Entertainment
Star Wars’ Most Forgotten Villain Is The Franchise’s Most Relatable Character
By Chris Snellgrove
| Published
Star Wars is filled with some of the coolest villains in genre history. This includes Darth Vader, an evil cyborg space wizard with a laser sword. There’s also Boba Fett, a ruthless bounty hunter with a cool ship and cooler armor who basically invented aura farming. Oh, and let’s not forget Emperor Palpatine, who walks around in a comfy bathrobe all day, but nobody gets to laugh because the guy looks like a zombie and can shoot lightning out of his fingertips.
As cool as all those bad guys are, they aren’t my favorite Star Wars villain. My pick goes to Admiral Motti, who is best known for mouthing off to Vader before getting Force-choked in A New Hope. Most of the fandom considers this guy a joke, but he’s secretly the most relatable character in the entire franchise. You know why that is? It’s simple: he takes pride in what he does, he hates useless work meetings, he calls out colleagues for their BS, and he takes a brave stance against religious discussion in the workplace.
The Imperial Everyman
Need more of a reminder about who Admiral Motti is? He only pops up in one scene in A New Hope, when he and the other Imperial commanders are laying out some exposition and dishing on the Death Star. When Admiral Tagge points out that the Death Star is vulnerable because of the plans Leia stole, Motti defends the Empire’s latest creation, eventually declaring, “This station is now the ultimate power in the universe. I suggest we use it!” That’s when Darth Vader begins chiding the admiral, telling him he shouldn’t be proud of the Death Star because “The ability to destroy a planet is insignificant next to the power of the Force.”
Instead of yielding to Vader, Motti hilariously claps back, telling the Sith, “Don’t try to frighten us with your sorcerer’s ways, Lord Vader. Your sad devotion to that ancient religion has not helped you conjure up the stolen data tapes, or given you clairvoyance enough to find the Rebels’ hidden fort–.” The last word is cut off when Vader decides to Force choke the man, and he only releases his grip when ordered to do so by Grand Moff Tarkin.
Finally, A Villain We Can Relate To
Now, why is Admiral Motti the most relatable character in all of Star Wars? First, he takes pride in his work. Considering that it blows up at the end of the movie, it’s easy to see his defense of the Death Star as sheer hubris. But this guy was the head of naval operations for the battle station and was simply proud of the Empire’s latest creation. He didn’t like anyone speaking ill of the Death Star because they were effectively blaming him for the shortcomings of others. Like, Vader let the plans slip away, making the Death Star vulnerable before badmouthing it. Is it any wonder Motti hates this guy?
Also, while he had no way of knowing this, Motti’s plan would actually have saved the battle station and everyone on it from certain destruction. When he suggested using the Death Star, he presumably meant using it against any of the growing number of planets that were defying the Empire. Had Tarkin agreed to do so, the Rebellion would have slowly died as all of the planets supporting them would have been destroyed. It’s fair to say the Death Star was doomed because everyone ignored Motti, and hyper-focused so much on getting the stolen plans back, that they brought the battle station to the doorstep of the only people who had a chance to destroy it.
Who Hasn’t Choked During A Work Meeting?
Finally, Motti has the distinction of being the only character in a Star Wars movie with the balls to insult Darth Vader to his face. That alone makes him cooler than every other minor character in the franchise, combined. As an added bonus, he calls Vader out for constantly bringing up his religious beliefs in the middle of a damned work meeting. Can you imagine working with a guy who always interrupts others during a meeting to say things like “the ability to increase shareholder value is insignificant next to the power of Jesus Christ, the King of Kings.” Be honest. You’d want to see that guy die for the sin of being so freakin’ annoying.
Nobody ever calls Vader out because they are rightully scared of him on sight. Admiral Motti, however, dunked on Vader’s incompetence, chastised him for constantly talking about his religion, and even put his life on the line to achieve the ultimate workplace accomplishment: getting the “this should have been an email” meeting to end early. For all these reasons and more, I think the fandom needs to raise their blue milks and toast Admiral Motti, the most relatable character in Star Wars history!
Entertainment
The best robot pool vacuum deals to spring clean your pool for swimming season
The best robot pool cleaner deals at a glance:
Stepping into the backyard when you own a swimming pool should feel like a mini vacation. But that’s far from the truth in most cases. Instead of floating carelessly in the sun, many pool owners spend their summer days chasing stubborn piles of sand, leaves, sunken debris, and bugs in their pools. It’s time to hand off the cleaning chore to a robot — and these three robot pool cleaner discounts will help you seal the deal.
With up to $500 in savings, these deals from top robot pool vacuum brands Aiper, Beatbot, and iGarden can help you get your outdoor oasis ready for swimming season while keeping some money in your pocket.
$899.99
at Amazon
$1,399.99
Save $500
Why we like it
Mashable’s sister site CNET (also owned by Ziff Davis) consistently selects Aiper’s products for its best robot pool cleaners list. The Scuba V3 is one of the brand’s most popular models for good reason. It packs adaptive intelligence, ultra-fine filtration, and convenient waterline parking, and as of April 28, it’s on sale for $500 off — its lowest price to date. The built-in AI camera can analyze your pool and detect over 20 debris types, then navigate directly to it and eliminate it. The V3 can also create autonomous weekly cleaning schedules by analyzing your pool size, the real-time weather forecasts, and cleaning history. It ensures a consistently clean swim with very low manual effort on your part.
