(SeaPRwire) – A fitting farewell for a major sci-fi character should match their significance. Obi-Wan Kenobi delivered his iconic robe-drop exit in A New Hope, Darth Vader made his memorable mask removal in Return of the Jedi, and Luke Skywalker had his spirit projection finale in The Last Jedi. It would be disappointing if a key character died from something trivial like catching a cold on Hoth or slipping off a cliff by accident. (Yoda is the only exception—he can pass away naturally since he’s nearly a thousand years old.)
Due to this trend, fans don’t expect heroes to be defeated in minor ways, which led to one of the most infamous Star Wars inside jokes spanning nearly 50 years: stormtroopers are notoriously inaccurate. While protagonists often exchange blaster fire with these helmeted henchmen, they almost never get hit—because such outcomes would feel unsatisfying. Now, another film is repeating this long-standing yet avoidable trope on an even larger scale.
Lucasfilm launched its Star Wars Day celebration by releasing a fresh clip from The Mandalorian and Grogu exclusively on Disney+ (not available online). The scene shows Din Djarin calling Grogu onto an AT-ST as several stormtroopers in AT-AT walkers attempt to shoot them down. Despite having heavier weaponry and more numbers on their side, the stormtroopers still fail to land a single hit—once again reinforcing the joke about their poor aim.
This has been a recurring running gag in the franchise for decades. But why does it persist? One theory involves vision limitations—Luke mentions in A New Hope that he can’t see properly while wearing a stormtrooper helmet, and in Rebels, former clone trooper Rex also loses his typically precise shooting ability when disguised in one.
This isn’t just a fan joke—it’s established within the universe itself. In Season 1, Episode 8 of The Mandalorian, two stormtrooper scouts try target practice but repeatedly miss. Though this scene suggests equipment issues might explain the inaccuracy, it’s evident this is a widespread Imperial problem.
It’s simply one of those enduring elements of Star Wars: stormtroopers must have terrible aim so we can see Din Djarin in danger without actually defeating him. Since this clip appears to be from the opening moments of The Mandalorian and Grogu, it wouldn’t make sense narratively if either character were killed here. Even so, thanks to his Mandalorian armor, he could withstand a few shots without harm—but what he doesn’t realize is he’s wearing the strongest protection in fiction: plot armor.
The Mandalorian and Grogu premieres in theaters on May 22, 2026.
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