They work for our favorite characters. They make us laugh all the time. They offer countless memorable toy designs that companies can use endlessly. And yet, where is the respect for the perspective of droids star Wars? These little mechanical critters are responsible for making sure everything in this fictional galaxy far, far away works properly, yet they are often treated like trash. star Wars property. They’re just comic relief when they get kicked, fired, or put their minds into spaceships without their consent. It is blatant and frankly tragic, although it is often woven into the text itself. star Wars the films themselves. While we’re all often too busy laughing at C-3PO’s funniest lines or longing to pet B2EMO just once, the reality is that droids are deliberately portrayed as tragic characters throughout this sprawling saga.

Droids are tragic outsiders in the Star Wars universe

R2-D2 stands in the Tatooine Desert in Star Wars: A New Hope.
Image via LucasFilm

Underdogs are the main characters of the original. star Wars movies. This topic is a bit lost in some modern star Wars media that focus on predetermined Chosen Ones (although projects such as The Last Jedi, AndorAnd Rogue One back to that concept, of course), but part of what made this universe so tangibly human, despite looking so alien, was that the characters seemed dwarfed due to larger circumstances that viewers could relate to . Luke Skywalker was trapped in a remote town, watching the rest of the world pass by, stormtroopers inspecting everyone like officers of any real fascist regime, while the Empire’s sheer contempt for any life (such as the citizens of Alderaan) also evoked the horrors of authoritarianism .

It is from this main theme that the main tragedy follows. star Wars droids appear. “I believe that we must suffer, this is our lot in life,” moans C-3PO in one of his first lines, which shows how grim the existence of these sentient beings is. They can catch fire in the blink of an eye, and no one will care - they will simply be replaced, like a broken refrigerator in our world. Meanwhile, the early demonstration that droids are banned from the Mos Eisley Cantina (along with the bartender saying, “We don’t serve their kind here!”) can’t help but spark real prejudice on Earth. Life star Wars The droid is so steeped in tragedy that these films reflect the real life experiences of historically marginalized groups of people to highlight the woes of characters like R2-D2 and C-3PO.

Their difficulties are highlighted by the fact that many of these mechanical beings are unable to voice their own sorrows and lack other means (such as hands to speak sign language) to express their emotions. R2-D2 and BB-8 only speak in beeps, while other droids found throughout the franchise, such as small mouse droids, speak in even more incomprehensible short noises. In this universe, this trait is neither a defect nor an accident, but a deliberate way to further deprive humanity of these robots. R2-D2 and BB-8 are often much smarter than the people they stay with, but they were created from the ground up to have zero autonomy and ability to communicate.

How do the Star Wars films deal with this tragedy?

L3-37, voiced by Phoebe Waller-Bridge, comes to the defense of her fellow droids.
Image via Disney

Usually, star Wars the films refer to the inherent tragedy of droids in this universe only as a way to inspire black comedy. After all, this is a troubled galaxy, everyone is going through hard times. The suffering experienced by droids is part and parcel of all the suffering that humans seem to experience in the form of star Wars character. With all this unbridled grief, the specific difficulties the droids face don’t stand out as much, and can be played up for giggles or even as a way to build up tension. The Phantom Menace, for example, represents R2-D2 among a squadron of other R2 units, all of which explode except for our brave hero. The reduction in the number of droids surrounding R2-D2 is shown as a way to heighten the tension in this part of the set, with the humanity of these now-destroyed droids being disregarded.

The other key reason the droid torment doesn’t linger is that it would break the child-friendly tone of the game. star Wars Universe. Whether they belonged George Lucas or one of the many Disney franchises star Wars The saga has always been about fast-paced adventures that kids love and moving lots of goods around. Violation of any of these elements would upset the financiers and producers of these projects. To highlight the grief experienced by the droids in this franchise, both of these goals are undoubtedly overturned, especially as it will end up casting the actions of heroes like Luke Skywalker in a darker light. Will we still root for this guy or the other one? star Wars the main characters if their discrimination against droids was dealt with by gravity?

Willingness to give up the stakes of that miserable existence star Wars droids must live Solo: A Star Wars Storywhich has L3-37 (Phoebe Waller-Bridge), a droid who fights for the rights of other droids. He’s a peculiarly drawn character, and the movie never quite figured out if L3-37 should be someone we sympathize with, or a figure whose awareness of droid rights should only be a source of ridicule. In the end, Solo cannot take a stand on the matter, although it inexplicably undermines any interpretation of L3-37, as the character’s consciousness is uploaded into the Millennium Falcon after her death, a deeply confusing point that no one in the film acknowledges. The bizarre surge of fan service only highlights the miserable lives that droids live. Even those who fight for a better tomorrow end up locked inside spaceships for eternity against their will.

The horrors that droids endure star Wars The universe is truly crushing and creates an exciting tonal counterbalance to the hilarious escapist antics of typical installments of this franchise. The franchise’s best productions draw on how this crushing conversion intensifies the anguish of existence and the special hardships of various marginalized communities. At their worst, these films don’t seem to notice that the droids are real characters. After all, the very act of living is an ongoing nightmare for droids. star Wars. The least that the projects of this franchise and the viewers themselves can do is to treat these robots with some respect.