R2D2 and C3PO: The Droids You're Looking For

But two things don't change throughout the series, except superficially; the androids C-3PO and R2D2. Clouding the minds of the Imperial Storm Troopers, Obi-Wan says "these aren't the droids you're looking for", but in fact, these are just the droids that everyone needs.

The Odd Couple

First appearing in the original Star Wars movie - and the fourth chapter of the saga - C-3PO (sometimes called See-Threepio) and R2D2 (Artoo-Deetoo) are a study in contrasts. Threepio is tall, slim and elegantly golden. Artoo is short, squat and somewhat like a fireplug. They often evoke comparisons to Mutt and Jeff, or Laurel and Hardy, and indeed, one of their main dramatic functions, when not delivering encoded messages, is to provide comedic relief.

C-3PO, Major Domo to the Stars

Played by Anthony Daniels in a golden suit of armor, C-3PO is a 'protocol droid'. As such, he is equipped to serve as your translator with millions of languages at his command. He also has encyclopedic informations on cultural mores across the galaxy - just the droid you would want at your side to keep you from committing the odd destruction-of-your-race faux pas when dealing with aliens.

C3PO has knocked about the galaxy a bit, and his memory may or may not have been altered once or twice, but he's picked up some odd information along the way, such as programming binary load lifters, whatever they are. A useful companion if you're going from one side of the galaxy to the other, seeing a lot of strange stuff.

R2D2, Master Mechanic

Played by Kenny Baker in a cylindrical suit, and sometimes by a mechanical version, Artoo is an 'astromech' droid; that is, he is an all-around space vehicle mechanic. He can fix your fighter, or, using his magnetic feet to keep anchored, roll himself out on the wing of your starship to effect inflight repairs.

The inarticulate R2D2 expresses himself mainly in beeps and boops (which fortunately Threepio understands), but you can usually tell what his main message is by 'tone of voice'.

He proves a valuable storage device, as well, and can locate individuals he hasn't seen in thirty years to deliver messages. He is the ultimate in reliability, if somewhat independently minded.

Felix and Oscar

If C3PO's fussiness makes him Felix, then R2D2's curmudgeonly ways make him Oscar. They have a close, if quarrelsome relationship, characterized by Threepio vowing to have nothing further to do with Artoo, until the next time they need one another.

In the first three movies (Chapters four-six), the pair are often parted, as Luke needs Artoo to help him maintain his fighter when he goes to Dagobah, and Threepio hangs with Han and Leia as they run the Rebel Alliance in Luke's absence. Their reunions are always characterized by Old-Married-Couple style grumpy affection.

Getting Luke, Han, Leia and Chewbacca out of difficulties is just part of the job for these two droids, and they do it often.