You know, it's interesting. I never before had any real love for Willrow, other than it was a character that a friend of mine had pushed hard for. I thought it was entertaining and his role, it would seem, is no more or less important than any of the 163 other figures Hasbro has made with approximately the same amount of screen time.
But on closer inspection of the video Scott kindly provided I noticed something. If you watch closely, you can see that Lando very nearly collides with Willrow. This may seem minor to you, but I've come to the conclusion that this is indeed a critical point in the movie and for the success of the trilogy itself.
Why? You'll notice that Lando (and Leia) are slowed down only momentarily, but that was the crucial interference necessary for Boba Fett to get away with Han Solo. Had Willrow not caused the momentary delay, Lando and Leia would have been able to rescue Han. After all, it didn't take much in ROTJ to dispatch a lame-ass bounty hunter like Fett, so surely it would have been easy for someone as daring and brave as Lando to do the same.
Now you may be thinking that would make Willrow a villain in your eyes. To thee I say NAY, NAY, tis not so. Your perspective is entirely wrong and I'll explain why:
That Boba Fett escapes with Han and returns him to Jabba the Hutt for the bounty on Han's head means our intrepid heroes of the rebellion (minus Han Solo, of course) must spend very nearly the first half of ROTJ on Tatooine, in varied attempts to rescue Han Solo (and subsequently Chewie, C-3PO, R2-D2 and Leia). They and Luke are, as we all know, ultimately successful and this is a good thing.
This is important for two factors:
1. As toy collectors, we would have been impoverished if not for the actions of Willrow. Had Willrow not delayed Lando et al., Han would have been rescued and there would have been no Jabba's palace, no Jabba's barge and no accessory characters, meaning our collections would be reduced by probably 20% or more of the total figures we had. No Rebo band (original or digitally enlarged, much like Colman's penis), no Amanaman, no Rancor, etc. And worse, Y'arna Dal Gargan wouldn't even be in the poll, so casting a vote for her is a waste, for she wouldn't even exist were it not for Willrow Hood.
2. The truly critical factor is that Willrow is responsible for LESS time for Ewoks in ROTJ than the abominable amount they were already allowed. Had the heroes rescued Han before he left Cloud City it is not too far fetched to imagine that the entire story would have taken place on Endor, or at the very least a more significant proportion of it. That would have meant even more time for Ewoks, those accursed little furballs that begat Jar Jar Binks. Remember, liking Ewoks infers a love for Jar Jar, so be careful where your allegiances lie, for yoosa may be showing your true leanings.
No, without Willrow Hood, we'd have been even more inundated by those stupid little
tribbles Ewoks. Ewok haters of the world unite! Vote for Willrow Hood!
