Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 2,567: Bucket R1-J5 (Resistance line look)

BUCKET (R1-J5) Debut
Star Wars Resistance  3 3/4-Inch 2-Pack Figure
Item No.: Asst. E5034 No. E5361
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: n/
Includes: Helmet, blaster, Jarek Yaeger figure
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $14.99
Availability: January 2019
Appearances: Star Wars Resistance

Bio: Jarek Yaeger runs a repair shop on the Colossus  refueling station, enjoying the solitude of being so far off the beaten paths of the galaxy.  Bucket has been Jarek Yaeger's loyal astromech for years, and despite being a battered, decrepit droid addled by outdated, glitching programming, is also a skilled mechanic. (Taken from the figure's packaging.)

Image: Adam's photo lab.

Availability: Click here to buy it at Entertainment Earth now!

Click here to buy it at Amazon now!

Commentary: I can't say I love Resistance as a TV show, but I will say Bucket (R1-J5) is a true favorite figure.  The look of Resistance toys is, overall, sharp.  I just don't get much from the programming.  This time, the astromech droid is a shell with missing panels and parts, a rubbery series of metallic silver rings orbits the core of the droid.  There are three legs - the center one partially retracts - and ball-jointed shoulders.  The dome is mostly missing, all you get is an eye stalk with a helmet over it.  I love this.

Thanks to the articulation, this is one of the most expressive droid figures I own.  You can tilt the figure's head inquisitively, the legs tilt in and out and allow for him to emote in ways you don't normally see.   It would be awesome to see this applied to a Droids R2-D2, as that was an unusually expressive take on the character - but I digress.  The third leg partially retracts, and extends out way more than I am comfortable seeing.  There are no wheels, but it does look awesome.

The sculpt and paint job is nice and clean, with a couple of fascinating exceptions on the feet.  If you squint and look the sides of the robot feet near the ground, there are knicks and scrapes sculpted in there that are sadly unpainted.  I think they could do a wonderful job giving this figure a deluxe paint job, bringing out even more detail.  He's missing a few paints ops - like the helmet, and the feet - but there is a lot of silver on the body and some red wiring here and there.

This is my favorite Resistance figure because it does so much that's unexpected with a design that's likable.  A busted-up robot is such a wonderful idea, but adding in the amazing head with the movement of the legs shows that Hasbro is absolutely capable of doing amazing, surprising things in a line that seemed to be coasting.  Real surprises at the smaller size are hard to find, but so welcome when Hasbro has a chance to stretch its wings.  We've seen so many fun and weird ideas over the years, it amazes me that Hasbro has new ways to jazz up a design we've basically seen dozens of times.  Who knew there was so much more life in the R2-D2 form factor?  You have to get this set.  Go, get one now.

Collector's Notes: I got mine from Entertainment Earth. 

--Adam Pawlus

Day 2,567: March 12, 2019