Star Wars is a long-running franchise that has dominated the science fiction genre for the last 40 years. Featuring a total of 11 films, several TV shows, and numerous video games, it would seem that nothing is off-limits to Star Wars. Part of the reason the franchise is so popular is the innumerable characters brought to light. From dangerous bounty hunters like Boba Fett to the small yet powerful Force-sensitive creatures like Grogu, Star Wars is jam-packed with unique characters. Some of these characters are even mechanical, and we call them droids.
One thing Star Wars has succeeded at is managing to bring mechanical beings to life by giving them their own personalities. Droids are not simply lifeless robots in the Star Wars universe; they take on lives of their own and even go so far as to push for the rights of their kind. If anything were to ever happen to R2-D2, for instance, fans would tear the creators apart for causing them such grief at eliminating everyone’s favorite astro-droid. With that said, here are five shockingly sad droid deaths in the Star Wars franchise.
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5 R4-P17
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R4-P17 served as Obi-Wan Kenobi’s droid during The Clone Wars. R4 makes appearances in Attack of the Clones, The Clone Wars, and Revenge of the Sith. While she does not have as much personality as R2-D2, she is still a loyal droid who serves her Master as best she can. Her death comes in Revenge of the Sith, when Obi-Wan’s ship gets attacked by buzz-droids and R4 is torn apart and thrown into space. While her death is not the saddest on our list, considering we don’t know much about the droid, the way in which it happens is gruesome as she is literally torn to pieces, a notion that is bound to make anyone a little sad.
MOVIEWEB VIDEO OF THE DAY
MOVIEWEB VIDEO OF THE DAY
MOVIEWEB VIDEO OF THE DAY
4 L3-37
Making her one and only appearance in Solo, L3-37 is a unique piloting droid associated with Lando Calrissian. L3 improved herself by using scraps of other droids with her brain module coming from an R3 series and protocol droid processing. L3 was not afraid to voice her opinions about droid rights, a strong characteristic that would lead to her demise. During her stand on Kessel, L3 freed a number of droids that were being used as slaves, which led to a rebellion against the guards, allowing Beckett and his crew to escape. Just as L3 was about to board the ship to leave, she was shot by a guard, and when Lando attempted to retrieve her, she lost half her body in the process. Lando admitted that he regretted taking the job because of the loss of L3. He later uploaded L3’s neural core to the Millenium Falcon so that L3 would always be with him, if only through the Falcon.
3 NED-B
While NED-B’s screen time is somewhat fleeting, that does not make his death any less tragic. NED-B is a loader droid on the planet Mapuzo who serves the Rebellion in Obi-Wan Kenobi. Despite the fact that NED-B was not meant to feel emotion, speak, or have allegiances, he was loyal to the Rebellion, prepared to fight Stormtroopers to protect Obi-Wan and Leia, while also helping Durith to save Kenobi from Darth Vader. Despite his inability to vocalize, NED-B still proved himself a worthy droid when he sacrificed himself in battle so that the Hidden Path could escape. Part of what makes NED-B’s death so sad is that he threw himself between Durith and the Stormtroopers before dying in her arms.
2 IG-11
The Mandalorian is jam-packed with deadly characters and droids, one of which Din encounters in the very first episode as they both attempt to retrieve the child — that is, until Mando shoots bounty hunting droid IG-11 for trying to kill him. IG-11 was then revived and reprogramed by Kuiil to act as a “nanny droid” and do chores. Seeing the contrast between IG-11’s original programming versus how Kuiil reprogrammed him shows that even droids can change. When the group becomes pinned down by Imperial forces, IG-11 helps them escape and assists Din Djarin with a near-fatal wound, saving his life. The droid proves his loyalty to the group and their well-being when he triggers his self-destruct to kill a platoon of stormtroopers so that Grogu and the group may escape capture. IG-11’s sacrifice brought tears to our eyes and touched the hearts of those around him that a statue of IG-11 was erected on Nevarro to remember his sacrifice.
1 K-2SO
K-2SO is arguably the most sarcastic and relatable droid in the entire franchise. Kay was originally an Imperial droid that was reprogrammed by Cassian Andor to be on the side of the Rebellion (via Screen Rant). In Rogue One, Kay makes his final stand on the Battle of Scariff, assisting Jyn and Cassian in retrieving the plans for the Death Star. When they become trapped, Kay suggests that they take down the shield to transmit the plans to the rebel fleet. Kay shuts the door, trapping Jyn and Cassian in with the plans to keep stormtroopers from seeing what they were doing. As Kay fought off the stormtroopers, after relaying the location of the plans, he sacrificed himself and destroyed the control panel to the door so that they could not be found by stormtroopers. Kay’s sacrifice shows how much he cared not only for the Rebellion and its cause, but the love he felt for his friends.
