What's the deal with R2-D2?

[Christopher]

I just rented the Clone Wars movie, and I got to wondering: what is it about R2-D2 that makes him so different from other astromech droids, or droids in general? Why is he so smart, brave, active, impetuous, independent, cocky, or whatever you want to call it that he keeps getting embroiled in matters of cosmic significance, pulling off all these heroic feats, surviving when other droids get blown up, etc.? (I guess what stuck out was a scene where Artoo used those prequel-era thruster jets to disembark from Anakin's landed fighter just before it got blown up in an attack. How did he know? Why did he have the initiative to get out instead of sitting and waiting for orders?) I've checked entries on Wikipedia, Wookieepedia, and Starwars.com's database, and there's nothing saying that his origins or mental capabilities are anything exceptional for droids. But somehow he's the droid equivalent of Scotty, MacGyver, and Batman all rolled into one. No other droid has been shown to have his initiative, heroism, luck, insight, etc. And for some reason he didn't get his memory wiped in Episode III when Threepio did.

So what makes Artoo so special? Is the Force with him? Was the factory where he was built infested by midichlorians? Did he get struck by lightning and gain a soul? Is he much, much older than we think and gained all this specialness through sheer experience? Is he the Droid Messiah? What?

 

[nx1701g]

I read somewhere - I think it was in the Insider - that George Lucas claims R2 is force sensitive.

 

[trekkerguy]

And he's just friggin cool.
Out of all of Star Wars, R2 was the best part.
Gotta make him part of the hero circle.

 

[Rat Boy]

R2-D2 doesn't actually move, he just uses his wheels to move whatever planet he's on beneath him.

 

[GraysonMichael]

"Duel of the Droids" ranks as one of my favorite Clone Wars episodes just for the fight between R2 and his evil counterpart at the end. R2 held his own in that fight....he is a scraper.

 

[SeerSGB]

The old standby excuse used to be that droids that don't get routine memory wipes end up, learning, and developing a more complex AI and become self-aware. I think the best excuse is just "Cause George said so"

 

[Mike Farley]

R2-D2 doesn't actually move, he just uses his wheels to move whatever planet he's on beneath him.

Mace Windu sleeps in R2-D2 pajamas.

 

[Aragorn]

In the Star Wars universe where droids can speak multiple languages, what's the point of having ones that only beep like Christopher Pike?

 

[SeerSGB]

In the Star Wars universe where droids can speak multiple languages, what's the point of having ones that only beep like Christopher Pike?

Considering their meant for utility work and interfacing with starfighters(ships) where'd there would be a translation screen, it probably isn't really a issue for most. We see the heroes of Star Wars treating the droids like friends or pets, I'd say the average person sees them as little more than tools.

 

[Christopher]

The old standby excuse used to be that droids that don't get routine memory wipes end up, learning, and developing a more complex AI and become self-aware.

But why wouldn't Artoo have gotten memory wipes? And why is that apparently so rare among droids?

In the Star Wars universe where droids can speak multiple languages, what's the point of having ones that only beep like Christopher Pike?

I assume it's because they're astromech droids. Their primary function involves interacting with other machines more than with organic beings. So their language is an efficient computer code of some sort.

Maybe the SW equivalent of Sirius Cybernetics Corporation/Mom's Friendly Robot Company makes droids that speak various different languages so that people will have to buy interpreter droids along with them and provide more profit to the company.

 

[P0sitr0nic]

Artoo hasnt had a memory wipe. After time, this complexes the core and sentience emerges. In the latest comics, Artoo hasnt had a memory wipe in over 150 years...

 

[Thurisaz]

It's because Kenny baker (aka Fidget) is sitting inside him.

 

[SeerSGB]

The old standby excuse used to be that droids that don't get routine memory wipes end up, learning, and developing a more complex AI and become self-aware.

But why wouldn't Artoo have gotten memory wipes? And why is that apparently so rare among droids?

Basically, there's no real excuse. Luke and Anakin don't do it cause that's what's makes R2 R2. They see him more as a buddy-- well maybe Anakin sees him are part friend, part pet. As for why we don't see more droids without wipes, it's just something you do like getting the oil changed in your car.

Lucas has said he intended for the saga to be R2 telling the story to someone off in some distant future-- some fans hold that R2's telling it to a member of the Whill.

 

[mythme]

Its a bit like how Lal exceeded her own programming, even though her positroinic brain was identitcal to Data's. Artoo is just more than the sum of his parts.

 

[Mr. Adventure]

The old standby excuse used to be that droids that don't get routine memory wipes end up, learning, and developing a more complex AI and become self-aware.

But why wouldn't Artoo have gotten memory wipes? And why is that apparently so rare among droids?

I think it's too prevent this from happening.

 

[Tom]

Yoda's long lost twin is in R2!!

 

[Aragorn]

R2-D2 is the Cylon god.

 

[Christopher]

R2-D2 is the Cylon god.

I think I like this theory the best.

 

[SeerSGB]

R2 is the reason Luke sees force Ghosts: They've all downloaded themselve into R2.

 

[Thrall]

He hasn't had any memory wipes or limitations in his programing. They use those to keep droids in line so they won't figure out their real lot in life and end up going all IG88 or HK-47. There for he's been allowed to develop and evolve and learn unlike the majority of droids. Because of that he's one of the few sentient droids. And I believe he's force sensitive because of it, as The Force flows through all life, not just organic.