Even though it played out like a highlight reel of the very first Star Wars movie, The Force Awakens was actually some damn good fun. And with over $1.5 billion dollars in the bank, most of the world seems to agree with that remark. Where The Force Awakens truly succeeded however, was in the universe-building department.
With most of the Expanded Universe mythos being jettisoned out into the cold, dark vacuum of space, there was ample room to build a new legend in the 30 years since the Emperor killed Darth Vader with his Breakin’ 2: Electric Boogaloo powers. And sweet Sith-spit, has the galaxy changed since then. None of that matters however, because fans only wanted to know more about one character in particular, who stole the show with a single word and a minute of ass-kicking.
Naturally, there be spoilers ahead, so consider this your only warning. Here’s a picture of Jar Jar Binks being elbowed in the face to help protect you.
Right, with that out of the way, let’s talk about the most popular Stormtrooper around since that other Imperial hit his head on a door-frame in Episode IV: A New Hope. I am of course talking about the scene where former First Order Stormtrooper Finn attempts to flee the attack on Maz Kanata’s bar and runs face-first into an extremely ticked-off soldier who wants to have words with him. Words that come out of the end of his special big stick.
According to StarWars.com, the trooper with Death Star-sized testicles who runs at a lightsaber-equipped Finn is officially designated FN-2199, or Nines to his friends. First revealed in the Greg Rucka penned book Before The Awakening, Nines is a riot control trooper who specialises in squashing uprisings and wields a fancy Z6 baton. In the film, he was portrayed by stuntman Liang Yang.
Nines happened to have trained before with Finn, resulting in his rather zealous anger when he confronted his former soldier outside of Maz Kanata’s bar. He’s the trooper with red hair, in the picture below:
And now you know. Although I kind of like the nomenclature that the internet bestowed on him, TR-8R more.
Last Updated: January 4, 2017
Lardus-For the Emperor!
January 8, 2016 at 14:44
I would have liked it more if it was Captain Phasma in that scene. Would have given her something to actually do in the movie. Still great fun to watch, regardless of that 1 thing I would have changed in the script 🙂
miaau
January 8, 2016 at 14:47
It was indeed. Just 2 hours of pure fun.
Some larger-ish plot holes I choose to disregard, but on the whole a great movie.
Lardus-For the Emperor!
January 8, 2016 at 15:03
I ignored all plot holes during the movie, only afterwards reading comments and reviews did some things come to “itch” a bit. Apparently the novel answers some questions: http://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/films/news/star-wars-the-force-awakens-16-questions-the-novel-answers-including-how-poe-gets-off-jakku-and-how-a6800951.html
RinceThis
January 8, 2016 at 15:06
Well the novels have all been thrown out of the canon universe haven’t they?
Lardus-For the Emperor!
January 8, 2016 at 15:12
Seems to be a new novel: “Foster’s novelisation of Episode VII didn’t just take inspiration from the final film. He was given access to a version of the script that included extra scenes and dialogue, as well as being able to talk with LucasFilm about background details”
Lardus-For the Emperor!
January 8, 2016 at 15:13
“The official novelization of Star Wars: The Force Awakens, the highly anticipated blockbuster film directed by J. J. Abrams, featuring an 8-page color photo insert of thrilling images from the hit movie.” http://www.amazon.com/The-Force-Awakens-Star-Wars/dp/1101965495
Jim Lenoir (Banana Jim)
January 9, 2016 at 19:12
Yes!
https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/1796f43c2b969063c66c704f778d5f1060d37d6e1bda41e88b70ef1e82f7ac03.gif
Hammersteyn
January 8, 2016 at 14:49
Agreed
Hammersteyn
January 8, 2016 at 14:54
hehe
https://media.giphy.com/media/kLWtp4SFazSdq/giphy.gif
RinceThis
January 8, 2016 at 15:00
Oh, internet…
Hammersteyn
January 8, 2016 at 14:57
TR-8R almost sounds like Traitor….. almost O_o
RinceThis
January 8, 2016 at 15:00
lol
Hammersteyn
January 8, 2016 at 15:01
dat Red hair XD
RinceThis
January 8, 2016 at 15:05
You shut your trap!
Original Heretic
January 8, 2016 at 15:12
I rather get the impression that they threw this little backstory together due to the sudden and unexpected popularity of the character.
Lardus-For the Emperor!
January 8, 2016 at 15:45
Well, apparently “detailed in Greg Rucka’s excellent book Before the Awakening, Nines trained and served on a squad with Finn (then FN-2187) in the First Order”
konfab
January 8, 2016 at 17:52
So the evil spinning trooper is a ginger…
As if more proof was needed that gingers do not have souls.
Jim Lenoir (Banana Jim)
January 9, 2016 at 12:42
lol this reminds me of Marauder Shields (the greatest end-level boss to have ever existed)
http://i1.kym-cdn.com/photos/images/newsfeed/000/268/860/4e6.png
Jim Lenoir (Banana Jim)
January 9, 2016 at 12:44
TR-8R will return with a (mirror-universe evil) Spock beard, and be the Anti-Fin (albeit with a red beard… of course)
https://c2.staticflickr.com/4/3583/3665471071_0f59d3e248_b.jpg