Star Wars Outlaws Should’ve Starred Doctor Aphra

I've spent countless hours playing Ubisoft's Star Wars Outlaws, which stars original protagonist Kay Vess. While I have no qualms about creators leaving their personal stamp on the Star Wars universe, there's one character that kept popping into my mind – Doctor Aphra. In a universe full of familiar archetypes and familiar faces, it's refreshing to see new characters bring something fresh to the table. Unfortunately, Kay Vess just didn't resonate with me during my playthrough, and I couldn't help but wonder what would have made her a more compelling protagonist.

Doctor Aphra, on the other hand, is a character who embodies everything that's wrong with Kay – and everything that's right. A morally bankrupt archaeologist, she's essentially Indiana Jones without virtue or ethics. Her self-titled comic book series has been full of dark comedy, which I've enjoyed reading about in her stories. With two murderous droids and the Wookiee Black Krrsantan by her side, Aphra is a force to be reckoned with.

One thing that struck me during my playthrough was how closely Kay Vess resembles Doctor Aphra. Both characters occupy the same criminal underworld, making choices on which gangs and factions to align with a crucial part of their gameplay. The reputation mechanic in Outlaws would have fit perfectly with her, and I imagine myself playing as the latter instead. Aphra's sense of humor from the comics could have also given the game more personality.

There are several minute and superficial overlaps between Kay Vess and Doctor Aphra that support my argument that Aphra is a stronger character. Both characters have worked in the underworld, and both have had significant connections to the Dark Side – albeit with different outcomes. Perhaps most significantly, Aphra actually worked under Darth Vader's employ for a time before he ultimately betrayed her. With this background, Vader could have had a more prolific presence in Outlaws.

Unfortunately, Ubisoft missed an opportunity to feature Doctor Aphra as a supporting character in the Outlaws DLC. Instead, they went with Lando Calrissian and Hondo Ohnaka – which was a pleasant surprise, but hardly what I would have called for in this situation. With those missed opportunities, I now wonder how else Star Wars media could utilize her.

A sequel to Star Wars Outlaws appears to be out of the question, which is a shame given my earlier suggestion that Doctor Aphra should have had a significant role in Kay Vess's next video game adventure. However, there's still hope – maybe the writers of Doctor Aphra's latest series, Chaos Agent, could plop in Kay Vess as a guest character and have the two rogue operators team up.

But even with these possibilities, I'm hesitant to wish for a live-action version of Doctor Aphra. Disney's mixed track record with its Star Wars streaming shows hasn't exactly inspired confidence, especially after the first-class work done on Andor. Other adaptations, such as Ahsoka and Cad Bane, have had their respective issues with translating character designs and personalities into a new medium.

Perhaps, though, Doctor Aphra is best left to her comic book series, where she can carve out her own space in the galaxy for her fans to enjoy. With that in mind, I wouldn't dare dream of having the high-pressure job of trying to cast Doctor Aphra herself – but Chloe Bennet's performance on Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. was impressive enough to make me like the fancasting.

Opportunities Abound for Star Wars Media

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