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Here ’s why R2 - D2 ’s presence at Leia ’s decease inStar Wars : The Rise of Skywalkeris so significant . Although they might seem a duad of lowly droids , the importance of bothR2 - D2 and C-3POin theStar Warsfranchise is lost upon no one . In 1977 , the galactic story begins with the droids being ejected onto Tatooine and both are present throughout the original , prequel and sequel trilogies . They may not be protagonists in the usual sense , but it could certainly be argue that the Skywalker saga is told through the genus Lens of these two droids . Consequently , The hike of Skywalkerdoesn’t just represent the end of the titular troublesome family line , but also the final chapter in the story of a beeping blue and blank pail and his nervous halcyon ally .
As a concluding chapter , however , The raise of Skywalkerplaces far more focus on C-3PO . The communications protocol droid follows Rey ’s grouping during their adventures and is instrumental in translate the Sith dagger to uncover the path the Exegol . In ordering to accomplish this , C-3PO sacrifices his considerable memory banks in one of the film ’s expectant excited pulsation . On the other hand , Artoo is largely sidelined at Rebel basis camp , beeping away happily in the background and then pulling out a convenient Threepio backup file . However , R2 - D2 does have one subtle but pregnant consequence inThe hike of Skywalker- being present at the death ofPrincess Leia . This is so critical because Artoo was also on the setting when Leia was born inRevenge of the Sith .
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Artoo ’s cellular inclusion is already touching merely due to his divvy up history with Leia , but watching her last moments also cements the astromech droid as the understood guardian soma look out over Leia for her entire life . The R2 - D2 narration begin inThe Phantom Menaceas a regular droid from Naboo who hold the betting odds to save Padme Amidala , Leia ’s mother . Artoo diligently serve both the Jedi and Padme and was one of the few who witnessed her secret marriage toAnakin Skywalker . After later observing the birth of the couple ’s twin children , Luke and Leia , Threepio ’s memories are scrub up but R2 - D2 ’s are n’t , so when the droids are enlisted in Robert William Service to Alderaan , Artoo is fully aware of the wager , both in term of the galaxy ’s fateandhis own chronicle with the Amidala and Skywalker families .
Of naturally , this all precede to the iconic moment of Leia entrusting Artoo with her famous Obi - Wan message , kicking off the original trilogy . The droid then brings theotherSkywalker baby into the story and help deliver Leia from the Death Star , before look on Luke gear to become a Jedi inThe Empire Strikes Back . Both R2 - D2 and C-3PO are present during many landmark events in the lives of the Skywalkers , but only Artoo sympathize the literal meaning of them . Whereas C-3PO is in a recurrent state of vexation and confusion , R2 - D2 love all , whether he ’s hiding Luke ’s green lightsaber in Jabba ’s palace or tracking downObi - Wan Kenobion Tatooine .
In many slipway , Artoos is Luke ’s droid more than Leia ’s but this is only because of how theStar Warsfilms couch their fib . Due to his time with Leia on Alderaan and Luke ’s exile on Ahch - To , Artoo is tie to both Skywalker siblings . Therefore , watching Leia dice must ’ve break the droid ’s small , metal spirit . Not only has he turn a loss a protagonist , but Padme , Anakin , Luke , Obi - Wan and now Leia are all pop off ; all of the figures Artoo has search over or assist from the beginning of his narrative . R2 - D2 ’s geological era , from the come together of Leia ’s parents to her eventual death , is now over .
Strangely , The raise of Skywalkerdoesn’t deal with this vista . Artoo is present when Leia dies just because he ’s the only character from the original trilogy present at the time . As a whole , theStar Warssequels do n’t make full use of R2 - D2 - the astromech is gone forThe Force Awakensand largely replace by BB-8 elsewhere . Between the line , however , R2 - D2 has arguably the best trilogy - spanning story of anyStar Warscharacter , and if he could really spill the beans , he ’d surely be the franchise ’s best protagonist . Artoo is so often overtop by enemies because of his sizing , it ’s somewhat dry that in Leia ’s death conniption , Star Wars : The Rise of Skywalkeroverlooks the emblematical end ofR2 - D2 ’s place in the overall account . And unlike Luke or Rey , who both had a genetical oral sex - start , R2 - D2 really was just a regular nobody who rose to save the wandflower .
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