's grave on Vandor-1, even though he didn't have a body to bury.
Grappling-Hook Pistol: Her weapon can turn into one.
Heroic Sacrifice: She doesn't have any other choice than to blow up the bridge she stands on to ensure the success of the heist after losing her EC-17 hold-out blaster pistol and getting pinned by Viper droids. It's All for Nothing anyway, as Han and Chewie have to drop the coaxium-filled wagon to fend off the Cloud Riders and avoid crashing into a mountain.
It Has Been an Honor: Her last words to Beckett before she blows herself up: "It’s been a ride, babe. And I wouldn’t trade it for anything."
Jerk with a Heart of Gold: She's brusque and doesn't suffer fools, but she also genuinely cares for her crew - especially Beckett - to the point she willingly sacrifices herself to try and ensure their heist's success.
Love Interest: She's Tobias Beckett's girlfriend.
Mysterious Woman: She is intentionally secretive about much of her past. All that is really known about her is that she grew up on Solarine and her father was a musician.
One Name Only: Her name seems to be just Val. She was apparently named after the valachord, a type of musical instrument.
Outlaw Couple: With Beckett; they're established to be in a relationship and carry out heists together.
Rescue Romance: While discussing her character with the filmmakers, Thandiwe Newton came to believe that this trope is how Val and Beckett's relationship began.
"We talked about it a little bit, you know, I feel like Beckett saved her life at some point, and I feel like it may have been perilous for him to do that, so there's a sense of gratitude and loyalty there."
Senseless Sacrifice: Val blows up the bridge she's on in order to ensure the group can get away with the coaxium, but Han and Chewie have to drop it all immediately afterwards so that they don't all crash into a mountain, rendering her death pointless.
We Hardly Knew Ye: She blows herself up along with the bridge during the Conveyex heist, not very far into the movie.

Rio Durant

"Woah, is that a Wookiee?! Incredible!"

Species: Ardennian

Homeworld: Ardennia

Played by: Jon Favreau (voice), Katy Kartwheel (motion capture)

Appearances: Beckett | Solo

"It's no good to die alone, kid."

A four-armed pilot who has spent years pulling off daring missions together with Tobias Beckett.

Ace Pilot: The novelization says that his four arms let him act as pilot and co-pilot simultaneously.
Dressing as the Enemy: He disguises himself as an Imperial mudtrooper while on Mimban as part of Beckett's plan.
Due to the Dead: Beckett buries him on Vandor-1 after the failed heist, using a stick with Rio's goggles hanging from the top as a grave-marker.
Dying Alone: Mentioned, but specifically averted: he's grateful that Han is beside him as he dies.
From Camouflage to Criminal: According to the official guide for Solo, before becoming a criminal Rio was once part of the Freedom's Sons, an independent army that fought alongside the Republic during the Clone Wars.
Handy Feet: He has prehensile feet in addition to additional limbs.
I'm Okay!: Non-comical version. He gets a blaster wound in his back by one of Enfys Nest's riders who climbed onboard his ship during the train heist but tells Tobias and Han that he's okay. The wound turns out to be fatal.
In the Back: One of the Cloud Riders blasts him in the shoulder while he's busy piloting the ship alongside the Conveyex. Unfortunately it ends up killing Rio.
Lovable Rogue: He's a criminal like Beckett and Val, but he's pretty friendly and easy-going and trusts Han Solo and Chewbacca from the get-go, unlike Beckett and Val.
Multi-Armed Multitasking: His multiple arms come in handy while piloting.
Nice Guy: He's easily the nicest and most easygoing of Beckett's crew.
Retirony: He talks about retiring to open a bar with his cut from the Vandor-1 heist, and is killed shortly after.
Shoo Out the Clowns: Being the most witty, friendly and easy-going member of Beckett's crew, he's the first one to die during the Conveyex heist to show that being an outlaw is a dangerous life.
Shout-Out: His name is a reference to Duran Duran and their album Rio.
Small Role, Big Impact: It's him who convinces Beckett to accept Han and Chewbacca onboard their ship when the then-3 strong crew is leaving Mimban, saving their life doing so. His final words to Han about how terrible Dying Alone would be also seem to have quite an impact on Han in the long run, as he ultimately chooses to help his friends rather than save his own hide on several occasions.
Totem Pole Trench: He disguises himself as a human-sized mudtrooper on Mimban using a special harness within a mudtrooper suit.
We Hardly Knew Ye: He dies of the blaster wound he gets in his back from one of Enfys Nest's riders during the Conveyex heist, not far into the movie.

