C-3PO - TBS [P3] - Six Inch Figures (Exclusive)

C-3PO is a droid programmed for etiquette and protocol. Over the years, he was involved in some of the galaxy's most thrilling battles and is fluent in more than seven million forms of communication.

In The Black Series 6” line alone, Hasbro has made some of their biggest mistakes thus far. Some of the problems/issues were juts part of the learning curve of a new scale and format, but others were just blatant missteps. So we’re talking about the blatant mistakes here. One is the nonexistent reissue of R2-D2. The other is the exclusive release of the Original Trilogy C-3PO. How in the world is the The Black Series [Phase III] C-3PO a Walgreens exclusive, while the silly red-armed version from The Force Awakens is the basic release? It makes no sense whatsoever. Let’s pretend for a minute that C-3PO never gets reissued like 2013’s TBS [P1] R2-D2 (#04) figure. There just won’t be enough units of C-3PO able to meet demand, unless Walgreens and Hasbro struck some massive production agreement so that this version of C-3PO stays at retail for more than five minutes. Everyone is going to be after this figure. In our opinion, it will be one of the most highly sought after exclusives Hasbro has ever produced. And while hindsight is always 20/20, maybe Walgreens have set themselves up to benefit greatly from this exclusive C-3PO figure. It’s our hops and prayers that everyone who wants C-3PO will get him. It’s a nice addition to the TBS6 line. It obviously doesn’t break any new ground, but this is the version of C-3PO that everyone wants, not old red-arm.

C-3PO is nearly a carbon copy of 2015’s TBS [P3] C-3PO (Resistance Base) (29) figure. This time Hasbro gave the droid two matching colored arms and additionally added a lower right leg that has been painted in silver. We initially thought that the “Resistance Base” C-3PO and the Walgreens exclusive C-3PO were painted in a differently colored gold when compared side by side. But we don’t find that to be the case at all. The gold paint matches and does a great job of mimicking real metal plating as it picks up light and shines when needed. Of course it’s not ideal, but as we’ve said before this method is the next best thing. This version of C-3PO has also been given differently painted belly wires, but this is because the actual abdomen is a new sculpt. The pina operations also look more neatly applied than the “Resistance Base” version too. Once again, this sculpt of C-3PO feels off in some way, but since we have difficulty pinpointing it, perhaps it’s more in our heads. We do think his arms are a tad too long, but the angle that they’ve been placed makes it hard to know for sure if this is actually the case, or just an illusion. And something in his face plating seems slightly off in some respect. But if you ask us specifically what is wrong, we’re not able to articulate that. You should be the only judge for C-3PO and come to your own conclusions, because the figure isn’t terrible. C-3PO doesn’t come with any accessories which is very disappointing. What about his comlink? What about a restraining bolt? Nope, nothing extra is included here. He has no accessories.

The articulation give to C-3PO is identical to the “Resistance Base” release. At first glance it appears the figure has articulation that the onscreen character doesn’t have and the figure doesn’t have articulation that the onscreen character does. Maybe this ultimately just balances out in the end, but once again we’re not sure if we fully agree with the approach Hasbro has taken here. He still does however come with generous movement. C-3PO definitely looks too stiff in the arms (thanks to no elbow articulation), but at the same time he doesn’t look bad. As you can see every time we attempt to criticize the figure, we’re unable to defend the criticisms. This figure just sort of works. The rest of C-3PO comes with the articulation you’d expect for this line. Hasbro has done a wonderful job in working them into the figure. Collectors of this line should be satisfied with what Hasbro has provided here. He looks great next to R2-D2. He looks like the onscreen character. And he’s been decorated admirably. But as far as all those cool features that 2010’s TVC See-Threepio (C-3PO) figure gave us, well, we just don’t anything like that here at all. This is why we have taken such issue with the 6” line. It should bring the coolest things possible to these large action figures. Where are the removable limbs? Where are the removable panels? They’re just not here. And maybe that’s all OK for you. We just want to see more.