Kuiil
Kuiil is a fictional character in the Star Wars franchise who first appeared in the first season of the Disney+ television series The Mandalorian. An alien of the Ugnaught species, Kuiil is a former indentured servant of the Galactic Empire living in solitude when he encounters the show's title character and assists him in seeking and protecting a young alien known as "The Child".
Kuiil is portrayed as wise, patient, and hard-working, with a high level of mechanical skills and a gruff but ultimately kind-hearted personality. The voice of Kuiil was performed by Nick Nolte, who completed his recordings for all the character's dialogue in a single afternoon. Kuiil's performance was done by Misty Rosas, who during filming wore an animatronic face mask created by Legacy Effects.
Kuiil's face was brought to life through animatronics and puppetry, with its electronics and wires concealed in the backpack and pockets of Kuiil's costume. Three puppeteers controlled the mask's mouth and eyebrows off-camera as Rosas performed her scenes, attempting to match the character's facial movements to Nolte's vocal tracks. The process often proved challenging, particularly when the puppeteers missed signals made by Rosas during dimly-lit scenes.
Kuiil's dynamic with the bounty hunter droid IG-11 reflects a parenting theme prevalent among multiple characters throughout the first season of The Mandalorian, and Kuiil's reprogramming of the droid from hunter to protector drew nature versus nurture discussions among reviewers. Kuiil has been received positively by reviewers and fans alike. He has been described as a fan favorite, with several reviews calling him the best character on the show, and his signature line "I have spoken" became one of the better-known and best-liked lines of dialogue from the series.
Appearances
Kuiil is an alien of the Ugnaught species. According to his backstory established in exposition dialogue on The Mandalorian, Kuiil was sold into indentured servitude to the Galactic Empire and spent many years working for them against his will before the events of the television series. At one point in the show, Kuiil says he worked in the gene farms of a cloning facility during his time with the Empire. He eventually worked hard enough to pay off his debt and earn his freedom, and then sought a reclusive home on a quiet world where he would no longer have to work for anyone else again. Kuiil appeared in three episodes in the first season of The Mandalorian, making his first appearance in the series debut episode "Chapter 1: The Mandalorian", where he is shown living on a moisture farm on the planet Arvala-7, working as a vapor farmer.In that episode, Kuiil encounters the show's title character, a bounty hunter known as the Mandalorian, who is seeking to collect a bounty on an unnamed person being held on the planet. Kuiil assists the Mandalorian when he is attacked by creatures known as blurrgs. He welcomes the Mandalorian into his home, where Kuiil informs him that several other bounty hunters and mercenaries have passed through Arvala-7 in search of the Mandalorian's target. Kuiil offers to help the bounty hunter travel to the compound where the asset is being kept, with the hope that once the bounty has been collected, peace will once again be restored to Arvala-7. Kuiil teaches the Mandalorian how to ride one of the captured blurrgs so he can travel to the compound.
Kuiil appears in the next episode, "Chapter 2: The Child when the Mandalorian returns to him with the target he had been seeking: a young alien creature referred to as "The Child". Kuiil helps the Mandalorian avert a crisis with a group of alien scavengers called Jawas. After the Jawas steal necessary parts from the Mandalorian's ship, the Razor Crest, Kuiil helps arranges a trade meeting between them, which Kuiil assures the Mandalorian is the best way to regain the necessary parts to repair his ship. Kuiil helps foster a deal in which the Jawas will return the parts if the Mandalorian collects for them an egg from a dangerous nearby creature called a mudhorn, which the Mandalorian does. After collecting the parts, Kuiil spends several days helping the Mandalorian repair the Razor Crest. Afterward, the Mandalorian offers to share some of the reward he will receive for collecting the bounty on the Child, but Kuiil refuses. The Mandalorian also offers for Kuiil to accompany him off-planet and work for him, but Kuiil declines this request as well, preferring his peaceful life on Arvala-7, and wishing to never work for anyone else ever again due to his past with the Empire.
