Senate Guard - TVC - Basic (VC36)

You may be tired of hearing us constantly utter this, but it’s incredible how far technology has brought the Star Wars action figure line. It wasn’t until recently that Hasbro started getting notoriously more creative regarding using soft goods materials in their action figures. Until about the end of 2008, if Hasbro graced an action figure with soft goods, save for a few rare exceptions, the result would be a glistening, shimmery, shiny, synthetic cape or skirt that looked unnatural and fake. It also worked against the aesthetics of the action figure. For those who need a refresher course, the shinier the material, the cheaper the fabric is. As you can imagine, Hasbro was penny-wise and pound-foolish during this period. Action figure aesthetics suffered while Hasbro saved a few dollars on tooling costs using these inferior materials to make their soft goods. Thanks to the advent of super-articulated action figure-making, all of that seems to have changed for the better now. Beginning in 2009, Hasbro wowed us with strikingly gorgeous soft goods materials. 2009’s TLC Owen Lars (BD 46) comes readily to mind. The outer cloak was spectacular and proved what Hasbro could bring collectors in a 3.75-inch action figure line. And they have been on a remarkable streak since. Hasbro took soft goods design a step further in The Vintage Collection and, with the release of the outstanding Senate Guard, has given collectors a whole new appreciation for what they can execute in the basic figure line. But we’ll get to that in a minute.

Senate Guard has the feel of an all-new figure, but it is a kit-bash figure that uses the body, hands, and legs of the 2005 ROTS Royal Guard (III 23) figure. For The Vintage Collection release, Hasbro has added all-new arms, removing the “swelbows” and a brilliant head/helmet combination that are two pieces glued together. Find a figure sample whose brow line parallels the helmet’s brim, as we have seen instances where these two parts’ meeting were crooked. Hasbro installed 18 points of articulation with upgraded ball-jointed elbows, thank goodness, and they are perfect for a figure of this caliber. We’ll encourage you to spend time undressing the figure because you get a “whole new character” that looks phenomenal without the bulkiness created by the dual-layered robes. Frankly, the all-new soft goods are something to get worked up about because they are gorgeous. Hasbro has crafted or discovered a fabric mimicking suede’s rich and luxurious texture for the first time. We have never encountered a heavier or denser soft-goods material like this in the basic figure line. In the past, Hasbro has used some “plush” fabrics that honestly never worked too well. It was almost like the fabrics used in the vintage Kenner line. Moreover, Hasbro lined the “sueded” underside with a silky, satiny material. This mixed media helps to affirm our opinion of these guards’ royalty and that their regalia contains luxe materials. In short, the clothing on the Senate Guard is just gorgeous, albeit much too voluminous.A second light blue layer of robes in a stretchy textile lies close to the Senate Guard’s body.

The latter works amazingly well with the outer dark blue “suede” robes and creates contrast in addition to a genuinely deluxe version of this Star Wars character. When collectors get a premium figure like the Senate Guard, it balances out the smaller entries into the line like Wicket (VC27) or Yoda (VC20). As mentioned, the outer robes are extended in spots but still beautiful. The Senate Guard is perfectly accessorized and includes the hip blaster that the original 2005 Revenge Of The Sith figure came with and the blaster rifle. It looks to be the same gun. We believe the best accessory is the force pike, and Hasbro made it from dense, rigid plastic. It seems like it will hold its shape over time, thankfully. And while you can’t pose it upright into the arms as the standard red Royal Guards, it still is a welcomed accessory (perhaps the most important one of the included three) nonetheless. If you take the time to appreciate the sculpting and paint job of the figure hidden by the soft goods, we bet you’ll be pleasantly surprised. Hasbro didn’t break much new ground here, but the enhancements are noteworthy. Coincidentally, the body of the Senate Guard resembles the figure in the 2010 TCW [SOTDS] Senate Commando Captain/Senate Commando Target exclusive two-pack more closely than 2005’s ROTS Senate Guard (III 23) figure. We find that particularly interesting. (The Clone Wars has its influence everywhere!) The Senate Guard will indeed be the army builder of the fourth wave of The Vintage Collection. We feel it’s a worthy upgrade and one of our favorites from the assortment. In our assessment, the Senate Guard is ultimately a must-have action figure.