The Star Wars saga, like energy, transforms. And that includes dark details of its mythology that seem forgotten for over 40 years and unexpectedly return to continuity to surprise fans, like the very Lord Tion. Who? None other than Princess Leia’s archenemy, but don’t worry, it’s normal if you’ve never heard of him.
A character lost in the radio waves
When we think of Leia’s most dangerous enemies, the names that come to mind are usually Tarkin, or Darth Vader himself, or, as our colleague Marcos Yasif jokes, even her hairdresser. However, the answer is not so obvious. Leia’s true nemesis in her early rebel years is none other than Lord Tion, an Imperial officer who was introduced in the original radio adaptation of Star Wars in 1977. He is a character as intriguing as he is forgotten, despite appearing at different times in the old official canon.
In 1977, the story of Episode IV, A New Hope, jumped beyond the big screen with its radio adaptation. This version, produced by National Public Radio (NPR), consisted of 13 episodes that not only followed the film’s plot with the voices of some of the movie actors, but also added new characters and details. Among these characters, one of the most important was Lord Tion, who in the dramatization plays a key role as an Imperial commander, known for his ruthless personality and unwavering loyalty to the Empire.
Cover of the CD for the radio version of Star Wars
The character of Tion, played by John Considine, is portrayed as a high-ranking commander, part of the officers overseeing the suppression of rebels, particularly on the planet Ralltiir. Tion not only has the mission to crush the resistance on that world, but also becomes a personal threat to Leia Organa. In the adaptation, Tion tries to manipulate Leia to obtain information about the rebels’ plans, even flirting with her in an attempt to break her will.
However, it’s important for fans not to confuse this Lord Tion with Tion Medon, the character that appears in Episode III, Revenge of the Sith. Medon, a Pau’an, is the port administrator of Pau City on the planet Utapau and has no relation to the Imperial officer from the radio adaptation. Tion Medon is a secondary character in the Star Wars Universe, while Lord Tion, in his original version, plays a crucial role as Leia’s direct antagonist.
Bail Organa, Princess Leia, and Lord Tion in Topps collectible cards
Second time wasn’t the charm either
Although Lord Tion was part of the franchise in the expanded universe, his name disappeared for years, especially after the restructuring of the Star Wars canon. Despite that, Tion didn’t completely vanish. In recent times, the saga has decided to bring back this and other characters from the past, making them part of the modern canon. In fact, Lord Tion has been reintroduced in the Star Wars comics, where he continues to represent the imperial threat he always was. Additionally, eagle-eyed fans can spot him on the cover of the CD that collects the legendary radio dramatization, a nod to those who remember his early adventures.
LEGO Star Wars Millennium Falcon, Maqueta de Construcción para Adultos de la Nave Estelar de Han Solo con Mini Figuras Chewbacca, Leia y C-3PO.
* Prices may have changed since the last update
The return of Lord Tion through the Star Wars comics published by Dark Horse is a clear example of how the franchise continues to leverage its legacy to enrich its mythology. However, since Tion was part of the old Expanded Universe, after the canon restructuring following Disney’s acquisition of Lucasfilm, his story was relegated outside of the official continuity. And you can enjoy that when you want if you’re a Star Wars fan because you can watch all the Star Wars movies and series on Disney+.
Source: 3Djuegos | Thousands of cotton swabs were the perfect ally for the special effects of Star Wars in The Phantom Menace
Source: 3Djuegos | Mononoke is Ghibli’s most famous princess, but I have reasons for my favorite to always be Nausicaä
Source: 3Djuegos | A Skyrim player has taken the time to count all the words hidden behind the books in this open-world RPG, and the number is so high that it’s frightening
