R2-D2 made a mark on everyone while saving Queen Padmé Amidala’s ship
R2-D2 is a character that is so synonymous with Star Wars, that it’s hard to pinpoint who he actually belongs to. There is an answer, of course, about his origin, but he sort of seems to belong to everyone and no one at the same time.
The first time R2-D2 is chronologically seen in the Star Wars universe is in The Phantom Menace as Queen Amidala, as her court is escaping Naboo. He was just one of the astromech droids on her ship, which is typical in their universe. Space travel is tricky and can be dangerous if your ship falls apart at any point in your journey. Because of all the commotion going on, and the Trade Federation shooting at their ship, the shield generator takes a hit, and the astromechs are sent to fix the problem while they’re still flying in space.
Every other droid falls off into space. But not R2. He fixes the problem and makes it back onto the ship to much praise. He ends up tagging along wherever Qui-Gon, Padmé, and Jar Jar go on Tatooine. And that’s how his journey in this franchise starts.
He went on to become a trusted companion to Padmé, through her second term as Queen of Naboo. R2 then showed up with her on Coruscant in Attack of the Clones 10 years later, when she was Senator of Naboo. By this point, R2-D2 is already glued to her side and is the only droid she takes with back to her home planet with Anakin when she has to hide from her assassin.
Does R2 Know Anakin Is Darth Vader?
A key line of intrigue for Star Wars enthusiasts is why R2-D2 did not tell Luke Skywalker that Vader was actually his father. As the prequel movies reveal, R2 was very close with Anakin and saw him become a Sith Lord.
R2-D2 first served under Queen Padmé Amidala on the planet Naboo. He was among several almost identical astromech droids on Queen Amidala’s starship. Yet, he stood out as different from the beginning.
In Star Wars Episode II: Attack of the Clones, R2-D2 spent time with both Padmé and Anakin Skywalker. R2 soon was with Anakin all the time, especially in The Clone Wars television series.
By the time we see R2 in Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith, he was the co-pilot on Anakin’s starfighter. Throughout these times and later, R2 kept his memory intact, unlike his fellow droid C-3PO–more on this topic below.
So, if R2 was almost always with Anakin and his memory was fine, why didn’t R2 pass on his knowledge about what happened to Anakin to his next owner, Luke Skywalker?
The answer has to do with the final scenes of Revenge of the Sith.
Although R2-D2 was usually with Anakin, and saw how Anakin turned to the Dark Side of the Force, R2 did not witness Anakin’s final demise on the planet Mustafar. R2 had been ordered back to the ship before Anakin’s battle with Obi-Wan Kenobi.
R2 was there when Padmé gave birth to Leia and Luke in this same movie. And, R2 knew that Padmé was the mother, but he may not have known that Anakin became Darth Vader.Star Wars: Revenge Of The Sith – Birth Of Leia And Luke (Movie Clip)
R2 probably never even found out how Anakin was badly burned and barely survived. Soon afterwards, Anakin was transformed into Darth Vader–something this droid may not have known.
Then again, R2-D2 is a clever droid. Described as a “smart, spunky droid who would serve,” R2 is known for his bravery and intelligence.
Remember, R2 was able to get the hyperdrive working on the Millenium Falcon when nobody else could. So, it’s quite possible that R2 could have figured out who Darth Vader really was.
Think about it: Anakin disappears and then all of sudden Darth Vader starts ruling the galaxy. This is a 2 plus 2 calculation, and R2 is capable of doing much more complex mathematics.
So, perhaps R2 held back on sharing the information with Luke. Maybe R2 thought it would be too difficult for Luke to bear. Maybe R2 thought it would endanger the Rebellion.
Relationships[]
First meeting him on Tatooine during the Naboo Crisis[18] before truly befriending him during the Battle of Geonosis,[17] C-3PO was R2-D2s best friend.[118] Even though the two could easily argue and disagree, they both deeply cared about each other.[55]
After first meeting R2 during the Naboo crisis,[18] R2 was given to Anakin Skywalker by Padmé Amidala as a wedding present.[120] Skywalker viewed R2 as more than a droid, considering his loyal companion a friend.[12] Amidala also cared for R2, viewing him as a hero of Naboo and viewing him as a loyal ally who made her smile.[30] During the Clone Wars, R2 was Skywalkers faithful co-pilot. R2s loyalty to Skywalker made him stay even after he fell to the dark side. He believed Skywalker died on Mustafar after his duel with Obi-Wan Kenobi.[17]
Skywalkers former master, Obi-Wan Kenobi, initially overlooked R2 as a mere droid, not understanding how Skywalker could care for the unit as much as he did.[12] Nevertheless, Kenobi eventually took a liking to R2, though he pretended not to recognize the droid when they reunited on Tatooine during the Jedi Masters later life. However, during the journey to Alderaan aboard the Millennium Falcon, Kenobi told R2 he was happy to fly with him again, going as far as to call R2 his old friend. Their reunion was short-lived, however, as Kenobi was killed a short time later aboard the Death Star at the hands of Darth Vader.[76]
R2-D2 and Skywalkers Jedi Padawan Ahsoka Tano also had a mutual liking and respect for each other. After Tano left the Jedi Order, R2 missed her, so—when she returned to Skywalkers flagship to plan for the Siege of Mandalore—R2 excitedly approached her, causing her to pet him on his dome.[121] During the Imperial Era, Tano missed R2-D2 and his help while she was hiding on Raada, but they reunited when Senator Organa located her, resulting in a happy reunion. Organa once joked that R2-D2 was far too independent for an astromech droid but did not give him a memory wipe out of respect. Tano quipped that R2-D2 had several “bad role models” including Anakin Skywalker and Senator Amidala. Later, R2-D2 repaired Tanos freighter.[23]
Clone Captain CT-7567 “Rex” had been Skywalkers first in command during the Clone Wars[122] and often worked with R2 during the conflict. During the Battle of Yerbana, they were directly tasked with working together, as R2 needed to inform Rex and his jetpack troopers when to launch.[121] Much later, during the Galactic Civil War, Rex and R2 were both part of Han Solos strike team on Endor, which delighted R2.[123]
R2-D2 was loyal to his master Princess Leia Organa and was determined to get her message to Obi-Wan Kenobi during the Death Star crisis, despite the odds stacked against him.[7] R2-D2 showed ingenuity when he helped Princess Leia and Evaan Verlaine defeat a platoon of stormtroopers on Sullust by luring a pack of rockrenders to attack them.[79] R2-D2 also showed initiative when he beamed Princess Leias message to Chief Beon Beonel, helping repair the breach between the Alderaanians and the Alder-Espirions and save the Alderaan Flotilla from destruction at the hands of an Imperial Star Destroyer.[81] Han Solo also respected R2-D2s skills, despite his personal dislike of most other droids.[124]
R2 also developed a friendship with Luke Skywalker,[115] rarely leaving the young mans side after the Battle of Yavin.[124] The astromech was present when he tried to rebuild the Jedi Order and was overjoyed to reunite with him on Ahch-To.[115]
R2-D2s determination to deliver the Death Star plans to the Alliance once led him to attempt to sabotage R5-D4 in an attempt to improve his chances of being sold. However, R2-D2 relented upon learning about R5-D4s sad story. Instead, R2-D2 managed to convince R5-D4 to help him get sold by telling him that the fate of the galaxy depended on it and that he was working for the Rebellion. This moved R5-D4, who once worked for the Rebellion.[75]
FAQ
Does R2-D2 know that Anakin is Darth Vader?
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Does R2-D2 miss Anakin?
