11 Parsecs Temple Archives -

Val

Val is a human outlaw who appears in the 2018 film “Solo: A Star Wars Story,” its tie-in novelization, and the comic adaptation. An experienced thief, slicer, and demolitions expert, she is the pragmatic backbone of Tobias Beckett’s crew and Beckett’s romantic partner. Val’s cynicism makes her immediately wary of new hires Han Solo and Chewbacca, yet her professionalism and dry humor keep the team focused on their objective: hijacking a shipment of refined coaxium from an Imperial conveyex on Vandor-1. When Enfys Nest’s Cloud-Riders ambush the heist, Val chooses to detonate the bridge chargers she planted, destroying Imperial pursuit but sacrificing her own life to buy the crew a chance at escape - a pivotal moment that shapes Beckett’s and Han’s subsequent choices.

Though her screen time is brief, Val stands out for her competence, moral pragmatism, and the evident affection she shares with Beckett, humanizing the otherwise hard-bitten gang. Portrayed by Thandiwe Newton - the first Black woman with a significant live-action role in a Star Wars feature - Val’s character drew both praise for on-screen representation and criticism for an early, self-sacrificial death that some felt underused the actor. Production materials reveal that Val originally survived longer in early drafts, but rewrites condensed the Vandor sequence, resulting in her heroic exit. Within the current canon, little is known about Val’s origins before she met Beckett, leaving her background open for future storytelling, yet her sacrifice remains a key emotional and narrative catalyst in Han Solo’s formative years.

Closest Pages from Podcast Discussion: Yoda (+36), Darth Maul (+30), Republic (+28), Star Wars universe (+15), Legends (+15),

Mentions on Podcast Episodes:

"I also liked Vale's arc, working with Slyro against K,"

2. - (40 BBY) Master & Apprentice by Claudia Gray
"Yoda visited Valorum and asked about the details of the mission,"

4. - (32 BBY) Darth Maul Miniseries (1-4)
"What happened to Chancellor Valorum after the vote of no confidence?"

4. - (32 BBY) Darth Maul Miniseries (1-4)
"who went missing during Valorum's time in office."

4. - (32 BBY) Darth Maul Miniseries (1-4)
"Finnis Valorum only had one more canon appearance after the events of the Phantom Menace."

4. - (32 BBY) Darth Maul Miniseries (1-4)
"you know, Valorum, that's it."

7. - (29 BBY) Obi-Wan and Anakin Miniseries (1-3)
"didn't hold up. It was not yet Uncanny Valley, but it was getting to that point and you're"

13. - (22 BBY) Attack of the Clones
"Thor and Valkyrie or is that 4?"

19. - (22 BBY) Clone Wars S1E1-S1E4 'Ambush / Malevolence Trilogy'
"Do you think that that is, Thor and Valkyrie one."

20. - (22 BBY) Clone Wars S1E5-S1E7 ‘Downfall & Duel of the Droids‘
"Not Oh not an Oscar Valley of the Wind"

31. - (21 BBY) Clone Wars Season 2 Ep 4 / Ep 5 / Visions 6
"It's called it's called Nostra Valley of the Wind and it's it's that kind of like that same art style"

31. - (21 BBY) Clone Wars Season 2 Ep 4 / Ep 5 / Visions 6
"Vikings Valhalla season two."

43. - (21 BBY) Forces of Destiny S1 E12 and S1 E4 and Clone Wars S3 E11

Val

"I also liked Vale's arc, working with Slyro against K,"

"Yoda visited Valorum and asked about the details of the mission,"

"What happened to Chancellor Valorum after the vote of no confidence?"

"who went missing during Valorum's time in office."

"Finnis Valorum only had one more canon appearance after the events of the Phantom Menace."

"you know, Valorum, that's it."

"didn't hold up. It was not yet Uncanny Valley, but it was getting to that point and you're"

"Thor and Valkyrie or is that 4?"

"Do you think that that is, Thor and Valkyrie one."

"Not Oh not an Oscar Valley of the Wind"

"It's called it's called Nostra Valley of the Wind and it's it's that kind of like that same art style"

"Vikings Valhalla season two."