Wednesday, June 24, 2009

Figure of the Day: Day 1,051: Orn Free Taa

ORN FREE TAA Senator
Saga Collection 2
Item No.:
Asst. 84861 No. 84804
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: #0235
Includes: Camera, stand for camera
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $4.99
Availability: Summer 2002
Appearances: Attack of the Clones

Bio: A Rutian Twi'lek, Senator Orn Free Taa has succumbed to a decadent lifestyle on Coruscant. Treating politics as sport, he uses his position to indulge his extravagant impulses. (Taken from the figure's cardback.)

Image: Adam Pawlus' desk.

Commentary: If there's one area that Hasbro basically skipped for the first prequel, it's the random alien senators. Orn Free Taa was an interesting choice for early Republic senator figures, but his distinctive look and notable girth made him stand out on the pegs. Mostly. His blue skin blended in with the packaging.

Due to the nature of the figure's design, he's basically one of those pepper shaker figures. The head and arms can move, but that's about it. Considering it sold for $5, a full $2 less than Episode I figures, this is OK. The detail was definitely a step up, and I daresay that this figure still works as one of Hasbro's good aliens even seven years after its release. His head is covered in wrinkles, and his robe is fairly detailed. Really, a little bit of paint and this figure would probably be pretty much perfect. Well, sorta perfect-- all he's going to do is stand around and be blue and fat. There's not much of a toy here, but this isn't a character you buy to play with so much as to display. With that in mind, I think collectors will be glad to get one if the price is right.

Collector's Notes: While not a turkey, this one was a slower seller in many markets. As such, you can probably get this one cheap. I suggest you do so because I wouldn't count on it getting reissued any time soon, plus he appears on the new cartoon too. So he's kinda relevant, I guess.



Day 1,051: June 24, 2009

3 comments:

Bravo said...

I can't figure out why he has monster-dinosaur feet. Twi'lek women have human-like feet, and they cover their ears. Orn Free Taa's exposed ears are human-like.

Thomas Atkinson said...

I can't figure out why he has four head-tentacles, when all other Twi'leks only have two.

Unknown said...

He also has only four fingers instead of five.
I think there's some EU explaination about there being two Twi'lek races but I don't read the EU so I don't exactly know.
Nonetheless, a great figure, even if kids don't like to play Senate.