BB-8's gesture to Finn

[JD]

Are you actually serious? I had just assumed this was a joke thread, but now I'm not sure.
It was pretty clear that he was returning Finn's thumbs up, and it never even crossed my mind that this was meant to be anything else. For him to be flipping him off would be totally out of character for BB-8, out of place in a Star Wars movie, and only barely works in context.

 

[Mr. Laser Beam]

When I saw TFA in theaters, the audience burst out laughing when BB-8 made that gesture, which made me think that they all thought BB-8 was flipping Finn off.

 

[Matthew Raymond]

No, returning a thumbs up is hilarious, really.

 

[Gepard]

It's funny because it's unexpected coming from what amounts to a featureless ball.

 

[Desert Kris]

Agreed, it's funny because it's so unexpected.

 

[Kahless the Unforgettable]

It was pretty clear that he was returning Finn's thumbs up, and it never even crossed my mind that this was meant to be anything else. For him to be flipping him off would be totally out of character for BB-8, out of place in a Star Wars movie, and only barely works in context.

Exactly. 100% correct, especially the first two points.

Plus BB-8's whole spiel is that he manipulates people with his adorableness. Flipping someone off would burn a bridge, and BB-8 don't play dat.

 

[fireproof78]

It's funny in both ways but I don't think BB-8 would flip any one off. R2 on the other hand

 

[Ithekro]

R2 swears like a sailor.

 

[B.J.]

R2 swears like a sailor.

Yup. Why else would they bleep out all his dialogue?

 

[The Wormhole]

I remember years ago there was a site which you could type something in and it would play how those words sound as R2's beeps. Apparently whenever he makes that squirt noise he's swearing.

Sadly, the site has since shut down.

 

[JD]

I didn't really notice until recently just how much of an attitude R2 actually has. I'm pretty sure there are a few times where he tells 3PO to f-off.

No, returning a thumbs up is hilarious, really.

It's funny because it's unexpected coming from what amounts to a featureless ball.

Agreed, it's funny because it's so unexpected.

Exactly, I didn't think he was flipping him off and I still thought it was funny, just because I didn't expect him to actually return the gesture. The way he did it was pretty original too.

 

[Matthew Raymond]

Plus BB-8's whole spiel is that he manipulates people with his adorableness. Flipping someone off would burn a bridge, and BB-8 don't play dat.

If he's manipulative, he doesn't need cuteness for Finn, because he knows his secret about not being in the Resistance, and he's already done Finn a solid by giving up the location of the Resistance base. Besides, I'm pretty sure he shocks Finn earlier in the movie, so Finn can't see him as that cute. The bridge has already been burned.

Out of curiosity, did anyone not interpret the flame as a warning to Finn? (Setting aside what gesture it represents.)

 

[fireproof78]

What warning? All he did was return a thumb's up gesture in kind. It's actually kind of funny, given that Finn didn't care about getting a droid back with Poe and then comes to rely on BB-8.

 

[Matthew Raymond]

What warning?

I would expect you not to understand that, because you're fire proof.

 

[Locutus of Bored]

Out of curiosity, did anyone not interpret the flame as a warning to Finn? (Setting aside what gesture it represents.)

I love how you say "Did anyone NOT interpret the flame as a warning?" as if that is what most people thought it represented and not just you.

Good lord, man, the flame was the thumb, nothing more. It's not the da Vinci Code. You're reading way too much into a simple gesture whose intent was confirmed by the people who made the damn thing.

 

[Matthew Raymond]

Good lord, man, the flame was the thumb, nothing more. It's not the da Vinci Code. You're reading way too much into a simple gesture whose intent was confirmed by the people who made the damn thing.

So let me get this straight: If you gave me a thumbs up, and I replied by holding a lit blowtorch up towards you, you'd just interpret that as nothing more than a friendly thumbs up?

I'm seriously concerned for your safety.

 

[Ithekro]

If you are a droid, and the manner is done similar to my own hand gesture, I would expect it to be a reflection of my own gesture considering the droid does not have human style hands and will make due.

 

[Matthew Raymond]

So if BB-8 had replied by sticking out an arm with a small, bloody chainsaw at the end, you'd just assume a chainsaw is the closest thing he had to a thumb?

 

[Locutus of Bored]

So let me get this straight: If you gave me a thumbs up, and I replied by holding a lit blowtorch up towards you, you'd just interpret that as nothing more than a friendly thumbs up?

I'm seriously concerned for your safety.

You're special, aren't you?

 

[Ithekro]

So if BB-8 had replied by sticking out an arm with a small, bloody chainsaw at the end, you'd just assume a chainsaw is the closest thing he had to a thumb?

If that is all he has and he is responding to your gesture in a similar manner, yes.

R2-D2 would probably been a shock prod as oppose to a lighter.