In the history of film and television there has always been the inseparable couples, who act as if they were dependent upon one another for survival. I’m talking about the Gerald and Arnolds, the Cheech and Chongs, the Shaggy and Scoobys, pairs who embody the spirit of friendship and camaraderie through thick and thin. However, all pale in comparison to the dynamic droid duo of C-3PO (human-cyborg relations) and R2-D2, the most fouled-mouth Star Wars character ever (they bleeped out every word he said!). These two have had nearly every adventure possible, appeared in every Star Wars film, and continue to grow their legacies in the Expanded Universe from where they first started during The Phantom Menace. Coming from humble beginnings, 3PO and Artoo were able to gain recognition from Jedi and politicians alike for their hard work and connections. Their first encounter in a young Anakin Skywalker’s home pretty much sums up their relationship: Artoo told 3PO his “parts were showing”, mortifying the uptight protocol droid. This was just the start of a long friendship of bantering, bickering, and a bit of teamwork throughout the prequel movies. At the end of Revenge of the Sith, the two remained together on Bail Organa’s ship, but C-3PO was subjected to a memory wipe. Decades later, they found themselves property of one Luke Skywalker, the son of the main baddie (and C-3PO’s creator!) Darth Vader. From there they get into a bit more trouble while hanging out with the Rebellion, and were lucky enough to witness both the rise and fall of the Galactic Empire.

However the final credits are not simply the end of their story, with the adventures continuing in the Expanded Universe. And with the next trilogy of movies to be released in the next decade, hopefully Artoo and 3PO will continue to bring joy to fans everywhere. I hope Anthony Daniels and Kenny Baker are able to reprise their standout roles as C-3PO and R2-D2, respectively. It just wouldn’t be the same Star wars without them. I find Artoo and 3PO to be very dynamic characters that we can identify with, well at least C-3PO, but they also add a genuine comic relief that isn’t forced like Jar Jar Binks. Another thing is the sheer endurance of their partnership: it lasts through all six movies, countless books and comics, and has grown only stronger since they first met.

Finally, I want to recall some of my favorite moments in the life and times of C-3PO and R2-D2, moments that seem out-of-character for the droids. C-3PO’s shining moment came during his defense of a young Allana Solo, who had run off in search for an absent Artoo and wound up being threatened by some spaceport workers. In a totally uncharacteristic move from the normally prim and proper protocol droid (who wouldn’t even impersonate a deity!) acted the part of a bodyguard, spouting off this golden quote in the process, “I am now in the process of loading a comprehensive package of unlimited-class total-combat maneuvers, the use of many of which constitutes a felony on most civilized worlds.” The sheer thought of C-3PO engaging in any form of combat was too much for me, especially when I hear Anthony Daniels’ voice in my head as I read. What a classic! Now with Artoo, one must expect the impossible from him. With all his gadgets and computer hacking prowess, R2-D2 has made himself a force to be reckoned with throughout the Star Wars timeline. The pinnacle of the mechanical Machiavelli’s destructive power came 11 years after the events of A New Hope, when Emperor Palpatine had resurrected himself into a clone body and launched a series of attacks on the New Republic. Near the end of the conflict, Artoo was able to take control of a massive starship, the Eclipse II, ram it into the Empire’s latest superweapon, the Galaxy Gun, which misfired an incredibly destructive warhead into the gravity well of the nearby planet Byss. The resulting explosion annihilated Byss, as well as the Eclipse II and the Galaxy gun, with an astounding death toll of 20 billion (yes, with a b) loyal citizens of the Empire. And you thought Artoo was just a silly droid.

“And I am become Death, the destroyer of worlds, superweapons, and any prissy Imperials that stand in my way.”