No matter the larger appeal of a given Star Wars movie or TV series, each is full of memorable characters, especially when it comes to the franchise’s droids. From C-3PO and R2-D2 to BB-8 and K-2SO, there are countless noteworthy automatons populating the galaxy far, far away. But one stands apart from the rest: C1-10P, a.k.a. Chopper.
Introduced in Star Wars Rebels, Chopper is the best droid in all of Star Wars. From Chop’s distinctive, cantankerous personality to the astromech droid’s surprising amount of heart, Chopper is a rebel’s best sidekick. And Chopper’s on-screen popularity is about to surge, thanks to the upcoming live-action Ahsoka series.
The Most Loved Droid In Star Wars
When it comes to the most-loved droid in Star Wars, there are a lot of great picks. Fans who err on the side of picking a tried-and-true classic will likely settle on the dependable R2-D2, or the anxiety-riddled human protocol droid C-3PO. Both Artoo and Threepio made their debut in 1977’s A New Hope; like Luke Skywalker and Darth Vader, they’ve been around since the franchise’s inception. Throughout the prequel trilogy, which began with 1999’s The Phantom Menace, viewers learn more about the droids’ origin stories, and budding companionship.
But just because a character has been around since the beginning doesn't make them the best of the best. After all, the sequel trilogy gave Star Wars fans BB-8. Later on, Rogue One (2016) featured K-2SO, a former Imperial security droid who became part of the Rebel Alliance. The Mandalorian (2019–) introduced viewers to IG-11, a reprogrammed assassin droid who becomes Grogu’s protector of sorts. Even Solo: A Star Wars Story (2018) — a decidedly less popular entry — debuted the memorable revolutionary L3-37, a singular droid composed of astromech and protocol parts. Still, all of those droids are second-rate compared to Chopper.
Who Did Chopper Originally Belong To?
In Star Wars Rebels, Chopper is the resident droid of the Ghost, though the astromech has been General Hera Syndulla’s life-long companion. A skilled maintenance droid, Chopper had a mechanical hand in customizing the Ghost, making Chop one of the few (or maybe only) droids able to perform maintenance on Hera’s beloved ship. Cantankerous and sarcastic, Chopper prefers playing dejarik (a.k.a. holochess) to doing chores, though that doesn’t mean the astromech won’t bring it on the battlefield.
A veteran of the Clone Wars, Chopper is a former military droid. Like Artoo, Chopper is equipped with an electroshock prod — though, unlike Artoo, Chopper uses the weapon indiscriminately. A top-notch navigator undercover spy, Chop is versatile — and although the astromech isn’t as subservient as other organic-pleasing droids, Chopper will rise above that notorious selfish streak to put the Ghost crew (and the rebellion) first.
Who Is Better: Chopper or R2-D2?
Given that both Chopper and R2-D2 are astromech droids, fans are bound to draw comparisons between the two. According to Dave Filoni, executive producer of Star Wars Rebels:
“If Artoo is the family dog, Chopper is the cat.”
The Case For R2-D2
There’s no denying that R2-D2 is a special droid. When Artoo is introduced in The Phantom Menace, the droid is the only one on Queen Padmé Amidala’s ship capable of completing repairs mid-flight — and while taking fire. Without Artoo, Anakin Skywalker, Ahsoka Tano, and Obi-Wan Kenobi would have likely ended up in even more compromising situations during the Clone Wars. Later, the astromech helps reunite the Skywalker siblings by carrying a message from Leia Organa to Obi-Wan (by way of Luke), and aids in Leia’s rescue from the Death Star.
After R2-D2 served as Anakin’s trusty copilot in the Battle of Naboo, the astromech remains with Luke through thick and thin, from the destruction of the first Death Star to Luke’s training session on Dagobah. And in the sequels, Artoo is the literal key to locating an exiled Luke again. Whenever C-3PO calls R2 an “old friend,” the audience feels the same swell of emotion. It’s hard not to when the droid has been such a formative part of the Star Wars franchise, as well as a core member of the Rebel Alliance.
