Summary
Though the constraints of the canon DisneyStar Warstimeline are presumably pretty tight, Respawn’sStar Wars Jedifranchise has gone out of its way to forge its own path in the galaxy. With a brandnew Jedi protagonist in Cal Kestis, a whole set of new, likable characters in the Mantis crew, and now two original stories set in theStar Warsuniverse, theStar Wars Jediseries has proved itself to be one of the best ongoingStar Warsadventures around, and fans can’t wait for a continuation of that story.
While they’ve experienced some heavy losses and taken on a brand-new member for their found family,Star Wars Jedi’s Mantis crewstill has a whole galaxy in front of them by the timeStar Wars Jedi: Survivor’s credits roll, and Respawn has no shortage of potential places it could now take the series. But just because Respawn can do something doesn’t necessarily mean that it should, and there’s one big line thatStar Wars Jedishould never cross.
The Star Wars Jedi Franchise Should Never Kill BD-1
BD-1 Has Become a Staple of the Star Wars Jedi Series
Making his debut straight afterStar Wars Jedi: Fallen Order’s prologue, BD-1 became an instant fan-favorite character. While droids are always some oftheStar Warsfranchise’s most lovable mascots, BD-1 immediately stands out from the crowd by being the player’s companion throughout the entire game, sticking to Cal Kestis' back at all times.
Whether it’s scanning the environment, offering up a much-needed health stim at the last second, or being used as a zipline handle, BD-1 is a constant source of support throughoutbothStar Wars Jedi: Fallen OrderandJedi: Survivor, and paired with his chirpy attitude, he’s become a real highlight of the series. So it would be a real shame if something happened to him.
Losing BD-1 Would Be Too Sad
TheStar Warsuniverseis no stranger to death. After all, “war” is half of the series' title, and there’s a surprising amount of it littered throughout the entire saga, from the mainline movies to video games, including even the animated shows aimed primarily at kids. And while most of these on-screen deaths are usually faceless helmeted troopers or unnamed soldiers, there have been several major character deaths over the years, including all three human members of the original trilogy.
But something that never usually happens in theStar Warsuniverse is the death of a mascot. The most common mascots in theStar Warsuniverse tend to be droids and creatures, such as R2-D2, C-3PO, BB-8, and now Grogu, and while all have been put in mortal peril before, none have died. The closest fans got to seeing aStar Warsmascot die on-screen was probablyK-2SO inRogue One, and that’s because nobody made it out of that movie alive.
By all accounts, it seems fair to say BD-1 is now considered aStar Warsmascot along with the rest of the aforementioned droids, and therefore, he should also be exempt from death. While theStar Wars Jediseries has had more than its fair share of violent deaths, BD-1 doesn’t need to be on the chopping block for the next game. Killing a main character in a final act of heroism feels sad, but it can be satisfying, whereas killing a helpless and beloved droid for the sake of the story could easily end up making the nextStar Wars Jedigame feel just too dark, and needlessly so.
Star Wars Jedi: Survivor
WHERE TO PLAY
The story of Cal Kestis continues in Star Wars Jedi: Survivor™, a third person galaxy-spanning action-adventure game from Respawn Entertainment, developed in collaboration with Lucasfilm Games. This narratively-driven, single player title picks up five years after the events of Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order™ and follows Cal’s increasingly desperate fight as the galaxy descends further into darkness. Pushed to the edges of the galaxy by the Empire, Cal will find himself surrounded by threats new and familiar. As one of the last surviving Jedi Knights, Cal is driven to make a stand during the galaxy’s darkest times - but how far is he willing to go to protect himself, his crew, and the legacy of the Jedi Order?Explore an Untamed Galaxy – Discover new planets and familiar frontiers in the Star Wars galaxy, each with unique biomes, challenges, and enemies. Master new skills, equipment, and abilities that will augment the ways you explore, fight, and roam. With larger areas to explore and more to discover off the beaten path, players who adventure beyond the horizon will find hidden rewards.