Mashable Trend Report
$799
at Amazon
$1,299
Save $500
Why we like it
Ideal for pools up to 2,260 square feet in any shape or material, the Beatbot AquaSense is a versatile robot vacuum for your pool with 5,500 gph of suction and three hours of runtime. As of April 28, it’s down to $799 at Amazon — its best price ever. It packs an ultra-fine filter to sift out fine sand and debris, as well as a 2×2 brush system, 200W pump, and three motors to ensure powerful scrubbing along the floor, walls, and waterline. It may not have as many built-in AI conveniences as the Aiper Scuba V3, but its 15 sensors and intelligent path optimization ensure it precisely maps your pool, optimizes the cleaning path, and avoids obstacles. You can also customize cleaning schedules and details in the app.
$399.99
at Amazon
$699.99
Save $300
Why we like it
If you’re looking for a more budget friendly option, the iGarden KN Series is down to a best-ever price of $399.99 at Amazon. That’s 43% off its list price. Of course, for that price, you won’t get as many bells and whistles as the other pool vacuums on this list. It can run for up to 210 minutes per charge and thanks to three high-efficiency motors, delivers suction up to 17,000 LPH. It packs smart 3D navigation and supports three cleaning modes with LED guidance: green for floor-only, blue for full coverage, and purple for walls a waterline first, then floor. It’s a bit more hands-on than the other robot vacuums, but is still powerful and customizable enough to fit most pools.
Entertainment
Thigh Chafing? These Shorts Keep You Cool and Comfy All Day
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If you’ve ever planned an outfit around avoiding thigh chafing, you already know how frustrating spring and summer dressing can be. Between warm afternoons, long walks and those first truly mild days, staying comfortable isn’t always as simple as throwing on a breezy dress. The wrong base layer can make things worse — but luckily, there’s an easy fix that makes getting dressed feel so much simpler.
That’s exactly where Thigh Society’s Cooling Shorts come in. At $44 (and 15% off your first order), they’ve become the brand’s bestselling style — and for good reason. Designed to feel lightweight, breathable and barely there, they slip seamlessly into your routine just as the season starts calling for easier, more effortless outfits.
Get The Cooling Shorts for $44 at Thigh Society!
The Cooling Shorts are designed for breathability, stretch and all-day ease. Unlike bulky bike shorts that require layering, they work as underwear and shorts in one, preventing thigh chafing and reducing sweat in a single, lightweight layer that feels like a second skin.
They’re also built to stay put — no rolling down at the waist or riding up throughout the day (a true summer miracle). Wear The Cooling Shorts under flowy dresses and enjoy smooth, no-fuss comfort.
Available in versatile shades like beige, black, almond and more, they’re easy to layer under just about anything. And with a range of lengths to choose from (5-inch to 21-inch), you can customize your coverage depending on your outfit — shorter for mini dresses, longer for maxis or extra protection on especially warmer days.
With more than 12,700 five-star ratings on the brand’s website, reviewers call them “a life saver” during “very hot summers,” pointing to the “super cool, comfortable” fabric. One shopper also loved the “no chaffing” design, saying they “forgot” they even had them on with “skirts and dresses.”
If thigh chafing has ruined your warm-weather outfits, consider this your easy fix. Designed for breathability, movement and everyday wear, The Cooling Shorts make getting dressed feel effortless again. Once you try them, you might not want to wear a dress without them!
Get The Cooling Shorts for $44 at Thigh Society!
Entertainment
Everything we know about Ted Lasso Season 4
Round up the Diamond Dogs, because Ted Lasso (Jason Sudeikis) is coming back to Richmond.
Apple TV‘s Emmy–winning sports comedy Ted Lasso returns for Season 4 this summer, three years after a Season 3 finale that the show treated like a series end. Now, though, Ted and the Greyhounds have some new adventures up their sleeves, ones sure to feature tons of folksy sayings, messages about mental health, and delicious shortbread.
From plot to cast to release date, here’s everything we know about Ted Lasso Season 4.
What’s Ted Lasso Season 4 about?
According to the official logline from Apple TV, “In Season 4, Ted returns to Richmond, taking on his biggest challenge yet: coaching a second division women’s football team. Throughout the course of the season, Ted and the team learn to leap before they look, taking chances they never thought they would.”
Ted Lasso originally teased the idea of a Richmond women’s football team back in the Season 3 finale, when Keeley (Juno Temple) floated it to Rebecca (Hannah Waddingham). Back then, it seemed like perfect spin-off material, given that Ted Lasso was presumably ending. However, now it’s part of the main show in its own right.
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Who is in Ted Lasso Season 4?
Jeremy Swift, Hannah Waddingham, Juno Temple, and Jason Sudeikis in “Ted Lasso.”
Credit: Apple TV
In addition to Sudeikis, tons of familiar faces are returning for Ted Lasso Season 4. Waddingham and Temple reprise their roles as Rebecca and Keeley, and Emmy winner Brett Goldstein, Brendan Hunt, and Jeremy Swift are all back as Roy Kent, Coach Beard, and Leslie Higgins, respectively.
Ted Lasso Season 4 also brings new faces into the fold, likely playing some of the team members and personnel of the women’s football team. These new additions include Tanya Reynolds, Jude Mack, Faye Marsey, Rex Hayes, Aisling Sharkey, Abbie Hern, and Grant Feely.
Does Ted Lasso Season 4 have a trailer?
Yes! On Apr. 28, Apple TV released a teaser offering a look at Ted’s return to Richmond, as well as the Richmond women’s team in action.
When is Ted Lasso Season 4 coming out?
Ted Lasso Season 4 premieres Aug. 5 on Apple TV, just in time for some late summer viewing.
How to watch: Ted Lasso Season 4 premieres Aug. 5 2026 on Apple TV.
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The best robot pool vacuum deals to spring clean your pool for swimming season
