BB-8 is Basically Round WALL•E
Sunday, January 3, 2016 at 4:00PM Chris here. One of the most exciting elements of The Force Awakens is the fresh heroes we have to idolize. But Rey, Finn, and Poe aren't the only new blood worth obsessing over: we also have fan favorite BB-8.
So much of The Force Awakens relies on our collective nostalgia for the originals, but BB-8 seems to be his own charming creation. If you're thinking of C-3PO and R2-D2 as sources for our new friend, they're not the droids you are looking for. Delivering more humanity than his droid predecessors and drawing the most laughs, his extroverted connection to the other characters embodies the optimistic spirit of hope that is the staple of the franchise.
And yet something still felt too familiar. Who did BB-8 keep reminding me of?? And then, it clicked...
A playful breakdown after the jump...
We're introduced to the robot in a barren landscape where things aren't going very well and he's been abandoned.
He's a friendly, social sweetheart who also has a mission. He carries sensitive cargo that pushes the narrative.
He meets a brave, independent woman who scavenges (and also becomes our story's real hero) and the two form a connection quickly. She even chooses his companionship over her own interests.
She discovers his sensitive cargo and it changes her destiny. Things get a little hairy and they are forced to leave the planet for the far reaches of space. He's eventually paired up with a ragtag crew of humans and droid-kind - including a fussy gay robot!
The robot and his new friends lead an uprising against sinister forces, though our robot hero never really interacts with the big bad.
A happy ending overall, even though our robot hero doesn't have much to do with the action in the story despite winning our affections - but who cares when he's this adorable!
Importantly, both droids have moments of longing, frustration, and a need to connect that surprise for how they draw gleeful emotion from audiences connecting human traits to a non-human character. Perhaps it's a loving rip off or just the resulting combination of archetypal characters and genre elements.
Copycat or not, here's to a character as compelling and lively as any of his human costars! I'm an unashamed Wall-E superfan, but BB-8 just may be coming for his spot in my heart.
Reader Comments (10)
Aw, how can anyone not love those robots?
When I first saw "Wall-E, I thought they had copied from Star Wars a bit, in terms of the interaction between robot and human. So I think it's been a fair trade in terms of influences.
The size and shape of BB8 make it more cuddly. For my money the droids are always the best part of any star wars film, BB8 just continues that tradition.
In the scenes shared between Oscar Isaac and BB-8, I couldn't tell which one I felt more lovingly towards. The droid maaaaay or may not have won out over the super hot talented human actor.
stella -- agree its a toss up but then BB-8 keeps rolling and Poe vanishes (mostly) so i'm all in for BB-8
Chris -- the comparison of C3PO to WALL-e's fussy gay robot. I died.
LadyEdith -i dont remember droids being cool in the prequels (but i try to shove those films out of my mind)
WALL-E occurred to me too, Chris. So yeah.
Nathaniel - the gay Wall-E robot's name is also "Mo" for God's sake! LOL
@nathaniel - tru. BB-8 has a whole arc and everything. And it's arguably more relatable; I'd roll at that breakneck speed towards Poe if I saw him IRL as well
Chris-Loved your post headline. I thought the same thing....!
stella--LOL! Since this is the first time my 15 yr old saw Oscar Isaac on the big screen, she leaned over and whispered "Who's he? Verrry attractive."
BB-8 was one of the first things I saw of the new Star Wars movie pictures on the internet and it immediately captured my heart.
I just love cute robots. X3
WALL-E is still the cutest of them all. No contest.
WALL-E is nothing more than an animated retread of Johnny Five.