What Character Had the Most Wasted Potential?

If there’s one thing we can agree on, it’s that Star Wars knows how to create some unforgettable characters. 

But let’s face it, not all of them got the attention and development they deserved. 

It’s a galaxy filled with complex, intriguing characters who had the potential for incredible storylines. 

And yet, some of the most promising were, well… wasted. 

So, let’s take a look at a few characters that left us all thinking, “They could’ve done so much more!”

Kylo Ren – The Path of Redemption Cut Short

Kylo Ren was set up to be one of the most complex characters in the saga. 

He was a character torn between his family legacy and the dark side, haunted by the weight of being Han and Leia’s son, and trained by Luke himself. 

Kylo’s struggle with his identity—half Skywalker, half Solo—was deeply personal and held so much potential for a meaningful, emotional arc. And yet, when The Rise of Skywalker rolled around, it felt like his journey was rushed to a conclusion.

Imagine if we’d had the time to watch his inner conflict fully play out. In the original “Duel of the Fates” script, Kylo’s journey was on a darker, more complex path. 

He was struggling to prove himself not only to the dark side but also to his vision of Darth Vader. 

We could have seen him confront his demons, wrestle with Rey in a true clash of philosophies, and ultimately make the decision to turn from darkness in a way that felt organic.

Instead, his redemption in those final moments, while moving, left us with the feeling that his story had been shortened—almost like there was so much more we could’ve experienced. 

With a full film devoted to his internal battle, we might have gotten the tragic, Shakespearean arc his character deserved.

Kylo had all the right ingredients for a powerful redemption, but as it was, his arc wrapped up so quickly that it left us wondering what could have been.

General Hux – From Ruthless Commander to Comic Relief

Another character with immense potential, especially when you look at Duel of the Fates, was General Hux. 

Initially, he was set up as a ruthless and calculated leader, fiercely loyal to the First Order. In The Force Awakens, he was practically the embodiment of their unyielding ideology, and his intense rivalry with Kylo Ren promised a layered, fascinating power struggle. 

But instead of leaning into that dynamic, Hux’s character took a sharp turn.

In Duel of the Fates, Hux stayed true to his ruthless nature till the very end, refusing to betray the First Order even when the tide turned against them. 

His downfall was tragic, painted as the last act of a man who lived and breathed for a cause that was slipping through his fingers. 

That version of Hux would have given us a real, lasting antagonist who didn’t need to rely on pettiness to stay relevant.

Instead, by The Rise of Skywalker, we see Hux reduced to a spy for the Resistance out of little more than personal spite for Kylo. 

This twist felt out of step with the iron-willed Hux we knew. Imagine if his rivalry with Kylo had been allowed to intensify, with both vying for control of the First Order. 

The stakes would have been so much higher, and Hux could’ve been that cold, calculated counterbalance to Kylo’s more chaotic nature.

In Duel of the Fates, Hux’s end is poetic and dark—a fitting conclusion to a character who once had the potential to be a relentless, dangerous leader. 

Instead, his arc wrapped up with a quick joke, leaving us wondering what could have been if he’d been allowed to remain that iron-willed adversary, standing toe-to-toe with Kylo till the end.

Captain Phasma – The Wasted Warrior

Captain Phasma had all the makings of a standout antagonist. When she first stepped on screen in The Force Awakens, decked out in that imposing chrome armor, she commanded attention. 

Here was a Stormtrooper commander unlike any we’d seen before—a towering, fierce presence who looked ready to wreak havoc across the galaxy. 

Fans were excited to see what she would bring to the Resistance-First Order conflict, especially as an adversary for Finn, who’d broken free from her command.

Yet, for all that build-up, Phasma’s role in the story fizzled out quickly. 

In The Last Jedi, she returned just long enough to be swiftly defeated and written off, with hardly any exploration of her complex position within the First Order or the rivalry she could have had with Finn.

Duel of the Fates hints at a version where Phasma leads a fierce charge, unrelenting in her pursuit of the Resistance. 

This vision of Phasma feels like the one we deserved—one where she’s a relentless symbol of loyalty to the First Order, unwilling to let go of any traitor in her ranks. 

It would have given her character real weight in the story, making her not just a warrior in striking armor but a force to be reckoned with in her own right.

Phasma deserved a far richer arc, a true warrior’s journey that could have kept us on edge every time she stepped into the frame. 

Instead, she became little more than a cameo, and we’re left wondering what could have been if she’d truly lived up to her promise as a fierce, unforgettable adversary.

Finn – The Stormtrooper Who Broke Free… and Was Then Sidelined

Finn’s story started with one of the most compelling premises in Star Wars: a Stormtrooper breaking away from his conditioning and finding a new purpose in the galaxy. 

This was fresh, something we hadn’t really seen before—a chance to explore what it means for someone raised as a soldier to rebel against the very force that shaped them. 

In The Force Awakens, we got a taste of that journey, with Finn struggling to shake off his past and find his place within the Resistance.

But as the saga continued, Finn’s arc seemed to drift further away from this initial promise. 

In The Last Jedi, his journey was relegated to a side mission that, while fun, didn’t add much to his growth or deepen his character. 

By The Rise of Skywalker, there were hints that he might be Force-sensitive, but it was barely touched on. Instead, Finn became more of a supporting player, reacting to events rather than leading them.

If Finn’s story had followed through on the idea of him inspiring other Stormtroopers to break free. 

He could have become a new symbol of hope within the First Order’s ranks, sparking a rebellion from the inside out. 

Or if his Force sensitivity had been explored more fully, he might have started a journey toward becoming a Jedi, navigating both his past as a Stormtrooper and his potential as a Force user. 

He could have forged a new path that combined a soldier’s resolve with the Force’s wisdom.