Later additions

Entertainers and party guests

Aurodia Ventafoli

Species: Human

Portrayed by: Sema-Tawi Smart

Appearances: Solo

A female human singer who performs on the First Light during the parties held by Dryden Vos.

The Chanteuse: A sultry female singer who's at the center of Dryden Vos's parties. According to Solo: A Star Wars Story The Official Guide, she is a bestselling recording artist who was billed as "Chanteuse of the Stars". She frequently toured, which made it rare for her to settle in one place for too long. Dryden Vos managed to book her for an extended residency on the First Light by offering her a large sum of money.
Gold Makes Everything Shiny: Her sparkly golden dress makes her stand out on the First Light.
Singing Voice Dissonance: She uses a multi-vocoder to boost her voice to non-human frequencies.
Vocal Tag Team: She performs alongside Luleo Primoc during parties on Dryden Vos's ship.

Luleo Primoc

Species: Gallusian

Portrayed by: ???

Appearances: Solo

An old male Gallusian singer who performs alongside Aurodia Ventafoli on the First Light during the parties held by Dryden Vos.

Lounge Lizard: We learn in Solo: A Star Wars Story The Official Guide that he was a chart-topping singer in the years before the Clone Wars, and that he starred in a series of holomovies wearing a dashing humanoid exo-suit. He's now way past his prime, but his voice is still favored by retro-collectors and enthusiasts and thus he still sings in lounge parties.
Mobile Fishbowl: He can't survive in open air and needs to live in a liquid environment, hence the jar.
People Jars: He lives in a jar with repulsors.
Shout-Out: His name is a reference to Louis Prima, a jazz musician who also served as the character's temp voice during production.
Starfish Aliens: He's from a non-humanoid alien species.
Vocal Tag Team: He performs alongside Aurodia Ventafoli during parties on Dryden Vos's ship.

Kara Safwan

Species: Human

Portrayed by: Svetlana Karabut

Appearances: Solo

A spy hired by the Rang Clan to gather intel on the Crimson Dawn syndicate.

All There in the Manual: In the film itself she's an unnamed extra, with the Visual Guide providing her name and more detailed information about her, such as what she's doing aboard the First Light.
Giant Poofy Sleeves: The sleeves of her top include giant sleeves, displaying both wealth and sneakiness, given she's a spy.
Gold Makes Everything Shiny: Her outfit is made of shiny gold and black material, helping her blend in with the rest of Dryden Vos's wealthy guests.
Social Climber: Of the backstabber variety; she's trying her best to get into Dryden's inner circle and uncover Crimson Dawn secrets for the Rang Clan. Although she managed to get herself invited to one of his exclusive parties, Margo the concierge is suspicious of her and subtly keeps her away from Dryden and his closest associates.
The Teetotaler: She drinks only Vandor ice water at the party to keep her head clear.
Tuckerization: Her first name, Kara, appears to be taken from her actress' surname of Karabut, while her surname is taken from Star Wars podcast host Saf Davidson.

Sablix Veen

Species: Human

Portrayed by: ???

Appearances: Solo

A model and fashion designer who attends a party aboard the First Light in the hopes of boosting her career.

In the Hood: Her outfit includes a matching head covering.
Social Climber: She attends a party hosted by a powerful gangster, hoping to gain recognition from the guests and further her fashion career.

Characters / Star Wars - Crimson Dawn Syndicate

Edit Locked

All spoilers regarding the Skywalker Saga and The Clone Wars are unmarked. Examples relating to Disney's EU and the new movies can be spoiler-tagged if deemed necessary.

Leadership

Maul

Dryden Vos

Species: Near-Human

Lady Qi'ra

Species: Human

Homeworld: Corellia

Underlings

Aemonn Gremm

Species: Hylobon

Toht Ra

Species: Hylobon

Margo

Species: Imroosian

Homeworld: Imroosia

The Archivist / Sava Madelin Sun

Species: Human

Associates

Tobias Beckett's gang

Original members

Tobias Beckett

Species: Human

Homeworld: Glee Anselm

Val

Species: Human

Homeworld: Solarine

Rio Durant

Species: Ardennian

Homeworld: Ardennia

Later additions

Entertainers and party guests

Aurodia Ventafoli

Species: Human

Luleo Primoc

Species: Gallusian

Kara Safwan

Species: Human

Sablix Veen

Species: Human

Alternative Title(s): Star Wars Qira

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