This is my first entry but here it goes...

R2-D2: Through the Saga

After just seeing ROTS I have had some new thoughts about the actions of R2 throughout the saga. For the prequels nothing was wrong, he was a long companion of Anakin and therefore new almost everything he did. Then the clone wars hit, R2 accompanied Anakin on probably all his missions with or without Obi-wan. R2 (and C3-PO) knew about Anakin and Padme's marriage, and their resulting babies. At the end of ROTS R2 and C3-PO witness (or can assume at least) what happened to Anakin. Both droids are then taken to serve on the Tantive 4, an Aldarranian space ship, there C3-PO gets a memory wipe. Now the fun begins...
There are some interesting questions that arise from this development...
1) Why didn't R2's memory get wiped?
2) Did R2 know Princess Leia was Anakin's daughter?
3) Did R2 know he was being bought by Anakin's son?
4) Did R2 know where Obi-wan was going to be hiding on Tatooine?

Now here are my interpretations of the movies and my answers to the questions...

1) I think R2 didn't get a memory wipe because he was an astromech droid, he can't easily communicate with people and he is a very smart droid. As we have seen throughout the movies R2 is resourceful, quick-witted and he shows amazing discretion about how much information he should give to certain people. For example, when R2 was sent to Tatooine he was able to easily trick Luke into taking off his restraining bolt by showing him just enough of Leia's message to get him intrigued but not enough to actually let him in on the mission.
2) Looking strictly at the movies we can only assume that R2 and C3-PO spent the next 18-20 years (approximately) since the end of ROTS serving on the Tantive 4. Therefore R2 has probably seen Leia grow up over the years. We know that R2 and C3-PO had close contact with Leia; they were leaving her room in the beginning of ANH. We also see that R2 is intensely loyal to Leia. In ROTJ he braved intense crossfire to reach Leia to help hack the bunker doors. So I think R2 does know through the entire saga that Leia is Anakin's daughter.
3) I don't think R2 knew that he was being sold to Anakin's son. I haven't watched ANH in a while, but the next time I do I'm going to watch for any suspicious reactions from R2 when Luke tells the droids who he is. Now later on R2 seems to be very proud of being Luke's astromech droid and accompanying him on many of his trips, could this be a sign of attachment and more care than any other droid would show? So in contrast to Leia I don't think R2 knew that he was being sold to Luke, but immediately he probably put it together.
4) I think that R2 probably knew that Obi-wan was hiding on Tatooine, he might even have known exactly where Obi-wan was living. For example almost immediately after crashing on Tatooine R2 set off, in his own direction. Now he might have also used his sensors to search out human life and then ask directions (would R2 do that, I mean he is a male droid!). Since he also went in the same direction after "escaping" Luke I think R2 knew exactly where to go to find Obi-wan.

That's all for now, I may right a continuation of this entry if I think of any more R2-D2 related questions...check back soon.

Obi-jon1138