C-3PO

I'm pleased that Threepio gets his memory wiped in Episode III. It's symbolic. Artoo knows the full saga. Threepio is the audience who doesn't know about the prequels. He is "us" in A New Hope. While it's sad that his memory is erased (because important events were lost), he's a liability if he knows so much.

Now I must accept that three of the six films use Threepio as a punchline. It evolved to fit with the character to have bad things always happen to him. The guy gets his share of abuse, that's for certain: Being "naked" and abandoned in I; beat around and head-switched in II; thrown around, falling off a cliff, losing an arm, and getting tangled in hot wiring in IV; and blasted to bits in V. In VI, he's slimed by Jabba (probably the worse fate).


R2-D2

Artoo, on the other hand, is my favorite of the two because he knows everything and thinks himself invincible. Obi-Wan called upon him to be the sole carrier of a great many things, purposefully gave him to Leia's new father to keep him close to her, and knew that when dire need arose, Artoo would be the way to get information. Artoo rocks. If you really watch him, he's a little rascal. He knows exactly what he's doing.

I adore Artoo whenever he's on screen. His cute strolling noises while swimming on Degobah. His charging under the rising door of Jabba's palace. His new scenes in Episode III. His swearing. His loyalty.

Here are three of my favorite smaller moments:

Old Ben says, "Of course I know him. He's me!" The camera cuts immediately to a reaction shot of Artoo who beeps something like, "You're kidding me. You look like hell!" I doubt Artoo recognised him before that point.

Threepio says, "I don't know what's going on, but whatever it is I'm sure it's your fault." Artoo blurts a rude little noise, and Threepio scolds, "You watch your language!" Many of Artoo's lines are the best because they're inferred. Who knew robots cursed? E chutah, indeed.

Artoo is casually rolling along with the serving tray on Jabba's sail barge and bumps into Threepio. Threepio asks, "What are you doing here?" And Artoo, ignoring all else, just says, "I'm serving drinks!" I love it. It's like, "Hey... you asked."


What wonderful films.