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Recap / Star Wars Rebels S2E17 "The Forgotten Droid"

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"Well here's another fine mess you've gotten me into."
"Where are you taking us? The rebel fleet? Why would I go there? How do I know your rebels will treat me better than the Empire? [...] Because... I am your friend?"
AP-5 (and Chopper)

When Chopper gets left behind at an Imperial outpost, he forms an unlikely friendship with an Imperial droid, and discovers a base location for the rebels.


Tropes in this episode:

  • Anti-Hero Substitute: Chopper befriends an equally grumpy and cynical protocol droid with a British RP accent, and the pair becomes this to the more lighthearted robot duo from the films.
  • Bad Boss: The freighter captain abuses AP-5 and gladly informs him that he'll be scrapped at their next stop.
  • Bilingual Dialogue: Between Chopper and AP-5, including an instance of Pardon My Klingon.
  • Blue-and-Orange Morality: Chopper has previously knocked another Imperial droid from several thousand feet for no reason and spaced out Stormtroopers (which he also does in this episode). Now he flies into a berserker rage to protect an Imperial droid he befriended just because they served in the same campaign.
  • Breather Episode: While it is the first of a two-parter to ending the new base sideplot and reveals backstory, it is the last lighthearted story before the finale.
  • The Bus Came Back: Ketsu returns after her debut in "Blood Sisters". It looks like she's joined the Rebellion, or is at least willing to help out whenever she can. Her presence was necessary as they needed an Ace Pilot to keep the TIEs off the fleet.
  • Call-Back:
    • Chopper reveals that he was shot down in a Y-Wing over Ryloth, hence how he ended up in Hera's custody as mentioned by Cham back in "Homecoming".
    • Minister Tua describing Chopper as an "old C1 droid" back in "Droids in Distress" also makes more sense now, as C1 models were likely dropped after the Clone Wars.
    • Gron and Chava receive indirect mentions for their map.
    • The carrier that was stolen in "Homecoming" is officially named Phoenix Home to replace the one that was destroyed by Vader.
  • Coming in Hot: Hera has to make a quick landing on the cruiser so they can transfer the fuel, using the exact phrase as she does. She manages to land without breaking anything, though it's close.
  • Commonality Connection: Chopper and AP-5 begin bonding over their history fighting in the Clone Wars.
  • Continuity Nod:
    • AP-5 and Chopper were both participants of the Ryloth campaign as Republic military droids, the former as a tactical analyst aboard a Republic cruiser and the latter as a Y-Wing astromech.
    • Orondia is mentioned on a sign. The planet was briefly featured in the Clone Wars episode "Friends and Enemies" as part of a throwaway scene where Cad Bane, Moralo Eval, and a disguised Obi-Wan made a stop for fuel in a minor ship scam.
  • The Cynic: AP-5 is rather cynical (maybe even borderline Eeyore-like, not helped that he sounds somewhat like Eeyore), more than Chopper. He has doubts that people would save droids (until Chopper shows him Hera, the person that saved him) and says that Chopper's situation is hopeless.
  • A Day in the Limelight: For Chopper, who goes off on his own adventure while the crew is busy.
  • Disney Death: AP-5 gets two blaster bolts to the back courtesy of the freighter captain, but since he's a droid, he is repaired by Sabine at the end.
  • The Dog Bites Back: AP-5 makes his rebellion official after one insult too many from his captain.
  • Dying Moment of Awesome: AP-5 manages to transmit the coordinates to a safe location to the Rebel fleet even after getting shot twice in the back. Fortunately, since he's a droid, AP-5 can be repaired.
  • Five-Finger Discount: Chopper just steals the leg when he can't pay for it.
  • Full-Name Ultimatum: Hera refers to Chopper as C1-10P when she's mad at him for running off on his own against orders.
  • Funny Background Event: As Chopper is trying to haggle for the leg, you can see the Ghost crew being chased into the ship and taking off without him.
  • Grievous Harm with a Body: Chopper repeatedly uses the spare leg as a bludgeon.
  • Gunship Rescue: Ketsu and the Shadow Caster shoot down the TIE Fighters chasing the Ghost.
  • Heel–Face Turn: AP-5 joins the rebels at the end of the episode.
  • Hurricane of Puns: Ezra and Zeb get in a couple of shots at Chopper over his desire to purchase a new leg — Zeb calling Chopper "Shopper", and Ezra telling him to "get a leg up on the situation". The Ugnaught salesman gets in on it, too, saying it won't cost him an "arm and a leg", although Chopper actually laughs along on that one joke before scowling again.
  • Jerkass: The captain of the freighter is a complete douche towards AP-5 who doesn't give a damn about his corrections, and callously laughs at the thought of him getting sent to the scrap heap.
  • Mistreatment-Induced Betrayal: The constant abuse and belittlement AP-5 suffers at the hands of the Imperials is a big factor in his decision to help Chopper, and ultimately join the rebels.
  • Mythology Gag:
  • Never Tell Me the Odds!: AP-5 insists that Chopper's plan to get rid of the Stormtroopers only has about a 10% chance of succeeding. Chopper ignores him. The plan succeeds. AP-5 then backtracks and admits it was a good plan after all.
  • Parrot Exposition: AP-5 for the Binary-speaking Chopper.
  • Restraining Bolt: AP-5 is fitted with one so he'll obey the Empire. Chopper zaps it off when AP-5 refuses to report him as a stowaway.
  • Skewed Priorities: Chopper wants to buy a matching leg, but the point of stopping was to steal fuel so their fleet can jump to the new base location and the crew wants him to stay with the Ghost to warn them in case the Imperials call reinforcements. He disobeys orders and goes anyway, kicking off this episode.
  • Stab the Scorpion: After AP-5 has covered for him, Chopper levels his shock prod at AP-5. AP-5 thinks Chopper plans to shoot him anyway, but Chopper instead hits the Restraining Bolt on AP-5's chest, freeing him from the Empire's control.
  • Tempting Fate: Kanan wants to steal the fuel quietly. "No complications." So, of course, they end up in a noisy firefight, and Chopper being AWOL is a major complication.
  • Thrown Out the Airlock: Chopper lures the Stormtroopers into the cargo section of the freighter and then jettisons the entire thing.
  • Troll: After initially objecting to Chopper appointing himself as captain, AP-5 seemingly relents and allows Chopper to take the helm of the ship while he holds his spare leg. He then drops the leg with an "Oops", and while Chopper's busy picking it up, he takes the helm himself. When Chopper protests, AP-5 responds that he abandoned his post.
  • Vitriolic Best Buds: Chopper and AP-5 develop this dynamic after Chopper removes his restraining bolt.
  • What Happened to the Mouse?: Last we see of the Imperial freighter captain, Chopper knocked him unconscious on the ship, which rejoined the rebel fleet on Atollon. Very likely, he's in Rebel custody. Doubles as in-universe, since Chopper and AP-5 forgot about the captain when they left him unconscious in a closet.
  • You Owe Me: Ketsu says this to Sabine when she helps the Ghost reach the carrier.


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