After a long debate on another blog about the droids and the memory wipe, I had to capture my thoughts.

If someone can with a straight face say, "c3po isnt a protocal droid," they... need to watch the films a few more times.

Another fallacy I read is that Artoo "doesn't have a mind" to erase. What is this blasphemy? *lol* I have a personal bias toward his heart and soul, but for the purists, Owen plainly says, "Now tomorrow I want you to take him to Anchorhead and have his memory erased." Artoo has a mind, all right, and it's one of the sharpest in the saga.

Simply put, Artoo keeps his memory because it's his destiny. It's unspoken, so I'm sure this will be debated endlessly, but he is undeniably entrusted with a great many things. He's the keymaster. When our heroes go into exile, Artoo is the secret weapon. As a contingency at least, if ever Bail needed to get word to Obi-Wan (or Yoda, I'm sure), he could covertly send the unsuspected astromech. He told his adopted daughter to trust Artoo and use him in times of crisis. She sought him and bestowed upon him the fate of the galaxy. You don't do that with just any droid.

When Obi-Wan sees his "little friend," it's a signal that his time in exile has ended and that it's time for the children of a New Hope to assume their destiny.


Threepio. How is it easy to say he "can't be trusted?" Being a blabbermouth is one of his traits, but he can keep a secret. Remember when Luke asks him about the Rebellion against. the Empire? Threepio is suddenly evasive and vague. "I'm not very good at telling stories..." Two films later, he's playing to an entire treehouse full of humans and ewoks, complete with sound effects (or did Artoo supply those?).

No, the reason Threepio has his mind wiped is because he seems to have different levels of mental programming.

1) Functional: His is first and foremost a protocol droid, designed to work for and among humans as translators, assistants, and diplomats. Threepio didn't learn these things. It's hardwired like Windows is to your PC vs. OSX to a Mac. It's his operating system.

2) Database: This is what would be wiped. Call it his RAM, if that helps explain it. All collected information, including sensitive bits about his maker.

3) Personality: Here's where Threepio differs from other protocol droids. Since Anakin built him, he's ripe with quirks and contradictions. He's a worrywart one moment and a stodge the next.

4) Sub-protocols: This is why he shuts off at the mention of Luke's father and the lightsaber. Threepio has underlying rules that he must follow, a programmed subconscious, if you will. It keeps him from telling Luke too much. It works independently from his conscious thought, and he may not even be aware of it.

5) Ownership mandates: This is the key to the argument. Threepio is programmed to serve. Watch how quickly he accepts his lot in life as a moisture farming droid. "Master Luke is your rightful owner now!" he yells at Artoo. Fast-forward to him being Jabba's servant. Though he had misgivings, in his mind he literally became Jabba's property during his stay, again accepting his lot (Luke used this to their advantage). The final example is the most striking. Did it ever bug anyone else how quickly Threepio subscribed to being a deity for the ewoks? From his "Curse my metal body, I wasn't fast enough" devotion to "I'm a bit embarassed..." as his friends are about to be roasted in his honor.

It doesn't seem that astromechs, or at least Artoo, have such an allegiance protocol. The droid manufacturers never intended these little guys to be so important. Artoo is loyal because he chooses to be. Threepio does it (despite his best intentions) because it's in his programming. Boy, how's that for a debate-sparker?

Essentially, Artoo could be trusted and used covertly while Threepio by his nature would be required to betray his secrets were he ever captured or reassigned.