1) The Complicated, Three-Dimensional Villain
If you’re going to single one character out in Star Wars: The Force Awakens, it has to be lead villain Kylo Ren. First of all, he fits the purpose of this list by highlighting just how weak the prequels are in terms of bad guys (Palpatine aside). The cowardly, dim-witted Neimoidians, the non-threatening Count Dooku, and Anakin – with his uninteresting journey into villainy – are all just as disappointing.
By contrast, Episode VII‘s villains are all very strong, though it’s Kylo Ren who takes the top prize. He is the truly three-dimensional villain that the prequels wanted to have in Anakin, and more. Both threatening and tragic, Kylo walks the tightrope of viewer sympathy by giving you reasons to alternatively despise and feel sorry for him: a confused, hormonal teenager who also happens to possess unparalleled power.