We didn’t realize it until recently, but Krennic is the scariest villain of Star Wars. Although we may first think of Palpatine for that spot, Krennic proved in Andor that he surpasses Sidious as the most uniquely cruel villain. His cunning manipulation is part of the reason, but he also displays an Imperial-infusing coldness that distinguishes him from villains of the past.
Why Is Krennic the Scariest Villain in Star Wars?
We first came to recognize the ambitious evil of Orson Krennic in Rogue One. As the director behind the Death Star, he showed he would stop at nothing to complete this project and fulfill his advancement in the Imperial ranks. Part of his evil genius was reflected in how Krennic steered Galen Erso into researching synthetic kyber crystals for the Death Star’s superlaser.
Krennic’s manipulation was coupled with an equally evil ambition to best his rival, Grand Moff Tarkin. Drive, cunning, planning, and manipulation are among the attributes that he used to “win the favor of Emperor Palpatine” and surpass him as the scariest villain.
Krennic’s villainy came into display in the opening of Rogue One. As we watch the scene, he was threateningly accompanied by Death troopers and ready to kill Erso and his family without hesitation. The next scenes in this compilation provide testimony to his ruthlessness, both in his expressions and his willingness to wipe out Jedha City.
He appears to revel in his evilness, truly enjoying it in a way that parallels Palpatine. Yet, with Andor, we witnessed new levels of villainy that set him apart even from the Emperor.
In this boardroom scene from the show, Director Krennic evinced his threatening authority that helped define his character. We get a sense that any defiance of his will would end with a swift termination of an Imperial officer’s life, never mind the Rebels that he loathes.
Season 2 of Andor displayed his full capabilities. Jumping right to a key moment, Krennic’s interrogation of Dedra Meero amply showed the depth of Krennic’s evilness. We can recognize how he truly didn’t care at all about what Dedra had contributed to Imperial success. Krennic was quite ready to dispatch with her, or any other Imperial, at any moment.
That’s how he engages with those on his side. Those who oppose him thus have great reason to fear him.
Why Else Is Krennic the Top Villain?
Pressing further, we can emphasize how his character qualities make him the new top villain. Krennic is “highly intelligent, calculating and menacing,” attributes that make him a standout bad guy. So too do his sense of theatricality, including how his white outfit and cape “stand out in stark contrast to the drab, dark tones” of his fellow Imperials.
It’s not just an insular evilness, though. It permeates through him and into the apparatus that he supports. As one fan here phrased it, Krennic “really shows how evil the entire Empire really was.” We could say that Krennic helps infuse the Empire with a rottenness.
We could also credit the James Luceno novel, Catalyst, for outlining this style of evil. Krennic is evil because of his foundational belief in violence. As he states in the novel, “Violence is hardwired into most of us and there’s no eliminating the impulse.” He is a man based on violence and a willingness to use it on anyone.
Further, actor Ben Mendelsohn provides us with a convincing performance to make the character the most threatening presence. This article conveys how much Mendelsohn gave to the role, and how part of the character’s evil appeal is in the witty way he “asserts his authority.” Episode 5, for instance, saw him “taunting Mothma about the nature of rebellions as everyone around him laughs politely.”
Rogue One provided glimpses into the dastardly nature of this villain, but it was not until Andor that we walked away with the whole package. The reason why Krennic was on full display in the series is that he was “at the height of his power” during this timeline and “having a whale of a time with the galaxy at his feet.”
That’s just it–Krennic made the Star Wars galaxy kneel before him like Vader and Palpatine, but in a more complex way.
Krennic as the Scariest Villain
Surely some will disagree, but if we consider the uniqueness of his evil, we can position Krennic as the scariest villain in Star Wars. The dark villainy of Vader may never fade, and the haunting laugh of Palpatine may echo to this day. Yet, Krennic gives the audience an Imperial antagonist at his fullest.