Over the last month, I rewatched all the Star Wars movies. I present to you my thread:

"The Chronicle of R2-D2: Deus ex machina"

We all think Star Wars is about @HamillHimself and Luke, Leia, Ani, and the Skywalker family

Wrong, it's all about Artoo
/1

A long time ago in the far-off galaxy we call 1977, we are introduced to this world known as Star Wars

The first scene with a character centers the action directly on Artoo, both visually and in terms of narrative
/2

We barely can barely even make out Carrie Fisher, as Leia, shrouded in mist

While she uploads the recording & Death Star plans, it is Artoo who conducts the "secret mission" to get to Obi-Wan
/3

The first 30 minutes or so, like in most movies, are focused on the main character: here, R2-D2

It's amazing really, re-watching the opening sequence

Even Threepio can emote in a more sophisticated manner than this little astrodroid

But those beeps drive the plot
/4

Like seriously, this takes some fantastic writing, directing, acting, & editing (as well as music/SFX)

It's a 30 minute plot, filled with Jawa drama, emotional reunions, humor, and intrigue.

How do you do this when the main character isn't human and can only beep!?
/5

Artoo continues to drive the plot of this entire movie

As Leia put it: "I've placed information vital to the survival of the rebellion into the memory systems of this Artoo unit... you must see this droid safely delivered to him on Alderaan"
/6

On the Death Star, R2-D2:

- decodes the imperial network to figure out how to disable the tractor beam
- discovers Leia is on board
- hides from storm troopers
- rescues everyone from the trash chute

Talk about deux ex machina
/7

Luke gets all the credit for destroying the first Death Star, but Artoo's right there beside him

Without Artoo keeping that X-Wing running throughout the battle, there is no canyon run
/8

But it's more than just this first movie

My real thesis here is that R2-D2 is both the chronicler and the soul of the Star Wars franchise

A major theme of Star Wars is about not overlooking the little one, be it a young Skywalker (Ani, Luke, Leia), Grogu, Rey, or Artoo
/9

As Leia says and Rey repeats, "Never underestimate the droids"

Time and time again, the bad guys overlook or underestimate Artoo

Time and time again, Artoo outsmarts whoever is in the way

And looks stylish doing it
/10

And from start to finish, Artoo saves the day for the galaxy

Just as he destroyed the Death Star w/ Luke, he destroys the Droid command ship with Ani

He hacks into computer systems & saves everyone, electrocutes baddies 5x his size, and saves threepio like 1000x
/11

But on top of that Artoo is really really SMART

In A New Hope, he beats Chewie at that chess-like game, causing Chewie to explode in anger

But in Episode IX, neither Finn nor Poe can beat Chewie at this game and they accuse him of cheating

Artoo's got some real gray matter
/12

Artoo's significance is more than being a hero

At the end of Episode III, Bail Organa gives Threepio & Artoo to Wedge Antilles

He tells Antilles to wipe the protocol droid's (Threepio) memory

Artoo is THE only character who spans all movies, Episodes I-IX & all in between
/13

Artoo is the fabric that weaves together the plot, both for the characters within and for us peeking in

In Episode VIII, Luke refuses to train Rey until Artoo wakes up and shows Luke that famous recording

(a brilliant scene where @HamillHimself converses w/ a beeping droid)
/14

But even moreso, the soul of the Star Wars franchise is its light-hearted humor embedded within a space opera

Artoo is the first of these humorous characters, and along the way he connects with all the others

From Ani's young friends representing all the kids watching
/15

To the elder Yoda representing those grandparents seated next to their young padawans, always banging on new-fangled technology with their canes

And who could forget those Ewoks? Which (let's be real) are basically R2-D2 as a furry

Well, that's my thesis for "The Chronicle of R2-D2: Deus ex machina"

I really think that R2-D2 is the tie that binds together the franchise and its characters. He's the hero, chronicler & emotional soul of these stories

That little droid and I have been through a lot together

Alright, well looks like this thread is on the right track

Apparently George Lucas had envisioned Artoo as the narrator and as the only unflawed hero from the group of main characters https://twitter.com/TrenceA/status/1355322041549905921?s=19