Star Wars Advent Calendar Review: Day 16
Posted by CapnRex101,
Door number fifteen yielded a delightful model of the Tantive IV and it seems likely that the Original Trilogy trend will continue today. It has been a couple of days since we last saw a minifigure emerge from the Advent Calendar so one wonders what we will find next...
While the Tantive IV is the first vehicle to appear in a Star Wars film, U-3PO is among the first characters to appear as he wanders through the hallways of the vessel with C-3PO and R2-D2. This exclusive minifigure is therefore an appropriate inclusion to coincide with the North American release of Rogue One: A Star Wars Story and makes an excellent addition to one's minifigure collection. Not only is this an appealing reference to the movie but the character is sufficiently generic that it could slot into almost any Star Wars model and is therefore very useful.
The minifigure is highly detailed, as we have come to expect of protocol droids. I like the pearl silver plating and an array of colourful cables are visible in his chest which looks great. The eyes are also printed with yellow spots much like the K-3PO minifigure in 75098 Assault on Hoth.
I love seeing seasonal minifigures in the Star Wars Advent Calendar but also welcome more useful exclusive characters such as U-3PO. The young Boba Fett from the 2013 calendar is still my absolute favourite but this certainly comes close!
Overall - 5.0 - U-3PO may be an obscure character but he is well suited to the release of Rogue One: A Star Wars Story and I am delighted to add another protocol droid to my collection.
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15 comments on this article
I have been waiting for this one!
it does make you wonder though, what happened to him after R2 and 3-PO left the tantive?
Jazstronaut, he was probably reprogrammed and had all his data taken.
What makes this the droid from Tantive IV rather than the more famous silver protocol droids like the one from Cloud City or the opening of Ep. I?
So, he's got a name. I thought it may have been an Episode 2 version of Threepio. As for U-3PO, he was an Imperial spy, and led the Empire to the Tantive IV.
@J0rgen:
I was researching that question this morning trying to figure out which droid it was, before I realized it must be U-3PO since it's right after Tantive IV. :)
What I found out is that U-3PO is not as shiny as E-3PO (on Bespin).
Other than that, they seem to be the same.
There's almost always a thematic pairing between minifigures and mini builds in Advent Calendars. Look at the past few days, like the Both figures being paired with Both stuff. Logically, U3PO is going to follow the Tantive.
I'd love to get this guy. He looks great, though less detail than the Force Awakens C-3PO.
Confirmation it's U-3PO
https://www.lego.com/en-us/starwars/characters/u-3po-0fc741bcf35e48f1b557d7aef77cca4c
Love this minifig, one of the best ever advent calendar offerings, I'd say.
Now if only I could get the new Y-Wing in the US...
Score! :)
When I first saw the minifig on the box, I thought of U-3PO. I'm very pleased with the detail. Also, what a great calendar this is turning out to be!
I like this minifig also!
BEST SW ADVENT CALENDAR EVER!
Glad I bought it :)
My minifig had a horribly offset printing on the head. One eye is yellow, the other yellow spot is located on the side of his head...
Absolutley LOVE this little guy! :-)