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.