Whether they’re built to translate six million languages, maintain your starfighter, or navigate through hyperspace, it’s always good to have a droid with you at all times. That’s why it astounds me when, most of the time, characters throughout the franchise either treat them harshly or take their services for granted. After all, half of the protagonists’ successes wouldn’t have happened if it weren’t for these machines we see in the background. And here are five droids that are worthy of such recognition.
Honorable Mentions: BD-1, B2EMO, and Gonky
BD-1 is quite possibly the perfect droid for exploration. His legs allow him to carry Cal across zip lines, possesses a large storage for healing stims, and has an ever-expanding database on the planets they explore. And that’s only scratching the surface, since BD has gotten additional upgrades since the events of Fallen Order.
B2EMO, on the other hand, may not be fit to be an explorer but serves just as well as a service dog. Throughout the whole of Andor, if B wasn’t at the heels of Cassian begging to go with him on his journey, B would faithfully sit next to Casein’s adoptive yet elderly mother Maarva. Though frequently running low on power, B has never let it stop him from attending to his owners’ duties and adorably stuttering as he checks on their welfare.
As for Gonky, most of his family in the Bad Batch (particularly Wrecker) tend to treat him more as exercise equipment rather than a member of the team. This is unfortunately due to the defective power unit he possesses, leaving him unable to fully recharge any machinery. However, Gonky finds moments to rise and shine above the rest, whether it’s helping the Batch narrowly escape the Empire’s V-Wings or warning Echo of incoming ships on Ord Mantell. But Gonky has proven to be a valued member of his family, as Omega and the clones defend him whenever they can.
5. Professor Huyang
“But he’s a droid. You expect us to learn anything from a droid?” This was the question of a Jedi youngling, who doubted that an antique could teach her anything about lightsaber construction. However, she was quickly humbled as Huyang helped her wookiee classmate imagine and build a lightsaber out of a special wood that’s as strong as metal. It’s no wonder he would know that, as he has been around since the time Yoda first built his own lightsaber, which had to have been at least eight hundred years ago! And even after all that time, we find out how much of a survivor Huyang is as he’s still 75% original parts, which is pretty insane when you think about it.
Plus, this droid is perfectly portrayed by the legendary David Tenant. The voice he uses makes the character sound old, kind, but wise in the centuries he’s been alive. Tenant doesn’t stop there, as he also gives the droid a sense of personality whenever Huyang flips about his organizational system or defends his friends.
Needless to say, if you’re a surviving Jedi trying to make your way in the galaxy, Huyang is the one of the best mentors you’ll ever find.
4. IG-11
Next to Cad Bane, this assassin droid is the very definition of a bounty hunter. IG-11’s reaction time and quick draw were unmatched, as he would often spin around within a fraction of a second whenever an assailant would try to shoot him down. In fact, he was able to take almost a whole town of goons by himself before our favorite Mandalorian showed up to help him out. And even when the pair were outnumbered, the droid did not back down (unless you count his frequent but hilarious self-destruct requests) and would drop bodies left and right.
However, after Mando destroyed the droid and Quill fixed him, IG-11 somehow became even more of a formidable fighter. His previous programming to find and kill his targets only limited him to think for himself, but Quill’s reprogramming allowed him to feel a sense of compassion and a greater duty to protect Grogu and his other friends. The old IG-11 probably wouldn’t have sacrificed himself unless it meant selfishly keeping anyone from gaining his secrets, but the new IG-11 walked through lava to blow himself up and keep his friends from being killed at the hands of stormtroopers. His selflessness would forever be memorialized in the town and also in every Star Wars fan’s heart.
3. D-O
Unfortunately, not much is known about this cone-headed, one-wheeled robot, but what little we do know is just as heartbreaking. D-O was not only owned by a horrible associate of the resurrected Palpatine, but he’s been abused and abandoned in the desert for who-knows-how-long. In fact, he was so abused that he was too scared to approach any living thing, whether it was Rey or even other animals. While unknown if his stutters are a result of his abuse, age, or even if it’s his normal speech pattern, his stutters add an adorable yet sad tone to his voice. D-O’s background serves as a tragic reminder of how droids can feel pain and trauma, but almost never any positive emotions.
However, D-O was able to overcome his giants in the galaxy’s darkest hour. Being a data storage and retrieval droid, D-O revealed to the Resistance that he had invaluable information of the secret Sith homeworld of Exogul. It was because of D-O’s contribution that the Resistance were able to locate Rey and Exogul, and eventually triumph over the resurrected Palpatine and his Final Order once and for all. So, even though D-O didn’t receive much screen time, he absolutely should never be overlooked.
2. BB-8
Say what you will about the sequel trilogy, but if anything good has come out of them, it’s this orange-and-white beach ball. The beeps and chirps are already distinctively cute, but its design is incredibly unique and I would even argue it’s an upgrade of your standard astromech. This is because the droid’s ball not only allows him to move faster, but it also lets him maneuver over varieties of different surfaces. Plus, the ball is covered with numerous access ports, leaving multiple angles for him to pull out his gadgets and tools for any given situation.
Aside from the features of such a droid, BB-8 has also proven to be a true member of the Resistance. Way back in the beginning of the trilogy, BB-8’s owner (Poe Dameron) found the remaining piece of the map that would lead to Luke Skywalker’s hiding place on Ahch-To. However, when the First Order invaded, Poe gave the information to BB-8 and commanded him to hang onto it until they could meet up again later. It took much longer than expected, but up until then, BB-8 bravely held onto that map no matter what crazy chaotic situation he found himself in. From there, he would prove his weight from helping Poe survive a Dreadnaught to finding the dagger that would lead to the Death Star’s hidden Wayfinder. BB-8 is a versatile star player and I am all here for it!
1. K-2SO
When the Empire first made this line of KX-series droids, they were originally programmed to serve as security droids. While he would’ve made an impressive enforcer for the Empire with his immense strength, K would discover a lot of hidden potential within himself after being reprogrammed by the Rebel Alliance. Throughout Rogue One, K mainly (and begrudgingly) served as a pilot for the rebels, but his skills would prove to rival any organic star pilot. For instance, when the Death Star fired on Jedha, he flew his friends to safety from the devastating blast.
However, the movie thankfully allows K to prove he is more than just a getaway driver. After Jyn and Cassian finally give the droid a blaster, he would unleash his inner warrior upon the unlucky stormtroopers that came his way. Before the first set of troopers could get to the pair of humans in the vault, he would lift one up as if he were made of paper, before slamming him to the ground and bashing the helmets of his comrades. From there, the sassy droid would shoot more troopers with amazing accuracy and quick reaction time. Unfortunately, he would not last long against groups of troopers shooting him from all angles, but he would not stand and die like that. Instead, he would use his remaining seconds to kill the power to prevent anyone from following after his friends. Just like IG-11, K’s sacrifice would not only be remembered by fans, but also contribute in giving the rebels a fighting chance against the Death Star.
Conclusion
Droids may not be true life forms, but in my eyes, they deserve the same rights as one. Instead, droids are abused and slaved without a second glance. So the next time your droid provides life-saving hyperspace coordinates or repairs your blaster, make sure to give it a simple “thank you.” You’d be surprised how good it feels to make a droid’s day.
