Introduction

The 'We're Meant to Be Expendable' meme originates from a significant scene in the animated series Star Wars: The Clone Wars, showcasing a conversation between Jedi Master Plo Koon and clone troopers about their perceived expendability.

Background

In this iconic scene, Plo Koon and two clone troopers are stranded in space, clinging to an escape pod. As they discuss their fate, the troopers express doubt about their chances of rescue, stating, 'We're just clones, sir, we're meant to be expendable.' Plo Koon reassures them, saying, 'Not to me.' This moment captures the emotional depth and camaraderie within the series.

How It Began

The meme traces its roots to October 3, 2008, when the episode 'Rising Malevolence' aired. In this episode, Plo Koon and the clone troopers find themselves in a dire situation. The initial post using this scene was shared on the /r/PrequelMemes subreddit before May 24, 2017. The image gained traction on platforms like Imgur and Twitter, eventually becoming popularized by Redditor senorgrease in April 2018, amassing over 9,800 upvotes.

Meme Evolution

The meme's popularity surged further on April 8, 2018, when Redditor crabwaffleman shared a two-panel version of the exchange, garnering over 26,400 upvotes in six months. Additional posts continued to flourish on /r/PrequelMemes, with notable contributions from users like Atrampoline and ArcticBanks. Over the following year, the format evolved into a snowclone structure, allowing for various adaptations using the phrase 'We're Just X, Sir, We're Meant to Be Expendable.'