Captain Phasma (Spoilers)

[CorporalCaptain]

So, what did people think of this character? I personally was a little bit disappointed. I figure she'd have a bigger role and lowering the shields wasn't particularly badass. Also, do people think she survived and will come back?

Any crazy theories or is she what you find on the tin?

I was disappointed, too.

I felt there was a wasted opportunity in the film for Solo and Finn to remove her helmet so we could discover something about her character.

It could have been a moment to contrast her character with Finn's, perhaps even to give us some insight (also sorely lacking) into why it was that stormtrooper conditioning didn't work on Finn.

As it stands, it's really, really hard to believe that she would agree to lower the shields for any reason whatsoever.

However, one thing that might make sense is if Finn knew of or discovered a device on her person, perhaps a code cylinder or something like one, that they could use to lower the shields against her wishes.

Personally, I think she was only in TFA to introduce her character. We know that she's supposed to be in VIII, so she obviously survives. Assuming she's going to run into Finn again, she's going to be *PISSED*. (At least, that's my hope for that part of the story.)

It would make sense that she was largely in TFA for the purposes of introduction. So many, many elements seem to fall into the category, which is also one of the things I didn't like about the film.

If Snoke finds out that she was actually complicit in lowering the shields, I'd expect him to want to shorten her existence and/or make the rest of it extremely miserable for her.

 

[Maab of the Ten Tribes]

Kathleen Kennedy confirms that Phasma will return in the next movie:

http://blogs.indiewire.com/theplayl...ll-return-for-star-wars-episode-viii-20151222

 

[Alidar Jarok]

I dunno, I guess I prefer characters whose face is actually seen. I like the actress but the character didn't do much for me. Maybe that'll change in the next movie.

See, I appreciate not needing to see a character's face. Sometimes it just fits the character not to see a face and it take out the realism of it slightly (yes, realism in a Galaxy far, far away, I know). To me, it fits Phasma that she wouldn't take off her helmet. She gave Fin shit for him taking of his. I'd like her to keep it on.

I'll compare that to Kylo Ren. He's badass with his helmet, but I like that he's human. The first scene he took it off was great. When he was with his father, it made sense. But I wish he had it on during the final fight.

 

[CorporalCaptain]

Yeah, I agree that Phasma likely wouldn't take off her helmet except in complete privacy.

That's why I wanted Han and Finn to remove her helmet, to try to weaken her while trying to use her to lower the shields. Her reaction to being....exposed like that could have been very interesting.

 

[{ Emilia }]

Yeah, I agree that Phasma likely wouldn't take off her helmet except in complete privacy.

That's why I wanted Han and Finn to remove her helmet, to try to weaken her while trying to use her to lower the shields. Her reaction to being....exposed like that could have been very interesting.

^ As a woman I must admit that seeing a man write that felt really creepy. Don't you think we have seen enough movies that violated a woman's privacy by exposing her?

 

[Zaku]

That's why I wanted Han and Finn to remove her helmet, to try to weaken her while trying to use her to lower the shields. Her reaction to being....exposed like that could have been very interesting.

why stop at helmet..? Go for the whole armor!

 

[CorporalCaptain]

Whatever, guys.

 

[{ Emilia }]

Way to deal with criticism.

 

[Venardhi]

Yeah, I agree that Phasma likely wouldn't take off her helmet except in complete privacy.

That's why I wanted Han and Finn to remove her helmet, to try to weaken her while trying to use her to lower the shields. Her reaction to being....exposed like that could have been very interesting.

^ As a woman I must admit that seeing a man write that felt really creepy. Don't you think we have seen enough movies that violated a woman's privacy by exposing her?

You realize we're talking about exposure in the sense of removing her anonymity and subsuming role as a cog in the First Order machine and forcing her to accept the limits of her humanity by facing the heroes as an individual, right?

Don't get hung up on the pronouns or imprecise English verbage. We're discussing an evil military commander, who could just as easily be played by a man, a man for whom unmasking and exposure would be just as powerful.

 

[CorporalCaptain]

Way to deal with criticism.

