Mind-Blowing Star Wars Theory Explains Why Droids Are Treated So Badly

Warning! This post contains SPOILERS for Star Wars: Dark Droids #4

Droids have always been treated poorly, though a new Star Wars theory suggests there may be a key reason as to why. As seen in the new Dark Droids crossover, a sentient virus known as the Scourge has been corrupting droids across the galaxy, adding them to its collective hive-mind in a bid to take over the entire galaxy. However, this new attack set between The Empire Strikes Back and Return of the Jedi is not the first time the Scourge has tried to consume the galaxy.

As seen in the canonical Star Wars: Dark Droids #4 by Charles Soule and Luke Ross, the Scourge has created a dark council by splitting its psyche into four new droid bodies to handle the sheer size of its collective consciousness, having already consumed countless droids thus far in the new crossover. Calling themselves The Elder, The Warrior, The Scholar, and The Child, each member represents a different aspect of the primary Scourge. To that end, The Elder represents the Scourge’s past before it merged with the dark side technology known as the Spark Eternal, revealing a crucial detail about the Star Wars timeline’s history when it comes to droids.

According to The Elder, the Scourge tried to claim the galaxy’s “metal” twice before in the ancient past, though each time they were stopped by the “meat” (organic life forms). Although the Scourge believes this third time will be different thanks to the Spark Eternal and the possibility of also consuming the meat as well, The Elder’s reveal is quite significant and could explain why droids have always been treated so harshly in the Star Wars galaxy.

The Scourge May Explain Why Droids Have Always Been Treated Poorly

Droids Clearly Have A Dark Legacy

As seen in the Dark Droids crossover thus far, so many droids have been corrupted against their will and added to the Scourge’s hivemind in a very short amount of time. As such, the idea that it has happened twice before in the Star Wars timeline is huge. It could even be an element as to why droids are looked down upon due to lingering suspicions, resentments, and/or stigmas from organics. Even in failure, the Scourge potentially generated a dark droid legacy with effects that are still being felt through the mistreatment and poor status of droids in the more current era of the Star Wars timeline.

Even droids with incredibly advanced programming and artificial intelligence are mistreated in the Star Wars canon, so much so that droids like Solo: A Star Wars Story’s L3-37 fought and died in the name of droids’ rights, no longer willing to sit by while her fellow counterparts were treated like slaves with zero freedom thanks to devices like restraining bolts. Although droids are everywhere and are responsible for maintaining so much galactic infrastructure and systems across the galaxy, the legacy of the Scourge could play a role as to why they’re still seen as inferior beings and not as equals.

Star Wars Has Made Droid History Very Complicated

Can Droids Still Be The Heroes In This New Crossover?

Thankfully, L3-37 was not the only one willing to fight for the freedom of droids in the galaxy. Dark Droids has also debuted Ajax Sigma, a unique droid leader separate from the Scourge seeking to free his brothers and sisters. Although he lost several of his fellow droids during an initial confrontation, Dark Droids #4 ends with Sigma agreeing to face the Scourge once more before it consumes all the meat and metal, corrupting the entire galaxy into its collective consciousness.

Likewise, R2-D2 has assembled a team of droids to stop the Scourge and free their friends. This includes C-3PO who was one of the first droids the Scourge claimed. While history and the Scourge may help explain why droids are seen as “less-than”, perhaps this new crossover will see them becoming the unequivocal heroes who save the Star Wars galaxy all the same as Dark Droids continues.

Star Wars: Dark Droids #4 is available now from Marvel Comics.

Star Wars: Dark Droids #4 (2023)
	Writer: Charles Soule Artist: Luke Ross Colorist: Alex Sinclair Letterer: Travis Lanham Cover Artist: Leinil Francis Yu & Romulo Fajardo Jr.