2-1B (Surgical Droid) - TAC - Basic (08 06)

Palpatine takes the gravely wounded Darth Vader to Coruscant. A team of surgical droids, including a 2-1B series droid, uses diagnostic and surgical equipment to treat Vader's injuries, attach mechanical limbs, and encase him in the black armored suit that he'll wear the rest of his life.

It is very interesting when a character (or a version) of a character itself is non-canon in the Star Wars universe (without the aid of an Expanded Universe tale's indifference to plunder the films of their original plot). 2-1B (Surgical Droid) from Star Wars Episode III: Revenge Of The Sith is recognized by this full name while 2-1B from Star Wars Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back is simply known as that, 2-1B. And Wookieepedia has them listed under two separate entries with nearly no reference to each other at all. We find this very bizarre and we don't understand why there aren't more factors that tie them together better or why 2-1B from Episode V is simply "2-1B" and 2-1B from Episode III is "2-1B (Surgical Droid)". It is quite perplexing, especially since these are two unique models of medical/surgical droids. And since both droids look nearly identical to each other besides some small differences, we are further confused that they are identified as such. Perhaps there isn't a firm definition for both droids at Lucasfilm, maybe they don't even know. But we can tell you that the action figure is an accomplishment that elates us in ways we cannot explain.

The action figure is an answer to prayer. But collectors were initially critical of it. Many collectors immediately noticed the diminished size of this figure to the previous Episode V incarnations. When compared against each other, it is evident that the new figure is quite smaller. But Hasbro defended the figure and explained that it is true to scale to all the recent Star Wars action figures. We agree. When we watched the pivotal "Franken-Vader" scene over again carefully, we noticed just how small in stature 2-1B (Surgical Droid) indeed is. What's more, Hasbro has managed to incorporate an unprecedented amount of articulation into a figure that was smaller, thinner and overall more delicate that the previous releases. Hasbro managed to squeeze in 11 points of articulation into this wonderful figure and we have to say that we are quite a bit more than just impressed with this feat. And the figure has multiple ball-jointed points, not simple swivel joints. It is our hope that the same approach is used to design the 2-1B from Episode V. The biggest difference between the droids (Episode III versus Episode V) is the left arm. The 2-1B from Episode III has a needle on the end of his arm while the Episode V version has two claw hands. There are also some aesthetic design differences on the body but for all intents and purposes, the characters don't differ much beyond that.

We are actually surprised how long it took Hasbro to knock out 2-1B (Surgical Droid) (Editor's Note: and FX-6) and get [their] deserved place in the basic figure line. Late is better than never for us, but we find it particularly odd that the Vader's Medical Droid (Chopper Droid) from the 2005 Revenge Of The Sith line got top billing and was released first. That medical droid was the weakest in our opinion. (Editor's Note: But we want to make it clear that we are extremely happy to have all three now.) 2-1B (Surgical Droid) is probably one of the finest figures of the 30 (77-07) line and perhaps one of the best figures based on Episode III we have ever received from Hasbro. Not only does it achieve a whole new level of what is possible for authenticity accomplishments, the color is perfectly matched to the film character as well. Colored in a beautiful metallic and very light grayish blue, the action figure looks exactly like what a droid should be. Some of the parts seem too thick in places, but we realize that there are some limitations on what Hasbro can accomplish. But these limitations should not be interpreted as weaknesses. Hasbro aced this action figure and we really don't expect a better version in the near future. We give 2-1B (Surgical Droid) two big thumb's up and we will hope for a new take on 2-1B from Episode V. (And we hope Hasbro utilizes this mold!)