Summary
The live-actionStar Warsfranchise has been slowly expanding its lore onscreen. With the successful debut of the witches inAhsokabeing its most recent,Star Warsseems ready to embrace more of its Expanded Universe ideas. Dave Filoni has done well incorporating elements from the animatedStar Warsseries, and the droid Force-sensitive idea illustrated inStar Wars: Visionsshould be the next.
Star Wars: Visionsis an animated anthology series of short films on Disney+ produced in collaboration with animation studios from around the world. The first season was produced by several Japanese studios with varying styles of animation. None of these films are considered canonical to the live-actionStar Wars. However, there are a few ideas that Lucasfilm should consider exploring to help the franchise continue to evolve.
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Star Wars Visions' Droid Jedi
InStar Wars: Visionsseason 1, episode 6, a professor creates a cybernetic boy, T0-B1, who dreams of being a Jedi. The professor is a Jedi, and T0-B1 is a Force-sensitive droid who senses something calling to him. After failing in his search to find a kyber crystal needed to become a Jedi, T0-B1 is told to “use the Force” by the professor:
“The Force is in all things.”
This is an interesting interpretation of the Force which changes how the Force has been surmised by others, such as Qui-Gon Jin andthe witches ofStar Wars. T0-B1 isn’t the only Force-sensitive droid, however. The Sith lord who defeated the professor turns out to also be cybernetic and capable of using Force techniques. These developments challenge one major assumption of the Force. Previously, it was thought that The Force can only be used by living beings because the Force is only in living things.
Why Droid Force-Users Should Be Canon
The contentious question that arises fromtheStar Wars: Visionsepisode is in regard to whether droids can be considered “living things,” or whether the professor’s philosophy of the Force should have credence over others. Robots that dream or feel, and thus are considered to be alive, are not new in the world of sci-fi. But regardless of whether droids can be considered “living,” the professor’s belief that the Force is in all things grants droids the opportunity to become Force-users either way in theStar Warsuniverse. This idea may also have some precedence in the live-action films.
Darth Vader, for instance, though terribly maimed, could still use the Force through his prosthetic hand. While he is, of course, a living being, the ability to manipulate the Force with a partially robotic limb could provide insight into the plausibility of the professor’s interpretation. Most of the current crop of droids inStar Warsare too primitive compared to T0-B1 to be capable of wielding a lightsaber or the Force effectively in combat.The cyborg General Grievous, however, had slain many Jedi despite his cybernetic condition. The inclusion of advanced droid Force-users could lead to another Clone Wars-like arc depending on the parameters of how droids can become Force-users.
How Star Wars Can Evolve
Droid Force-users can also usher in a new wave of Force techniques only they can perform, as well as more advanced technology. The technology inStar Warshas not progressed significantly fromStar Wars Episode I. One would think that their artificial intelligence and robotics would have made more visible advancements. But C-3PO and R2-D2 are still the same, rigid and mechanical.
Clinging to the classic aesthetic of the series, reminiscent of the Old West and theFlash Gordonfranchise which inspired George Lucas, could be hurtingStar Warsmore than helping. Technological advancements and new Force developments add new layers toStar Warsstories that could dramatize man versus machine plots. It could even explore man versus nature, if the Force can be consciously embodied by both. How would Jedi protect people from this Force of nature, or droids who could use the Force to manipulate technology?
Relying on the iconic lightsabers and blasters wouldn’t likely prove useful, nor would typical Force techniques. Gone are the days of a simple Force push to put down troublesome, defenseless droids if this idea comes to fruition. Whatever these changes look like, they would be welcomed in expanding the kinds of stories that can be told in theStar Warsuniverse. Evolving what fans have come to know and love aboutStar Warscreates a fresh sense of mystery and speculation. Every good sci-fi or fantasy story has to cultivate this sense of wonder to keep fans engaged over long periods of time.
Without this sort of growth or change, the franchise risks becoming stale, predictable, and repetitive. Imagining Jedi and Sith teaming up to take down an army of droid Force-users who seek to incapacitate them for the sake of peace shouldn’t seem farfetched ifStar Warsembraced more change. But, perhaps that’s the situation in another galaxy far, far away.
