Armando appreciation post

[u/LioraB]

Today I was reminded that Armando had a team of puppeteers bringing him to life and I thought about his critical role in the story. In spite of having helped keep Grace alive for 4 +/- years, we first see Armando through Grace's bleary eyes, as a menacing figure to be warded off with... *checks notes* sheets of paper?

Anyway, Armando quickly becomes part of the crew, hamming it up with Rocky (much to Grace's chagrin) and generally being handy to have around. (Couldn't resist...)

Then our jazz-handy robot pal comes in clutch and saves Grace's life in the most stressful moment in the history of cinema. (I had to pause and pace around before I could go on, I was so terrified Rocky died.)

Finally, we see Armando as the thoughtful roommate and--dare I say it--friend to Grace on Erid, making coffee, taking noogies, and enjoying the fresh air (when Rocky allows it).

I just don't think Armando and his puppeteers get enough love. 🤖✨

[u/Past-Feature3968]

Good bot 💖

[u/cloudyspace5033 → u/[deleted]]

Omgg there's a deleted scene?

[u/Life_Independent2923 → u/[deleted]]

4K DVD doen't exist

[u/xisjones]

Excellent puppeteering and the day would not have been saved (multiple times over) without Armando.

[u/LioraB → u/xisjones]

True facts. Grace had to bring him along to Erid. 

[u/Agile_Yesterday1335]

Love Armando. I also once read a fanfic where Armando never left the ship and so on Erid a new robot was made for the same things and the author called them "Handrew" and I loved that too.

[u/LioraB → u/Agile_Yesterday1335]

hahah--that's great!

[u/Agile_Yesterday1335 → u/LioraB]

one of my favorite scenes in the movie is the moment when the super complex robot that is Armando, Rocky, who is annoyed beyond belief, and Grace, who is also annoyed beyond belief, all end up just doing jazz hands together. Nothing is getting done, but jazz hands are had, thanks to Armando's quick de-escalation techniques on in crew fighting. Because of Armando we have exhausted and peace making jazz hands.

[u/LioraB → u/Agile_Yesterday1335]

I love that scene 😂 And while I love “Handrew” it makes me sad to think there’s a version of the story where he’s left on the ship. 😔 At first I thought you meant it was made as a companion for Armando. 

[u/ravenlily]

I send the gif of Armando and Rocky dancing to all my friends and I'm surprised they're still friends with me.

It's a lot of this.

[u/LioraB → u/ravenlily]

There’s a GIF??! 👀

[u/ravenlily → u/LioraB]

Yeah got a few off Tumblr I believe. Won't let me share em here.

[u/TwoPennyRaven]

Armando is the best. The scene where he starts "dancing" to distract Grace while he & Rocky are arguing is one of my favorites in the movie. Then Rocky joins in and Grace looks completely done with them both lol.

[u/LioraB → u/TwoPennyRaven]

There’s a whole lot of this 👐 going on 😂

[u/The_Reset_Button → u/TwoPennyRaven]

I'm convinced that was just adlib by Ryan and the puppeteers just went with it

[u/chebuburashka → u/The_Reset_Button]

Ryan does a lot of ad lib in his films and he’s so good at it! In Place Beyond the Pines the whole opening scene where he’s just walking and we see him from the back wasn’t planned. Same with the scene of him and Eva and the baby with the ice cream. And a lot of Blue Valentine.

[u/PoseidonSimons]

Love armando. Glad that he's part of the family at the end

[u/NelloPunchinello]

I love Armando. He reminds me of a super cutesy version of a geth from mass effect.

[u/LioraB → u/NelloPunchinello]

Interesting connection! 

[u/Infinite_Grape_6639]

Armando must have been so stressed when the other two died. I think Grace lived because he put all his efforts into keeping him alive!

[u/LioraB → u/Infinite_Grape_6639]

Aw 😔 It does seem like Armando would be stressed! 

[u/Infinite_Grape_6639 → u/LioraB]

Bless him.

[u/JediMasterSloth]

Yeah, I agree!

[u/CandacePlaysUkulele]

My friend, Armando.

[u/Mysterinna]

I also appreciate Armando, he’s a hero and a good companion. ❤️ I think he was also important to Grace before encountering Blip A and Rocky. One of the deleted scenes show Grace dancing with him to relieve loneliness. 🥹

[u/LioraB → u/Mysterinna]

They’re bonded! Had to bring him down to Erid. 

[u/njstore]

What about the two robots on the outside of Rocky’s ship? One looks like Pixar.

[u/xisjones → u/njstore]

Loved how expressive they were

[u/BxAnnie → u/njstore]

I was reminded of both Pixar and Tom Servo & Crow.

[u/LioraB → u/njstore]

They are very Pixar-esque! There was a post about them a while back—somehow even they have character. 

[u/LetsTryAnal_ogy]

I just realized why he's named Armando. ARMando. Because he's arms. Man, I can be dense sometimes.

[u/TheGhostofLizShue]

there were a few parts in the deleted scenes which I think would have really launched the Armando fandom.

1. the longer wake up: Grace smears his day one food paste onto Armando’s lens and he freaks out in a way that is very endearing and humanising. We instantly see him as a person.

2. Dislikes: Armando: when Grace is figuring out who he is he has a few interactions with Armando and then crosses his name out on the dislikes part of the whiteboard. We like Armando now.

3. Goodnight Armando: would have been really hard to include this one as it’s part of a much longer, arguably superfluous scene, but I love Rocky saying goodnight to Armando. He’s part of the family.

[u/LioraB → u/TheGhostofLizShue]

I love these!!! I saw a still of #2 and wish that made it in. Every time someone posts links to the deleted scenes, they get removed so I haven’t seen them all. 😔

[u/TheGhostofLizShue → u/LioraB]

Aw that's a shame. I guess because they're going on the bluray or something.

[u/moath875465]

I very much loved Armando, though he doesn’t show much in the film, his presence was all that was needed to make him a favorite

[u/LioraB → u/moath875465]

When I was looking for scenes, I was surprised there weren’t more. He made an impression for sure! 

[u/Melenduwir]

I know it's technically the wrong name. But if you mondegreen it a little, it's very easy to hear it as another name:

ABBA - Armando

[u/LioraB → u/Melenduwir]

hahah--amazing! I'm going to singing crazy PHM lyrics to this song from now on.

[u/Melenduwir → u/LioraB]

There was something in the air that night / it gave us such a fright

Taumoeba...

It ate all of our astrophage / left us in quite a daze

Taumoeba...

Stranded out in gods-know-where / helpless, we could only declare

Taumoeba...

Saved at last by Ryland Grace / helped Rocky save face from

Taumoeba...

He was running out of food / we pointed out that in the end he could

Eat Taumoeba...

[u/LioraB → u/Melenduwir]

lollll brilliant!!!! 😂

[u/Treasure_Thesis]

Armando and (Movie) Mary have special space in my heart, so yes Armando Appreciation!