Kuiil reappears in the show's penultimate episode, "Chapter 7: The Reckoning, in which the Mandalorian returns to Arvala-7 with his ally Cara Dune. They seek Kuiil's help in protecting the Child during a mission on the planet Nevarro to eliminate an Imperial presence there. It is revealed that after the Mandalorian left Arvala-7, Kuiil found and rebuilt the bounty hunter droid IG-11, whom the Mandalorian had destroyed while rescuing the Child. After a lengthy process of retraining IG-11 to walk and operate again, Kuiil reprogrammed him to be a nurse droid and protector, rather than a hunter. Kuiil assigns IG-11 to protect the Child, and agrees to accompany the Mandalorian to help protect the Child from imperial slavery, under the condition that he bring along IG-11 and his blurrgs. On their way to the planet, Kuiil witnesses the Child use the Force to choke Cara after mistaking her for a threat. While the others in the party do not understand his power, Kuiil advises them about rumors he has heard about the Force. During their journey on Nevarro, Cara and the Mandalorian's party are attacked by a group of giant winged creatures, which they repel after losing several of the blurrgs. Later, experiencing a change of heart after the Child saves his life, the bounty hunter Greef Karga reveals the mission is an ambush, after which the Mandalorian is to be killed and the Child given over to the Imperials. Cara, the Mandalorian, and Greef instead devise a new plan: they will leave the Child behind, bring the Mandalorian to the Imperials as if he is a prisoner, and then eliminate them.
At the Mandalorian's request, Kuiil agrees to take the Child back to the Razor Crest on his blurrg while the Mandalorian, Cara, and Greef attempt to eliminate the Imperials. When Imperial leader Moff Gideon later traps the Mandalorian and his party, the bounty hunter contacts Kuiil and urges him to hurry back to the ship and lock it down for the Child's protection, but two Imperial Scout Troopers on speeder bikes intercept the message and rush to stop Kuiil. Kuiil rides his blurrg as fast as possible and nearly reaches the Razor Crest, but he is shot and killed by the troopers, who then take the Child. In the season finale "Chapter 8: Redemption", Kuiil is not seen, but the Mandalorian returns to bury him, creating a makeshift tombstone with Kuiil's helmet resting atop a bed of rocks.
Characterization
Kuiil values the peace and tranquility he has established on Arvala-7, as shown by his willingness to assist the Mandalorian and other bounty hunters travel in finding the bounty they seek. He believes doing so will help maintain the peace, and that getting the asset off the planet will restore tranquility to Arvala-7. Kuiil's history of servitude to the Empire means he strongly values his freedom and independence, and he has no desire to work for anyone again other than himself, as demonstrated by his rejection of the Mandalorian's offer of employment. Kuill has worked hard to get away from his past and forge a new life for himself. Corey Plante of Inverse wrote: "There's something admirable about Kuiil's values here. He's a humble, salt-of-the-earth character who doesn't bother contemplating any sense of morality; he knows what he wants out of life, and every choice he makes furthers that end." However, although Kuiil tries to avoid conflict at all costs, he does not hesitate to help those in need. He has a strong sense of honor, and believes in doing the right thing, as illustrated by his willingness to risk his safety and hard-won freedom to help the Child. The value he places on freedom due to his experience factors into his determination to protect the Child from the Empire.Kuiil speaks directly and without hesitation, using few words and often cutting off any further argument or response by stating: "I have spoken." Actress Misty Rosas, who delivered the performance of Kuiil, said she does not believe the line is meant to be arrogant or disrespectful, but rather speaks to Kuiil's philosophy on life: "He just simplifies everything in life, and is just like: 'I have spoken. You know, we're done talking about this. Don't complicate it, don't overthink it.'" Nevertheless, Kuiil's terse manner of speaking has resulted in reviewers describing him as both friendly, and grumpy, though he is ultimately kind-hearted beneath his sometimes rough exterior. as demonstrated by the compassion he shows for both IG-11 and the Child. Plante wrote: "He comes across as deeply rational and admirable, even if many people might mistake him for a bit of a jerk."
Kuiil is extremely hard-working, with a high level of mechanical skills, and craftsmanship. He is very resourceful, and highly proficient with technology, as demonstrated by his ability to repair IG-11 and the Razor Crest. Kuiil is very intelligent, offering wisdom and guidance to visitors on Arvala-7. He has lived a long time, and has seen and experienced many terrible things as a result of his past as an indentured servant, instilling a hardened world-weariness in him. Cautious, stoic, and patient, Kuiil presents a calm and composed temperament even in the face of the Mandalorian's occasional impatience. Kuiil is also a teacher, as he shows when he teaches the Mandalorian how to ride a blurrg, and teaches IG-11 how to walk and operate again following his reprogramming. This shows Kuiil's penchant for patience and affirmation, which Megan Crouse of Den of Geek writes is "the core of his character and part of what makes him so delightful". His patience is further demonstrated by his willingness to spend multiple days helping the Mandalorian repair his ship. Although the Mandalorian has trouble trusting anybody throughout the series, Kuiil earns his trust.
Like all Ugnaughts, Kuiil has pink skin, white hair, upturned noses, and thick layers of jowls. He has a low, guttural voice that at times sounds like a raspy growl.