Backstory For Fan Favorite "TR-8R" Stormtrooper Possibly Revealed

Since I've pretty much gone back on my promise not to talk about the new Star Wars: The Force Awakens, I figure, "Why stop now?"  Besides, judging by the ticket sales from the film, it's hard to believe that anyone outside of China hasn't seen this movie.  Don't worry, China, it'll be released in your country this Saturday.  But just in case there are a few of you that still haven't seen it yet, be warned! ***SPOILERS AHEAD!!!***

Like I said in the title for this piece, there is one particular First Order Stormtrooper that has become a fan favorite.  He is the Z-6 Riot Control Baton Stormtrooper, and because of his one and only line in the film (in it he yells, "Traitor!" to Finn) he has been designated TR-8R by fans.  If you don't know why, say it out loud, and compare it to his line from the film.  Get it?  Got it?  Good!

Slashfilm noticed that the book "Before The Awakening," which gives us some backstory tales for Rey, Poe Dameron, and Finn.  The one involving Finn is the one that may give us the identity of who TR-8R really is.  In the story, Finn goes through his Stormtrooper training with three others in his squadron.  They are FN-2199, or "Nines", FN-2000, called "Zero", and FN-2003, who goes by "Slip".  According to the "Visual Dictionary," "Slip" is the Stormtrooper that dies at the beginning of the film, and smears his blood onto Finn's mask, causing Finn to second guess everything that's going on around him.  This sets Finn on his journey to escape from the First Order and help Poe escape from his captivity.

When Finn meets up with the Z-6 Riot Control Baton Stormtrooper, and he yells, "Traitor!" at Finn, he does it with such anger and emotion that it is being speculated that this Stormtrooper is either "Nines" or "Zero."  This would make sense, seeing as he was able to match Finn's fighting style and did so with such force...no pun intended.  If TR-8R was one of the two Stormtroopers from Finn's squad, it would give the fight scene between them a whole new level of importance.  Not necessarily for the story as a whole, but at least between the two fighting.

This theory hasn't been confirmed, but with all of the stories that are coming out to fill in the gaps between Return of the Jedi and The Force Awakens, this one certainly seems to be a plausible one.

Star Wars: The Force Awakens is currently being shown in theaters.