I like writing stories with large casts of characters, whether it be a novel, a play, or just a comedy sketch. Maybe it’s because I come from a large family, with a lot of siblings, cousins, nieces and nephews. I find the dynamics of large groups inherently interesting, because there are so many possibilities to play with. It’s mathematical, in a way – within the seven kids in my family, for example, there’s a different dynamic between each pair, each trio, each quartet, etc.
Though the genres of my novels shift from series to series, they’re all funny adventures at their heart, and I find comedy and drama more engaging when there are lots of different characters with lots of different points of view bouncing off each other in lots of different combinations. With my latest novel, for instance – Dance Ten; Charisma Three (plug!) – I honestly intended to focus on one main character and change up the supporting cast from book to book, but by the climax I’d given him (minor spoiler) a travelling companion, and as I begin the first draft of the sequel, I’m finding that two characters I meant to be throw-aways might wind up tagging along as well. There’s just so much to be explored when multiple characters get to know one another, and readers get to know them at the same time.
It’s a lot harder, of course, juggling so many characters. If they’re going to be prominent in the story, then they’ve got to have arcs of their own, and keeping all those independent but interconnected plots engaging isn’t easy.
I wouldn’t expect a 1980s Saturday morning cartoon to be capable of, or interested in, that kind of complexity. But somehow, Droids is managing it. It’s built up quite a large supporting cast in this particular arc, and The Revenge of Kybo Ren manages to give all of them something useful to do while also moving all of their individual stories forward. It’s honestly impressive!
We’ve got our stars, of course. I suppose R2-D2 doesn’t get a lot of character development, but he certainly plays a key role in resolving the story, as always. Once again events would have likely proceeded smoother if C-3PO hadn’t been there at all, but he does do some useful things this time and learns a little lesson about making your own luck. (It’s still a Saturday morning cartoon; somebody’s gotta learn a little lesson.)
But then we’ve got our rapidly expanding supporting cast. King Mon Julpa is trying to negotiate peace with warlord chieftain Lord Toda. Toda has a daughter, Princess Gerin, whose abduction by pirate Kybo Ren and subsequent rescue by the entire rest of the cast provides the bulk of our story. (Side note – I’m not sure the daughter of a warlord chieftain is really a princess, but then I guess if the daughter of a senator can be, anyone can be.) But within this by-the-numbers adventure, we’ve got the tension between Julpa and Toda, and the growing romantic subplot between Julpa and Gerin. Also, throw Gerin’s younger brother Coby in there, who doesn’t do all that much here, but his name is in the title of the next episode so I’m considering his appearance here the introduction of yet another major character.
And we must not forget Jessica Meade, whose name I still adore (COME ON she’s a Star Wars character who sounds like you play mixed doubles tennis with her and her banker husband at the club). She leaves our story here – satisfied that she’s helped her friend Julpa secure peace on his planet, she’s ready to return to her freighter business. Her arc is over, but her sudden departure is jarring to Jann Tosh, the droids’ current master. He’s been pretty happy chilling with his friends, being all hunky and heroic when called for, but Jessica reminds him that his goal had been to join the Space Academy. Time to get his story arc moving again! (And since Droids takes place during the height of the Empire, that’s the Imperial Space Academy Jann wants to join, meaning he wants to be either an Imperial officer or a Stormtrooper. I’m hoping the next episode lets me dig a little deeper into that…)
And while the writers’ juggle all this, they also manage to somehow give each one of C-3PO, R2-D2, Jann, Jessica, Toda, Julpa, Julpa’s aide Sollag Den who I haven’t even mentioned, and Gerin herself something productive to do in furthering the rescue plot. (Although this is her first appearance, we get to know Gerin pretty quickly as she joins the ranks of Star Wars princesses who maybe need a little bit of help but after that are perfectly capable of rescuing themselves.) Nobody’s just there; everybody does something. That’s not easy with this many characters, but it’s something I strive for in my own writing and appreciate when I see it done this well.
All this is just to say… if you ever consider bringing Droids back, Disney, give me a shot at the writers’ room. I’m perfect for it.
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