May the Fourth: Ode to the droids of the "Star Wars" universe

Star Wars has a galaxy of amazing characters that make up its epic story. Our favorite lead characters are typically humans or some sort of humanoid race, but there are equally important ones that keep the franchise going. They may not be “people” in the usual sense, but they have their own minds and hearts in a special way: droids. Whether they’re protocol droids like C3-P0 or astromechs like R2-D2, they bring their own type of humanity, brought on by their programming and their bonds with others.

Droids don’t always get their day in the limelight, but on this May the Fourth, I pay tribute to some of the most significant droid companions across the Star Wars galaxy.

R2-D2

Let’s face it: R2-D2 is the preeminent droid pal. Without R2-D2, Leia never would have transferred the Death Star plans. Artoo (another way to spell R2-D2) tried to find Ben Kenobi in Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope. Then, we wouldn’t have Luke starting his Jedi journey. And of course, he’s been there since the very beginning of the Skywalker saga, bravely helping the Naboo ship as the Jedi lead them out of the blockade set up by the Trade Federation. When she’s disguised as Queen Amidala, Sabé asks Padme to clean him from the skirmish, saying, “it deserves our gratitude.”

He sure does.

While he began his work on Naboo and assisting the people of Naboo, Artoo later served on the front lines of the Clone Wars with Anakin. Once he joined with Luke, he didn’t leave his side until Luke went on his self-imposed exile. He’s brave, loyal and snarky – even if you don’t speak Basic. In The Last Jedi, he’s quick to use the famous hologram of Leia requesting help from Obi-Wan Kenobi in order to sway Luke to help Rey. “That was a cheap move.”

You can practically see Artoo’s little smug there. He knows he has everyone wrapped around his finger… er, power coupling?

C1-10P aka Chopper

In contrast to Artoo, Chopper has been likened to an angry cat. Even on his best days, he’s cantankerous and grumpy, outright ignoring or even hurting his crewmates. But his loyalty runs deep, notably to Hera (from the television show Star Wars Rebels), and it extends to the rest of the Ghost team. And like R2, he’s a war veteran. While we don’t yet know the full extent of how he bonded with Hera, we do know that she helped him from the wreckage of a ship crash. Even years after the Clone Wars, he mourns his old pilot, but his loyalty to Hera is never in doubt.

Even with his grumpiness, Chopper does care deeply for the rest of the Ghost crew. He assists Ezra in his plan to save Kanan in the first season of Star Wars Rebels, because he misses him too – to the point that he is willing to defy Hera. Later, when Ezra learns the truth of what happens to his parents, Chopper gives Ezra a sympathetic pat on the knee. He even expresses surprise when Sabine says she’s staying on Mandalore. Hera considers and directly calls Chopper a member of this Rebel family they’ve built, and it’s clear that he feels the same.

BB-8

BB-8 droid on the Millennium Falcon — BB-8 in “Star Wars Episode VII: The Force Awakens”

When BB-8 rolled across the sands of Jakku in The Force Awakens, he also rolled himself into our hearts. BB-8’s distinctive beeps and sounds presents him as a new type of astromech for a new age post-Empire. Like R2, he has a mission and secret intel of his own, and quickly bonds with the person who saves him on a dusty, sandy planet.

While BB is Poe Dameron’s (played by Oscar Isaac) right-hand droid first and foremost, he quickly bonds with others and delivers them all undying loyalty. He sticks with Kaz on his mission with the Colossus and is later with Rey to the end of The Rise of Skywalker and will gladly help his friends in need. However, he’s always glad to reunite with Poe.

Bucket (R1-J5)

"Bucket" the droid in Star Wars Resistance — R1-J5 aka Bucket (Star Wars.com Databank)

Bucket may be the oldest droid on this list. Artoo seemed to be a new-fangled droid on Naboo, but it sounds like Bucket has decades on him. Yeager, from the television show Star Wars Resistance, mentions that he was already 100 years old by the time the droid became his co-pilot, saying that the droids back then were built to last. Considering R2-D2 has seen the Skywalker saga from the Battle of Naboo through the end of First Order, you have to wonder about the things that Bucket has seen.

While Bucket is the veteran of Yeager’s garage on the Colossus, the newer, sleeker “rollies” – BB-8 and CB-23 – do take some of the spotlight from him in Star Wars Resistance. Nevertheless, he’s an expert mechanic helping to keep Yeager’s garage running, even if he occasionally shorts out.

BD-1

BD-1 runs in Jedi: Fallen Order — BD-1 (IGDB.com)

Now don’t tell the others, but BD-1 is my new favorite droid.

He’s eager! He’s inquisitive! He’s brave! He hops right up onto Cal’s back and just hangs out there! What’s not to like?

From the moment BD-1 helps Cal on Bogano, you know they’re set up for a great partnership. His bravery is shown the moment he tries to help fight one of the monsters, but Cal fixes him up. Throughout Jedi: Fallen Order, BD-1 and Cal go through the gamut of everything: fighting stormtroopers, exploring tombs and escaping Inquisitors. Over time, you learn about his own history and his bond with Eno Cordova, as you unlock his encrypted memories, helping Cal on his journey. Maybe it was the Force that brought him to Cal, but it’s clear that their bond supports and uplifts one another.

Also, in the game, you can customize his look and give him new paint jobs. I tend to lean towards yellow design because he reminds me of WALL-E!

These droids are far from the robots you may see in other sci-fi works. Even though they only converse in beeps and chirps, these mechanical characters have their own sort of sentience, conscious and feelings. While some may be limited to their programming, the droids that stand out have their own personalities. They are major players in their own right – without droids like these, we wouldn’t have heroes like Anakin, Luke, or Rey.