Monday, May 18, 2009

Figure of the Day: Day 1,024: Saesee Tiin

SAESEE TIIN Battle of Coruscant
The Legacy Collection Basic Figures
Item No.:
Asst. 87535 No. 87611
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: #BD11
Includes: Helmet, lightsaber, droid part (cape not included)
Action Feature: Removable helmet
Retail: $7.99
Availability: July 2008
Appearances: Clone Wars 2005 series

Bio: The Separatists attack Coruscant, and the Jedi launch an all-out defense. Saesee Tiin leads a squadron of clone trooper marines on a daring spacewalk to capture a Trade Federation cruiser, after the Republic assault cruiser they are on sustains heavy damage. (Taken from the figure's cardback.)

Image: Adam's floor. Cape not included.

Commentary: After a couple of stumbles, Hasbro really made up for its Saesee Tiin figures. The Episode I version was basically a pepper shaker, and the sequel's figure was little more than an awkward statue-- but a nice one. then we got crazy good figures for the 2003 Clone Wars release, a spectacular basic figure for Revenge of the Sith, and as of last year, this rockin' Clone Wars space armor version based on the cartoon series from 2005. This was on a short list of figures I assumed Hasbro would never bother to do-- and once again, I love being wrong.

The stock figure is one step away from perfection. On the cartoon, the Jedi Master had a cape flowing in the non-wind of space, which looked really cool and was one of the more memorable aspects of the costume. Sadly, I had to add my own-- the one in the picture is from a spare Mandalore figure. Saesee himself, though, is fantastic. His removable helmet fits perfectly, and his green lightsaber looks awesome. The figure's armor isn't simply reused bits of an existing figure, nor is it colored like any other clone. The off-white armor has a dark brown body suit, and little bits of Jedi robes pop out from the gaps. The figure has all the articulation you could hope for, with ball-jointed knees, neck, ankles, and shoulders plus normal joints at the wrists, waist, and hips. If you don't buy this figure, you probably hate Expanded Universe or cartoon stuff, which means you are probably the kind of person who hates kittens and candy and reruns of Unhappily Ever After.

Collector's Notes: The figure (so far) has only shipped in Wave 2 of Legacy and has not made a return appearance. So you might want to go get this one while you can, it's one of my favorites of 2008 and I think you'll like it too.


Day 1,024: May 18, 2009

2 comments:

FETTS said...

I love the jedi armor costumes. I wish these would have been in the movies!

Ben Carthage said...

Adam, agreed, a great idea for a figure and one of Hasbro's better efforts. Most of the design ideas from the Clone Wars micro-series translated well into 'realistic' style, and this was about the best of the lot.