Again, whatever. I was discussing removing the helmet, and the possible psychological impact that might have on a character who insists others of her kind stay helmeted. That was specifically a plot point earlier in the film involving Phasma with Finn. Finn's breaking free of that bondage is integral to the whole film. It's got nothing to do with gender, or even privacy for that matter, since we're talking about ceremonial battle armor, and I wasn't suggesting that there be any sexual undertones. My ellipses were not intended to suggest any double entendre, only that I had a lack of better words. I was simply mentioning what I thought was a missed opportunity to reveal Phasma's character with a possible bearing on how it is that Finn could break free of conditioning but others, possibly including her, apparently couldn't so easily.

If I'm irritated now, it's because I feel like two people now are trying to draw me into discussing some twisting of my words that's got nothing to do with what I was talking about whatsoever.

Venardhi got it, to a tee.

Yeah, I agree that Phasma likely wouldn't take off her helmet except in complete privacy.

That's why I wanted Han and Finn to remove her helmet, to try to weaken her while trying to use her to lower the shields. Her reaction to being....exposed like that could have been very interesting.

^ As a woman I must admit that seeing a man write that felt really creepy. Don't you think we have seen enough movies that violated a woman's privacy by exposing her?

You realize we're talking about exposure in the sense of removing her anonymity and subsuming role as a cog in the First Order machine and forcing her to accept the limits of her humanity by facing the heroes as an individual, right?

Don't get hung up on the pronouns or imprecise English verbage. We're discussing an evil military commander, who could just as easily be played by a man, a man for whom unmasking and exposure would be just as powerful.

 

[{ Emilia }]

Just to explain: You made a post with content that was dangerously close in sentiment to very real and very old sexist trope in movies and, even worse, in society.
Men showing their power over women by exposing them. Your creepy wording didn't help either because that is exactly how people word it in real life which obviously triggered a reaction from two posters here.
Two female posters pointed that out because it made us feel uncomfortable.

And your reaction is: "Whatever."

It's not surprising that you, as a man, don't have to worry about how having these things in movies, even science fiction movies, might not be a good idea.

But then that's just you're privilege showing. And instead of dismissing two women's concerns you could try and not be "that guy".

Go ahead, dig your heels in and dismiss us again if you feel that's the best you can do when women point out something like that.

In any case I'm done talking to you if all you want to do is mansplain to two women what constitutes sexist content that makes them feel uncomfortable. I'm sorry but you don't get to define that in my book.

 

[Venardhi]

Being a woman is not a defining aspect of Phasma's character and exposure in this sense has nothing to do with gender. If you didn't know who was playing her, and Phasma had a voice modulator that made it so we didn't even know her gender, would you be having this same response?

 

[{ Emilia }]

The thing is we do know.

But hey, whatever guys. It's your choice!
I'm not going to dwell on it or keep repeating myself. I figured I'd explain myself once. You can take it or leave it.

 

[CorporalCaptain]

Venardhi's right. I would have said the same thing if Phasma had been a man, if Han and Finn had been women, or if there had been any other permutation of gender.

All I have to say at this point is that not only did I not intend there to be any gender-related undertones in what I wrote, but also it was my intent to discuss something that was gender-neutral. If that's insufficient to clarify the content of my post, then I really don't know what to say.

 

[Venardhi]

So your only problem with stripping the fictional amoral character of the psychological benefits of anonymity and group identity is her biological gender. Take a moment with that thought.

 

[{ Emilia }]

Your privilege is still showing. You might want to see to that.

But to get the thread back on topic: I was also really disappointed when she just lowered those shields without any resistance. I hope she'll get more to do in the next movie.

 

[Venardhi]

In real life you don't win a debate by throwing out a condescending catchphrase.

 

[{ Emilia }]

In real life you don't win a debate by throwing out a condescending catchphrase.

I think you have proven that you're not interested in even considering the female point of view on this and you can afford that because of male privilege.
I've explained myself. You had the chance to not be that guy. At this point there's really nothing left to say about this so we might as well get back to talking about Finn's ex-boss.

 

[royalfan5]

Your privilege is still showing. You might want to see to that.

But to get the thread back on topic: I was also really disappointed when she just lowered those shields without any resistance. I hope she'll get more to do in the next movie.

I have the theory that Phasma is a resistance agent, and that's why the shields got lowered so easily. Perhaps, she slides into a Lando esqe role down the road.

 

[{ Emilia }]

I think that's unlikely but on the other hand it would explain why Finn didn't get into more trouble right away after the attack on the village.