For Star Wars fans we all know how the movies usually role. There may be some heartbreak every once in the blue moon but ultimately there’s a happy ending right? Rogue One changed that narrative big time.

Do you remember sitting in the movie theater for the first time in utter shock as every hero in the film was efficiently killed off in the last eighteen minutes of the movies? It was pretty remarkable. After K-2SO’s death I knew anything was possible (because a droid had never perished in the franchise before) and sure enough, well, you know the rest.

Rogue One is, in part, a devastating movie because these characters managed to worm their way into our hearts in the most delightful ways. The diverse cast of characters gave everyone someone to cheer for. For me, my favorite character was Cassian. I knew he was pretty much doomed but it was still heartbreaking when he died. In fact, I think I cried for a year straight whenever I watched this movie. So yeah, Rogue One may be one the best Star Wars film ever made but it’s also one of the saddest leading to this week’s question for Who’s Your Favorite (or in this case, Which is the Saddest?) Enjoy!

Saw Gerrera

Saw Gerrera lived for a long time but his life was filled with hardship and grief. At a young age, he lost his dear sister Steela as they tried to liberate their homeworld of Onderon.

Throughout The Clone Wars he fought and when the Empire took over the galaxy he continued to rebel. Who knows what losses he had to endure through the years but it was pretty clear when we saw him in Rogue One he had been through a lot.

No matter how much he fought the Empire and found a way to survive he would still perish the Empire’s hand.

Galen Erso

Galen Erso’s story is tragic indeed. He was a simple scientist who only wanted to better the galaxy but his smarts attracted the wrong people; the agents of the Empire. Orson Krennic would go on to befriend him only in order to make Galen make the weapon for his superweapon. Once Galen and Lyra Erso realized what they were helping bring to the galaxy they ran as far away as they could. Unfortunately, they couldn’t escape the Empire’s grasp for long and Galen would end up losing his wife and daughter in one fell swoop.

His rebellious spirit, however, never faded. His knowledge about the Death Star’s inner workings would help the Rebellion destroy the very thing he created. He would end up dying in his daughter’s arms but at least he got the chance to see her one last time. 😭

K-2SO

K-2SO was basically the anti-C-3PO. He was dark, brusque and yet entirely hilarious. He was also very cool because he was able to do things (like shoot a blaster) that protocol droids like C-3PO couldn’t do.

And then he died in the most gruesome fashion. Riddled with blaster holes he used the last bit of his strength (or battery life) to destroy the console that kept the data room locked or unlocked, hence sacrificing himself for his friends. It’s a jarring moment and, ultimately, the beginning of the end for the heroes.

Chirrut Imwe

Chirrut Imwe is clearly one of the coolest characters to ever be conceived in the franchise. I mean, a blind man who uses the Force as his guide and wields a staff that can transform into a crossbow?! How cool is that?!

And then, of course, he died. It was dreadful. Absolutely heartbreaking. But his actions would eventually lead to the Death Star being destroyed.

Bodhi Rook

The events of Rogue One wouldn’t have been possible if not for Bodhi Rook’s conscience awakening with him. His actions snowballed a rebellious movement that produced the Rebellion’s first major victory against the Empire, making him one of the most important characters in the franchise.

He was able to send the message to the Rebel fleet for them to prepare for acquiring the data needed to destroy the Death Star but mere seconds after the transmission he would lose his life to a rather explosive grenade. Ouch.

Baze Malbus

Baze’s belief in the Guardians of the Whills and the Force had been fractured after the group’s tragic annihilation but he never gave up fighting.

He would, like the rest of the heroes, perish in the Battle of Scarif but at least he died alongside the person he loved most.

Jyn Erso and Cassian Andor

For both Jyn and Cassian they had to grow up with tragedy in their childhood. They would learn to fight at a young age and grow up learning the ways of the rebel. Their rebellious deeds would ultimately get them both killed but their actions and their determination to rid the galaxy of the Empire’s ways led to conducting one of the most important victories in the Rebellion’s history.

To find love in the middle of a war isn’t something that happens often but they did. Yes, they didn’t get the chance to live long lives in a peaceful galaxy but at least they were there for each other at the end.

All of these characters met dismal ends, making Rogue One clearly one of the saddest films in the franchise. So, of these heroes’ deaths, which one makes you cry the most? For me, it’s definitely Jyn and Cassian’s death. They were my favorite characters in the movie and their demise is just…so sad. Especially that they had to watch the thing that would kill them (the fire cloud from the Death Star blast) approaching. So sad. *sniffle*

I can’t wait to hear your thoughts in the comments below. I thank you for reading and I hope you have a spectacular day. May the Force be with you.