The Case For Chopper
While the stubborn and often irritable Chopper doesn’t seem as reliable as R2-D2 at first glance, the droid’s mischievous streak gives Chop the edge, especially in combat. Zeb Orrelios, the cunning Lasat muscle of the Ghost crew, believes Chopper’s damaged logic circuits are responsible for the droid’s…personality. Whatever the case, Chopper rarely shows remorse. It’s no secret that the droid has almost ended Ezra Bridger’s life more than once. On the flip side, though, Chop stays by Ezra’s side during a harrowing mission on Tatooine.
On another occasion, the droid escaped an Imperial ship by opening an airlock — and didn’t care that several stormtroopers were sucked into space, too. Perhaps that was just the most logical decision at the moment. After all, Chop’s choice was made in favor of the Rebel Alliance’s aims. Even the droid’s more self-motivated moments betray Chopper’s true feelings for the Ghost crew; at one point, Chop becomes jealous of another droid and pushes it out of the Ghost’s cargo hold during flight. No doubt, that droid roamed Lothal until running out of power.
Though the droid may not admit it, Chopper is clearly dedicated to the mission at hand and loyal to the rebels, especially Hera. In fact, it’s even said that Chopper’s soft side shows when the droid is watching over Kanan Jarrus and Hera’s child, Jacen Syndulla. At the end of the day, it’s that begrudgingly caring core and signature ruthlessness that set Chopper apart.
Chopper’s Kill Count, Explained
There’s no denying that R2-D2 is a pro at creating distractions and launching lightsabers into midair. In Revenge of the Sith, Artoo even takes out two Super Battle Droids — an impressive feat for a maintenance-minded astromech. Still, that prowess pales in comparison to Chopper’s prowess. In one episode of Rebels, Chopper commandeers a TIE fighter and uses it to disarm one of the Inquisitors. Not to mention, there's the Bantha in the room: Chopper’s kill count.
Thanks to a Season 2 episode of Rebels, Chopper’s kill count soared. Certainly, Chopper’s kills total more than any other droid in the Star Wars franchise. The astromech even gives the most battle-hardened organics a run for their galactic credits. In the second season of Star Wars Rebels, Chopper sabotages the Indictor, which explodes and takes out two Imperial Light Cruisers, too.
According to an in-depth fan analysis by Reddit user u/TransgenderRebel, the Indictor’s size is roughly the same size as an Imperial I-Class Star Destroyer. That said, between the three ships that Chopper takes out, there are at least 50,000 crew members who meet their demise. The Redditor writes:
“TLDR: The total tally is 19 confirmed and direct kills; 49,997 estimated indirect kills using sabotage; and 20 estimated kills using explosives. [Chopper] also killed three fellow astromechs, and one other droid. [Chopper] also tried to kill Erza twice, and suggested infanticide once.”
What Happened To Chopper After Rebels?
As Star Wars Rebels continues, Chopper and the rest of the Ghost crew become part of Phoenix Cell, a key part of the Rebel Alliance. Alongside an unlikely friend AP-5, a reprogrammed Imperial RA-7 protocol droid, Chopper helps the rebels set up a base on Atollon, which they dub Chopper Base in the astromech’s honor.
Not much is known about Chopper’s fate after the Battle of Endor. However, fans can safely assume that the droid stayed by Hera’s side, especially since it’s stated that Chopper watched over Hera’s son, Jacen, while she served in the Empire-ending Battle of Jakku.
Is Chopper In “Ahsoka”?
Technically, Chopper has already made a live-action appearance. In Rogue One, the droid can be seen rolling through the rebel base, amid the scramble before the Battle of Scarif. Over the intercom, someone pages Hera, calling her General Syndulla, and, later, eagle-eyed fans can even spot the Ghost.
However, both Hera and Chopper will be getting much more than cameo appearances in the upcoming Ahsoka series. After Chopper and Hera’s recent (animated) stint in Star Wars: The Bad Batch, here’s hoping Star Wars fans will again have their fill of Chopper’s notorious antics come August 2023.