Warning! SPOILERS for Book of Boba Fett episode 6.
In another instance where the Disney+ TV shows have it right, The Mandalorian and The Book of Boba Fett have used R2-D2’s character much better than the Star Wars sequel trilogy. Like C-3PO, R2-D2 has appeared in every Star Wars film trilogy, which is one of the benefits of being a droid in the Star Wars universe. After his first appearance in Star Wars: A New Hope, Luke Skywalker’s trusty droid has been a fixture in Star Wars’ world, with the character now also appearing in the Disney+ Star Wars TV shows of The Mandalorian and Book of Boba Fett. In both returns, R2-D2 has been alongside Luke Skywalker, as he recruits Grogu as his first student in the new Jedi Academy.
Most droids, especially those who only speak in beeps and machinery noises, aren’t given proper attention in Star Wars, as they’re typically used for side-bits or worldbuilding. Star Wars’ original trilogy made R2-D2 his own character with a personality just as hilarious and sarcastic as that of C-3PO. All the more incredible about R2-D2’s original Star Wars trilogy treatment is that his characterization and importance is accomplished without words, simply being based on how other characters respond to him or how he beeps and controls his machinery. Even so, he’s one of the most important characters of the entire franchise, where an appearance by Artoo should measure up to the same significance as an appearance by Chewbacca.
That said, Star Wars doesn’t always know how to deal with droids or, more specifically, characters like R2-D2 that are so limited in their communicative or action-based functions. As R2-D2 appears again in the Disney+ TV shows alongside Luke Skywalker, it’s interesting to look back on how differently the Star Wars sequels trilogy treated the character. In just two short appearances on The Mandalorian and The Book of Boba Fett, Jon Favreau and Dave Filoni have written R2-D2 much better than the Abrams and Johnson Star Wars sequels movies.
The Star Wars Sequels Wasted R2-D2
While R2-D2 returned for the Star Wars sequels alongside C-3PO, Luke Skywalker, Princess Leia, Chewbacca, and (briefly) Han Solo, the movies wasted the significance of his character. While this is likely because the sequels were trying to promote their new version of R2-D2, Poe’s BB-8, it still felt odd that the other returning original Star Wars characters were so highly regarded and well-used, while R2-D2’s inclusion felt inconsequential. R2-D2 stores the greatest knowledge of every major character in Star Wars history, so even disregarding the fact that he was barely featured in the sequel movies, his significance to connecting the characters and plots – as well as what he brings to the universe, personality-wise – was extremely underutilized.
Out of the three two-and-a-half-hours-long Star Wars sequel trilogy movies, R2-D2’s story inclusion amounted to a few minimal cameos. The only significant participation of R2-D2 in the Star Wars sequels was his scene in The Last Jedi when he has an emotional reunion with Luke, thus being part of the reason why Luke agrees to train Rey as a Jedi. After this moment, R2-D2 goes back to being a hardly notable side-character, with Disney focusing on either the human original trilogy characters or its new droids and species. For a character that was arguably the most important aspect of Star Wars original movies, R2-D2’s treatment in the sequels made him disappointingly irrelevant
How The Mandalorian & Book Of Boba Fett Use R2-D2 Properly
The appearance of Luke Skywalker wasn’t simply incredible because Mark Hamill returned in a de-aged format, but also because R2-D2 was standing right beside him. R2-D2 isn’t pushed to the side during his scenes in The Mandalorian and The Book of Boba Fett, as he’s almost included as much as Luke Skywalker himself. Aside from the heartbreaking moments when Din Djarin says goodbye to Grogu and Luke slays all of the Imperial forces with his saber on the way to retrieve Grogu, the most important moment in The Mandalorian’s season 2 finale ending scene is when Grogu and R2-D2 have a special moment when Artoo excitedly greets him. When considering how present Artoo was during the Clone Wars era, and especially around Order 66, it’s extremely possible that he had actually met Grogu before – or that R2-D2 saved Baby Yoda from Order 66 – thereby further cementing Artoo as Star Wars’ most important interconnective character.
In The Book of Boba Fett, R2-D2 is the first character seen in episode 6 after Din Djarin tracks down Grogu and Luke. R2-D2 is seen scanning Mando’s ship and bringing him to the location where droids are building Luke’s Jedi Temple. As Mando and Artoo sit and wait for Ahsoka Tano to arrive, R2-D2 hilariously shuts down his system just to avoid answering Din Djarin’s questions. Not only is R2-D2 an important aspect of Luke’s Jedi journey in the TV shows, but they’re also still using his humorous personality that made him such a fun character in the original Star Wars trilogy. Book of Boba Fett episode 6’s storyline where Luke trains Baby Yoda as a Jedi is also meant to mirror Luke’s journey in The Empire Strike Back, which saw R2-D2 traveling with Luke on Dagobah as Master Yoda trained the young Jedi. The Mandalorian and Boba Fett don’t forget how important R2-D2 is to the history of Star Wars and its most significant character arcs, where his presence amounts to much more than just a fan-service cameo.
Why Getting R2-D2 Right Is So Important For Star Wars
When considering his inclusions in Star Wars’ movies and shows, R2-D2 is essentially the glue that holds the franchise together. He’s been present in every single major film and show, with an important role in all but the Star Wars sequels. George Lucas has even said that R2-D2 is the narrator of the Skywalker Saga, which makes complete sense considering he’s been there and active in every major moment from the film series. As R2-D2 joins the Disney+ Star Wars TV shows, he’s again an integral piece to the puzzle as he connects the wider lore and stories.
All the way back in A New Hope, R2-D2 was the one piece that needed to be protected, as he carried valuable information about the Death Star. In Empire Strikes Back, Artoo fixed the Millennium Falcon and went with Luke to Dagobah. In Return of the Jedi, he smuggled Luke’s lightsaber into Jabba’s palace and helped save the heroes from death in the sarlacc pit. The prequel Star Wars movies also remembered R2-D2 being important, as he went from working for Padmé to becoming Anakin and Obi-Wan’s trusty droid, watched Padmé and Anakin’s love story on Naboo, saw the birth of Luke and Leia (and her death), and witnessed Anakin’s descent to the Dark Side. After C-3PO’s memory was wiped after Revenge of the Sith, R2-D2 became the only character in Star Wars to know every significant detail in the Skywalker Saga. As he now ventures into the Disney+ TV shows, R2-D2’s importance as the know-all character is strengthened and helps support the idea that every Star Wars show is just as important as the movies in the larger lore.
Considering he’s one of the only characters from the 1977 Star Wars movie that can still be used today in his original form, R2-D2 is one of Star Wars’ greatest assets. He’s also one of the most important characters in the entire franchise, due to his integral role in some of the greatest events in Star Wars history. R2-D2 should be just as important to Star Wars’ larger story as Luke Skywalker, Han Solo, Princess Leia, and Darth Vader, which is why it’s so significant that The Mandalorian and Book of Boba Fett treat him as such. Almost every Star Wars movie and TV show has treated R2-D2 as the significant character that he is, aside from the sequels that largely portrayed him as just a familiar hunk of metal for fan-service.
