Jyn Erso (Jedha) - SW [TLJ] - Basic

After a lackluster development of Rey’s character in The Force Awakens, we had great reservations about Sergeant Jyn Erso from Rogue One: A Star Wars Story. The trailers also seemed to paint a completely different synopsis of the character that we see in the film. So, it was refreshing to witness in Rogue One: A Star Wars Story that Sergeant Jyn Erso was a truly well-developed character with real world struggles, successes, failures, and victories. And what a twist it was to see she sacrificed her life (as well as everyone on her strike team lost their lives) for the greater good. It was heart-wrenching to watch and one of the most emotional scenes in the entire Star Wars timeline. Like so many other characters before her, Jyn Erso (Jedha) is just one of her multiple outfits we saw her in during Rogue One: A Star Wars Story. Interestingly, Hasbro released Sergeant Jyn Erso (Eadu) first, but that was a very brief scene, and it puzzled why Hasbro would release that version as the first basic figure. Her more prominent outfit got eventually released in the Rogue One line, and it is this version which has been carried forward into the Star Wars [The Last Jedi] Force Link line. Yes, with all of the Sergeant Jyn Erso (Jedha) peg-warmers that existed at retail as well as a supply that online retailers couldn’t seem to give away, why would Hasbro re-release this figure so soon? The quick answer is Force Link.

Jyn Erso (Jedha) gets to “talk” for the very first time in the basic figure line. And in some strange way, we’re quite happy that Hasbro has chosen this version of Jyn Erso (Jedha) to be released once again. With the Force Link wristband, Jyn Erso (Jedha) can communicate five lines (some sound like they have comes from the screenplay of Rogue One, others we just cannot remember) along with a bevy of sound effects like blasters blasting and vehicles moving. The figure itself is a retool and repaint of 2016’s RO Sergeant Jyn Erso (Jedha) figure, but the revised paint job, while unique, more closely resembles the pack-in figure from 2016’s RO Rapid Fire Imperial AT-ACT vehicle. That particular pack-in figure came with a more vibrant paint job. She is not wrought with any sculpting issues. There is certainly a fine amount of detail in her sculpt that impresses us. So this should have been an action figure that would have pleased us. But her pose makes her appear as if she is a little too uptight or wound up. Her legs are too close together. Her arms are much too flush with her sides. And her legs are bowed just enough to give her a very annoying “leaning forward” effect that does nothing for her agile character. She looks clunky at best. Her expression is a tad confused as well, but we have to concede that the paint operations are much better on this release than the previous version. That’s a great thing!

Jyn Erso (Jedha) is decently outfitted. She comes with a long and removable gray head covering. She also comes with a blaster pistol that fits into a functioning holster on her right thigh. We love when Hasbro tool these things on the figures. Hasbro did a nice job here with that once again. Typically, simply articulated action figures came with silly Build A Weapon features or bulky weapons, but Hasbro has dropped all of that for a more authentic play feature: Force Link. It’s admittedly one of the most fun things that Hasbro has added to the action figure line in a very long time. The lines are recorded by voice actors, but the lines are believable. And it works, very well in fact. Jyn Erso (Jedha) has her English accent and throws out some of her most popular musings from Rogue One: A Star Wars Story. Kids and collectors alike are going to have a blast interacting with the Force Link premium. Honestly, it has turned out better than we had ever anticipated. Other than going back into Hasbro’s 5POA line and redoing some of their greatest hits with Force Link technology, there isn’t much we can complain about when it comes to the figures that are blessed with this play feature. We can’t say we’re jumping up and down over Jyn Erso (Jedha)’s re-release, but we can admit that it’s nice to hear her talk. She’s different enough to make you mad.* (*quote stolen from Adam Pawlus of GalacticHunter.com)