With Tales of the Jedi, Star Wars fans got to return to The Clone Wars style of content put forward by Dave Filoni and co, and for what it was, the show was terrific. It did have big differences from its predecessor, one of which being its lack of humor, and that is partly due to the absence of B-1 battle droids, who produce some of The Clone Wars' most hilarious moments.
Whether they be clumsy, dimwitted comments, or moments of complaining and self-deprecation, the battle droids provide some of the funniest quotes in The Clone Wars.
"Well, I Guess I'm In Charge Now."
- 1.06, 'Downfall of a Droid'
When General Grievous abandons his post and the incompetent droids around him, one unit assumes that he is next in the chain of command, making for a great little comedic moment.
The always brilliant delivery of Matthew Wood - an actor who pla ys multiple Star Wars roles such as General Grievous in the prequels and Bib Fortuna in The Mandalorian/The Book Of Boba Fett - helps this quote, and every other battle droid line be funnier, as does the exasperation of Grievous. The fact that Grievous abandoned ship due to the idiocy of the droids is great, and while season 1 may be lacking in other departments, it delivers on stupid droid humor like this.
"How Can You Tell?"
- 5.02, 'A War On Two Fronts'
A running joke for years in Star Wars has been the stormtroopers' uselessness, but battle droids are also impressively bad at their jobs, only winning battles through sheer volume. Their stupidity knows no bounds, as seen through this moment when they discuss whether or not a bomb is a bomb.
When one droid points out, "Looks like an explosive," an already funny moment since they remain staring at the device rather than trying to get out of its way, another droid responds with this. It is so dumb and well done that audiences cannot help but laugh when the bomb goes off and destroys them.
"But I Just Got Promoted!"
- 1.01, 'Ambush'
The Clone Wars' first episode is a fun little contained adventure with a handful of great Yoda quotes and fun moments, as well as some classic droid comedy at moments like this.
Yoda's badassery as he tears through the Separatist forces is a great juxtaposition to the pathetic droids, especially at this moment as the unit cries about their recent rise in the ranks. There are funnier droid lines, but this one really works so well, thanks to the physical element of Yoda chopping the droid down and the hapless voice of the droid.
"Get Back Here, Sergeant."
- The Clone Wars (2008)
The Clone Wars movie is a crucial point in the Star Wars timeline despite being perhaps the worst theatrically released Star Wars film. It is full of attempted humor, but this is one joke that actually does land well if the audience is willing to accept this kind of silly comedy.
Even without this line, the moment would be hilarious as a droid falls off a cliff edge because they were looking too hard through their macrobinoculars. This quote does enhance the moment, though, once again showing the droids' endless stupidity, with the unit somehow expecting the sergeant to be capable of returning to the fight.
"Your Circuits Are Loose, No One's Crazy Enough To Do That."
- 1.04, 'Destroying Malevolence'
Oftentimes the battle droids are hilarious because they comment, in a meta sort of way, on their own inadequacies and how none of them really matter; they are just numbers. This, though, is funny because it is a commentary on Anakin's recklessness.
The droids are in disbelief at the prospect that someone has docked at the emergency airlock because nobody would be crazy enough to do so, but then enter Anakin with his trick of spinning. The Clone Wars version of Anakin, in particular, is prone to doing things everybody else thinks are daring, and this often results in funny moments like this one.
"I Still Can't Seem To Hit Anything."
- 1.03, 'Shadow of Malevolence'
The droid's lack of competence cannot be overstated. Pound for pound, they are useless against any combat training. Their power comes solely from their numbers and tech. This quote hilariously points this out.
After one droid comments on how much fun it is to shoot with nothing shooting back, another unit hits out with this line that swiftly results in Grievous terrifically punching off the droid's head. The quote on its own is brilliant, keeping up the running gag that bad guy foot soldiers in Star Wars suck, but it is elevated by Grievous' frustrated beheading.
"Yup, This Is About The Worst Job In The Droid Army. Eh, Eh, Eh, What? And It Just Went Into Overtime."
- 1.20, 'Innocents Of Ryloth'
Some of the funniest moments in The Clone Wars and from the droids are when they are feeling down about their jobs, and one of the best scenes exploring this is when a droid is cleaning floors only to be greeted by Obi-Wan Kenobi.
The defeat in the droid's voice when he encounters the Jedi is fantastic. They may be pretty useless in all aspects of war as individuals and hopelessly stupid, but they still have the wherewithal to recognize that their life is pretty much over when they come face-to-face with a Jedi.
"Guess I'm The Commander Now."
- 2.02, 'Cargo Of Doom'
The chain of command is pretty simple for the droids, given that they are all programmed to understand their role within the Separatist army. Knowing when they are to succeed their commander, though, does not always work out well for them, as shown by this laughably dumb droid in 'Cargo of Doom.'
When confronted by Anakin and his clones, one droid rats in their colleague as being higher of rank in order to avoid being shot, only to be shot anyway - after taking up that higher rank vacated by the other droid seconds prior. The ridiculousness of the droid announcing themselves as Commander after using that as an excuse for them to live, combined with the clone instantly shooting them, makes this an iconic funny droid scene.
"Not Us, We're Independent Thinkers."
- 1.21, 'Liberty On Ryloth'
Irony is a powerful comedic tool, and it is used wonderfully here as a group of droids insults an older model droid who was programmed by a central computer, who, unlike them, they believe to be 'independent thinkers.'
The idea of free will and individuality vs. programming is a fascinating thematic thread in The Clone Wars, usually explored through the clones and their ultimately sad story arcs in Star Wars. It is shown in a funnier light, with the droids not realizing they are machines who think, talk, look, act, and simply are the same.
"It Won't Matter."
- 2.02, 'Cargo Of Doom'
Together, the Jedi Generals of the Grand Army of the Republic took out countless battle droids, with few ever falling to the mass-produced machines. So, it is no surprise this droid did not fancy its chance against the Legendary Anakin Skywalker.
When Anakin confronts these three droids, one runs in fear, another stays hopeful that the three of them have a chance against the one Jedi, and the third says this line, reserved to their fate, accepting of the destruction awaiting them. The scene almost makes fans feel bad for the droid, but it really just makes them laugh more than most scenes involving them.