Wedge Antilles
Character | |
---|---|
Name: | Wedge Antilles |
Occupation: | pilot, starfighter pilot |
Relationships: | Norra Wexley (wife), Temmin "Snap" Wexley (step-son), Derek "Hobbie" Klivian (squadmate), Wes Janson (squadmate) |
Fandom: | Star Wars, Star Wars Expanded Universe, Star Wars Legends |
Other: | |
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Wedge Antilles is a popular character who appeared briefly in all three original trilogy Star Wars films as a rebel starfighter pilot, and a cameo appearance in The Rise of Skywalker), as the gunner of the Millennium Falcon.
As one of the few characters outside the main cast to appear in all three films of the original trilogy, and the only non-main character to be involved in the destruction of both Death Stars, Wedge was frequently featured as a supporting character in the Legends-era spin-offs; in particular, he was one of the central characters of the Star Wars: X-Wing novels, comics, and games.
A popular fan-given nickname for Wedge is "Weginald". The long-running Nicholasname is canonically acknowledged in "The Buy-In", a Norra Wexley short story by Suzanne Walker in FACPOV: ROTJ.
Common slash pairings for Wedge include Wedge/Luke Skywalker and Wedge/Tycho Celchu (Legends). In canon, he marries Norra Wexley, the mother of Black Squadron member Temmin "Snap" Wexley, becoming Snap's stepfather after the Battle of Jakku. This makes it especially heartbreaking that Wedge and the rest of the backup force, organized by Lando Calrissian, arrive only moments after Snap's death during the Battle of Exogol in TRoS.
Wedge also canonically taught at the New Republic Flight Academy on Hosnian Prime, which was destroyed by General Armitage Hux, Kylo Ren, and the First Order in The Force Awakens.
Fan Reactions
1984
The "undeniable splendour" that is Wedge:
We do not see Wedge's mystic greatness as detracting from Luke Skywalker's apoptotic struggles with Darth Vader, the Emperor, and the minions of the Empire; but Luke is too inwardly torn, too spiritually troubled with the same questions we all share to aspire to the role that is Wedge's alone. Nor do we feel that Han Solo's mortal preoccupations with matters of mature love and responsibility represent a lessening of his character -- he is just as darling and attractive as his fans maintain. The same is true of the other major characters; we who extol the merits of Wedge Antilles are not interested in glorifying our hero at the expense of others. The SW saga needs those other characters, too. We do not deny that almost every other character in the saga is easier to relate to, in simple, direct terms. We, too, admire the charming, personable qualities of SW other characters. But our awareness has grown; we have become more sophisticated and discerning than we once were. We have crossed into that area of awareness where we can begin to grasp the full implications of that remote grandeur, that cryptically understated but nonetheless undeniable splendour which is Wedge Antilles alone. [1]
2010
Wedge's actions during the Battle of Yavin are not without controversy.
It has really started to bother me how Wedge Antilles gets lightly clipped by a blast and then both he and Luke decide that he should leave the trench. “You can’t do any good back there” my arse! It’s true, the X-Wing guns point forwards, giving them little choice but to dodge bullets… but that is precisely the purpose (in my opinion) of the two wing men assigned to each attack run. They were there essentially to assist in suppressing turbo laser cannon fire, but also part of their responsibility not only to the wing leader but to the entire rebel cause and the galaxy itself, is to destroy the Death Star and save the moon of Yavin IV. What I’m saying is that attack runs one and two demonstrated that the wingmen were there to sacrifice their lives if necessary by slowing down Vader and his Imperial counterparts from getting to the leader. So, telling Wedge to head home early after getting bruised (while there is less than one minute remaining before the Death Star is in range) strikes me as a little shortsighted and bad prioritizing. Biggs, however, sticks it out, buying Luke precious seconds at the heroic cost of his own life. Wedge Antilles is adored by fans. I admit, he’s okay, but I think it’s time for this particular moment to be reassessed objectively.[2]
Common Tropes and Fanon
Fanfiction written post-TFA and pre-TRoS often speculated that Wedge either had died during the genocide of the Hosnian System, giving Snap and other pilots more motivation to continue fighting. Alternatively other works speculated that Wedge was in hiding with Luke Skywalker, depending on the needs of the fic's main ship. And other post-TFA fanworks, depicted Luke and Wedge reconnecting as Luke returned to the Resistance.
Post-canon fics following the sequel trilogy focus on Wedge's grief and/or survivor's guilt for being one of the few characters from previous films to survive The Rise of Skywalker.
Fanworks
Fanfic
- Shadows of Blood by Lindsey McBride ("This is without a doubt one of the best stories I have ever read. Lindsay, you have done a fantastic job! I was in tears by the end. Wedge was perfect. Heck, all the characters were right on target! I shall never forget the image of Wedge sitting on the floor holding Luke's head in his lap, telling him not to even consider dying on him. And the way Wedge had to be led away when they finally landed. Oh God! Terrific! Wonderful! Outstanding! I know who I'm voting for in the 'Star Awards'!") [3] (1996)
- What is a Legacy? by yunmin ("After the Battle of Crait and the death of Luke Skywalker, Rey struggles to work out what to do next. There's so much about the Jedi she still doesn't know. She knows she has to rebuild, fix the Lightsaber and burn the First Order to the ground, but where does she start? The answer, it turns out, is on a quiet mid-rim planet, with a man named Wedge Antilles.") (2020)
- Raise a Glass by hinerdsitscat ("While the Resistance celebrates the end of the First Order, four unlikely survivors (Lando Calrissian, Chewbacca, R2-D2, and Wedge Antilles) gather to remember the ones that they lost.") (2020)
Fanart
from The Ormand Factor #1, artist is Gerald Crotty
from The Ormand Factor #1, artist is Gerald Crotty
from Imperium #5, artist is Melea Fisher (1995)
Meta/Further Reading
- DR. EVAZAN: Or, how I learned to stop worrying and love Wedge Antilles, Archived version "Resident certified Wedge Antilles lunatic Jim Fisher explains the psychology of fans whose hero had, what, like five lines in the whole trilogy?" (1998)
Fannish Resources
- Wookieepedia entry
- fanworks tagged Wedge Antilles at Archive of Our Own
- Wedge A. at Fanfiction.net
- Rogue Podron, a podcast and associated online fan community centered on the X-Wing novels
References
- ^ from Jundland, Too 2 #2
- ^ Good-bye Biggs... at Blue Milk Special, February 26, 2010.
- ^ from a letter of comment in I Have a Bad Feeling About This #1 (1994)