The 5 Best New Characters In Rogue One: A Star Wars Story
By Elaine Tveit
3. K-2SO
Image Credit: Lucasfilm
For many fans, K-2SO was an instant favorite. He is sarcastic, funny, and visually interesting. Even his origin story is appealing; as he declares to Jyn Erso, he is “a reprogrammed Imperial droid.”
A movie is memorable if it can elicit emotions in the viewer, and K-2 inspires several different emotional responses. The foremost one is laughter.; his one-liners are cheesy but shamelessly delivered so as to be hilarious. Another response is sympathy, which we feel towards the end of the film when Jyn Erso gives K-2 a blaster to defend himself. This is the first time K-2 has been allowed to hold a blaster, at least since his reprogram. It’s a touching scene where a human treats a droid like another human being: with consideration and kindness. Even K-2 is surprised: “Your behavior, Jyn Erso,” he says, “is continually unexpected.”
But the most powerful emotion K-2 gives us is sadness. It is difficult to believe droids don’t have hearts or feelings after watching K-2’s death scene in Rogue One. There is a note of desperation in his voice as he tells Cassian and Jyn how to escape the tower and transmit the plans. The most heart-wrenching part of his death scene is Cassian’s reaction. The rebel loved his droid, and by extension, the audience loves K-2, as well.
K-2 has it all – wit, humor, and heart, all wrapped up in a cold robotic package – and that’s why he earned the number 3 spot on our list.