Droids are an intricate part of the "Star Wars" universe. Like most sci-fi works, the very first movie served to show us a world full of possibilities, one with technology that we could only dream about. Spaceships, protocol droids, hyperspace travel, massive space stations, and of course, lightsabers — these all felt like magic.
But in the decades since the release of the first film, technology has started to catch up, starting with the droids. Take any video of a Boston Dynamics robot and compare it to the clunky movements of astromech droids like poor R2-D2 who had very basic movements (no offense, R2). Likewise, even the making of the "Star Wars" movies has reached levels we never thought possible back in 1977, like how droids went from highly uncomfortable suits to fully-functioning remote-controlled droids like BB-8.
But there is a downside to all these breakthroughs. Droids can and will malfunction, and they will inevitably turn against us — especially if we keep mistreating them and kicking them for funny videos.
Indeed, "Star Wars" is once again showing us what the future can be. In the latest episode of "The Mandalorian," which was one of the funniest things the franchise has done, we get a "CSI" style investigation. Turns out, droids are malfunctioning, breaking down, and even attacking people, as the show recreates some of the biggest robot malfunctions in recent years.
Do Droids Dream Of Electric Sheep That Kick Them Down?
In the episode, we visit a utopia where droids are the labor force, and people have time to just enjoy life, have lavish tea parties, and play croquet with Jack Black and Lizzo. The issue of droids has always been in the background of "Star Wars" stories, only explored sporadically. These beings are often mistreated and prejudiced against despite being alive and sentient, but this episode shows a different angle.
Towards the end of the episode, Din Djarin (Pedro Pascal) and Bo-Katan Kryze (Katee Sackhoff) go to a droid dive bar called The Resistor, where the bartender offers to help them solve the crime. The bartender is not hiding anything but is worried that droids will quickly be replaced by humans. It is an existential crisis we haven't seen in this franchise before, and it raises several questions about the portrayal of droids so far.
The reason the droid is so concerned is that droids have been breaking down, and we see several instances of droids malfunctioning. These are taken straight out of viral videos, like a garbage truck flinging garbage. Of course, the highlight of the subplot was seeing notorious droid hater Din Djarin kick a Super Battle Droid like it was a Boston Dynamics robot, an absolute hate crime Din should pay for. What makes this better is the subsequent scene where the Battle Droid starts running away with its tiny little legs and huge torso (showing the importance of leg day).
Despite taking place in the past, "Star Wars" has always given us a window into a future of possibilities, but when it comes to droids, we should heed the warning and never kick one.
Read this next: The Biggest Questions The Mandalorian Season 3 Needs To Answer
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