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Forewarning: This turned out way longer than it should have. I'm passionate about my little Artoo it seems. Thus I offer you this quick summary if you're in a rush and don't feel like reading my... well... Read the blog title, Aimless Ramblings!

Summary of blog below: R2-D2 is essential to Star Wars, he needs to be in the TV Series and can easily be placed in it. Discuss!

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It's pretty much confirmed that George Lucas himself will be writing and directing the first season of Star Wars TV. It's also more than confirmed that he has a special place in his heart for our little blue astro-droid.

He's also confirmed that we won't see any main characters on Star Wars TV, but may see minor ones.

Where does R2 fall?

I of course turned to the Episode III end credits, since that's the latest report of R2's place in the galaxy. He is indeed still held in the main credit roles shortly after writing, directing and production, but before the full credits (where they start crawling up the screen, instead of being displayed one by one).

However If we wait for the full "cast" roll it comes out like this...

Obi-Wan Kenobi... Ewan McGregor
Padme... Natalie Portman
Anakin Skywalker... Hayden Christensen
Supreme Chanc...

Blah blah... Skip down 5 more names and we find C3PO.. Anthony Daniels followed by Count Dooku. We're then required to skip down 13 more names to find our little blue friend. He's right above Plo Koon for goodness sake!

Can't get much more minor than that!

Ok, but credit order thrown away let's just look at it from this point of view.

R2 is in all 6 films.

Only C3PO seems to have (multiple) memory wipes by Episode IV, R2 can do whatever he wants, wherever he wants, however he wants.

R2 is trusted with the fate of the entire rebellion by Leia in Episode IV, he must be somewhat important.

George loves the little guy.

Seems R2 perfectly fits the bill for a role "minor" character in the new series. He can relate events essential to the "Galactic Struggle" to the main characters since R2 sees all and knows all while not feeling overly expositiony since it'll just be a couple of blips and bleeps to us. It won't affect his role in the later trilogy because we don't know what he's really thinking.

And did I mention George loves the little guy? I don't think he'd enjoy directing and filming Star Wars in any form without his little Artoo.

Heck they even made a whole Mocku_mentary about him that you can still view on this site! "R2-D2 Beneath the Dome" about the time Episode II was rolling around.

R2-D2: Beneath the Dome
A few memorable quotes...

Richard Dreyfuss: Who's going to say to George Lucas, "R2-D2 is a schmuck"?

George Lucas: The original script described R2-D2 as a trash can on wheels. So when I first saw him, I said "Ahh. This guy's perfect. I hope he speaks English."

Steven Spielberg: I first met Artoo in 1976. I was visiting George's company at his studio. I was drinking some water and decided to throw my styrofoam cup away. I went over to the trash can in the corner, but the lid wouldn't come up. So I kicked it a few times. It began to squeak and bleep and make all these noises. I kicked it three or four times and it fell over. And George came over and said "What are you doing to Artoo?" And I said, "Well, I was trying to throw my styrofoam cup away in this trash can." And he said, "That's not a trash can. That's Artoo-Detoo!"

How many other characters would get that kind of time and energy from George himself and Steven Spielberg?

We need R2, we need his presence, his little bleep and blips.

Imagine Star Wars without him for a moment. Imagine Anakin flying up the droid control ship bumbling around totally on his own. Imagine Padme somehow escaping the melter in Episode II on her own. Imagine someone else taking 3PO out of the arena. Imagine another droid zapping the buzz droid between the eyes. Imagine another droid flying down the hall to try to release the ray shields. Imagine another droid laughing at C3PO's unfortunate memory wipe. Imagine another droid taking charge and using the escape pod. Imagine another droid wandering the sands and mountains of Tatooine. Imagine another droid searching for Old Obi-Wan alone. Imagine another droid carrying the Death Star plans. Imagine another droid shutting down the garbage compactor. Imagine another droid flying shotgun with Luke (or nothing at all!). Imagine another droid turning up the heat in Princess Leia's chamber (getting all those clothes wet) . Imagine another droid being swallowed by the Dagobah beast and then spit out because he "doesn't taste very good". Imagine another droid fixing the Falcon's hyperdrive while fixing C-3PO. Imagine another droid charging into Jabba's Palace and being entrusted with Luke's lightsaber. Imagine another droid zapping some Ewoks. Imagine another droid getting fried by the bunker security doors. Imagine another droid doing any of it.

And now imagine 100 hours of Star Wars TV footage... Without Artoo.

... Vader who?

It's not Star Wars without Artoo.

If any of my circuits or gears (or brains and blood) will help get him in Star Wars TV, I'll gladly donate them.
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