LEGO Star Wars The Dark Falcon (75389) Review

What's Included

Opening the Dark Falcon reveals a minifigure lineup that reads like fan fiction brought to life, headlined by the legendary Darth Jar Jar – complete with new Gungan head print featuring sinister yellow eyes and a custom torso depicting Sith robes. His dual-bladed red lightsaber adds menace to what was once the saga's most ridiculed character. Jedi Vader arrives in pristine white armor with blue lightsaber accents, featuring a kinder expression beneath his recolored helmet that suggests redemption achieved. Beach Luke sports casual attire with a japor snippet necklace, while Bounty Hunter C-3PO features black arm detailing and menacing red photoreceptors. Darth Rey's yellow Sith eyes and dual-bladed saber complete her fall to darkness, while Darth Dev represents the series' original character contribution. The 1,579 pieces emphasize black and dark gray elements with strategic red highlights throughout. Notable exclusions include any traditional good guy characters, reinforcing the alternate universe theme where heroes have fallen and villains reign supreme.

Building Experience

Construction of the Dark Falcon delivers a familiar yet oddly refreshing 3-4 hour build that essentially retraces the 2023 Millennium Falcon's steps in monochrome. The experience begins with the standard Technic frame providing structural integrity, though working exclusively with black and dark gray pieces creates an unexpectedly different visual rhythm during assembly. The familiar construction techniques – from the octagonal core to the distinctive mandibles – take on new character in darker tones, with red accent pieces providing welcome visual breaks. Builders report the monotone color scheme actually makes piece identification slightly more challenging, requiring closer attention to element shapes rather than color coding. The interior sections benefit most from the redesign, with red highlights creating a genuinely sinister atmosphere absent from standard Falcons. Sticker application remains mercifully minimal, with most detail achieved through clever part selection and color blocking. The build concludes with exterior greebling that, while identical in technique to recent Falcons, achieves surprisingly different aesthetic results through the dark color palette alone.

Design Innovation vs Recolor Reality

The Dark Falcon's design philosophy crystallizes LEGO's current approach to Star Wars – maximum impact through minimum innovation. Structurally, this is the 75257 Millennium Falcon wearing black paint, with virtually no mechanical improvements or creative flourishes beyond color selection. Critics rightfully point out missed opportunities for dark side modifications – additional weaponry, throne room additions, or sinister architectural elements that would justify the conceptual shift. The few unique touches, like Darth Jar Jar's throne and the trans-red laser prison walls, feel token rather than transformative. Yet the visual impact cannot be denied – the black hull with red accents creates genuine shelf presence that photographs dramatically and stands out in any collection. The exposed studs on the hull, typically criticized on gray Falcons, actually enhance the aggressive aesthetic here. Interior sections benefit most from the color swap, with red lighting elements and black surfaces creating appropriately villainous spaces. While purists bemoan the lack of structural innovation, the Dark Falcon proves that sometimes surface-level changes can achieve deeper impact than mechanical complexity.

Interior Details and Play Features

The Dark Falcon's interior represents the set's greatest departure from standard versions, transforming familiar spaces into distinctly sinister environments. The main hold features Darth Jar Jar's throne as centerpiece, positioned to oversee imprisoned enemies behind trans-red laser walls that effectively convey energy barriers. The iconic dejarik table receives a modern update with a printed video game controller, suggesting even Sith lords enjoy retro gaming between conquests. The cockpit maintains standard four-seat configuration but gains atmosphere through red accent pieces and darker tones that better suit its villainous pilots. The smuggling compartments remain functionally identical but take on new meaning as potential prisoner cells or weapon caches. Reviewers note the spring-loaded shooters feel more appropriate here than on heroic versions, while the rotating gun turrets benefit from increased contrast against the black hull. The opening panels work smoothly, though several reviewers report the top gun turret's tendency to detach during play. These familiar features gain new context through color alone, proving that narrative framework can transform mechanical function without structural change.

The Minifigure Collection

The six exclusive minifigures transform the Dark Falcon from expensive recolor to essential collector's item, with Darth Jar Jar achieving instant legendary status among fans who've waited decades for this meme to materialize. His custom Gungan head features beautifully printed Sith eyes and facial markings, while the detailed torso print depicts elaborate Sith robes befitting his elevated status. Jedi Vader steals scenes with pristine white armor featuring blue force lightning accents, suggesting a redemption arc the films never explored. Beach Luke's casual appearance includes impressive torso printing with the japor snippet necklace, adding storytelling depth through subtle detail. Bounty Hunter C-3PO's transformation includes a menacing black arm and red photoreceptors that completely alter the character's presence. Darth Rey's yellow Sith eyes and aggressive expression capture her fall convincingly, while Darth Dev adds mysterious new character potential. Each figure features exclusive printing unlikely to appear elsewhere, making them genuinely unique additions that justify significant portion of the set's value. Secondary market prices already show individual figures commanding $20-35, with Darth Jar Jar alone selling for $45-60.

Value Proposition and Market Reception

At $179.99 for 1,579 pieces, the Dark Falcon's 11.4 cents per piece barely meets acceptable standards, especially considering the 2019 version offered more pieces for less money. Current market prices averaging $170 improve the proposition slightly, though value-conscious buyers struggle to justify premium pricing for what amounts to a recolor. The minifigure selection accounts for approximately $150-180 in secondary market value, essentially making the ship itself free for those prioritizing characters. Early sales data shows strong initial performance with a best rank of 4, though average rankings around 7,725 suggest niche appeal rather than mainstream success. Review counts peaking at 96 indicate solid but not exceptional consumer interest. The set's investment potential remains uncertain – while exclusive minifigures typically appreciate well, the controversial nature and high production numbers may limit growth. Retailers report mixed performance, with the set frequently available at 5-10% discounts but rarely deeper markdowns. For Rebuild the Galaxy completists and minifigure collectors, current pricing represents acceptable value; casual fans should wait for deeper discounts or skip entirely in favor of traditional Falcon variants offering superior piece counts and classic appeal.

Editor's Verdict