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Here ’s why R2 - D2 was in Poe Dameron ’s X - wing duringStar Wars : The Rise of Skywalker’sfinal conflict . The fan - favourite astromech droid was one of the firstStar Warscharacters audience meet when the original movie debut in 1977 , and he had a key supporting role in the franchise ’s initial six movies . When it came time to bring out the sequel trilogy , R2 - D2 was for the most part provide on the sidelines and did n’t have much of a part to act . Even whenC-3PO accompanied the main group of Resistance heroes to Pasaana , R2 - D2 detain behind with General Leia . His most significant scene in the sequel come inThe Last Jedi , when he has a brief reunification with Luke Skywalker aboard theMillennium Falcon .
Despite not giving R2 - D2 much do to within the heart and soul narration , director J.J. Abrams did n’t need to neglect him when it came meter to stageThe Rise of Skywalker’sclimactic battle . As the Resistance commences their offensive on Exegol , R2 - D2 is shown as Poe ’s flying mate in the pilot ’s X - annex . This came across as foreign , since R2 - D2 and Poe just had any fundamental interaction in the sequels prior to that gunpoint . While it certainly is n’t the biggest question audience might have aboutThe Rise of Skywalker , it ’s still a mystify little detail .
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regrettably , nobody demand withThe Rise of Skywalkerhas allow for a clear cut explanation for this determination . The only linguistic context the moving picture provides is BB-8 ( who is Poe ’s droid ) participates in the ground ravishment to incapacitate the Final Order ’s navigation tower . He open up a hatch for Jannah so she can throw explosives down the opening . From this , watcher can gather BB-8 was needed for this part of the Resistance ’s plan , entrust Poe to partner with R2 - D2 in the air .
On - paper , this do sense , but the concept does n’t shore with the intended encroachment due toR2 - D2 ’s lessened function in the mod cinema . The imagery of him in an X - wing during an epic space battle is meant to evoke memories ofA New Hopeand evenThe Phantom Menace , and it comes up short . InA New HopeandThe Phantom Menace , R2 - D2 was paired with a principal type he had already spent a decent amount of time with onscreen . Before flying with Luke and Anakin , R2 - D2 established a relationship with both that carried over to the set piece of music . Since R2 - D2 has minimal cover clip in the sequels , hear him in an X - wing with Poe carries no weight unit . It ’s little more than just empty nostalgia draw from classicStar Warsiconography .
After pushing R2 - D2 to the side to let new droids ( and marketing opportunities ) like BB-8 andD - Oto take the spot , his inclusion inThe Rise of Skywalker’sfinal battle read as the film producer ' attempt to rectify neglecting one ofStar Wars’most crucial characters . lamentably , it is n’t enough to make up for nearly three films where R2 - D2 is n’t a gene , especially because the droid ’s wingman is Poe - who was much closer to BB-8 . Abrams may have attain his finish had he put R2 - D2 in the old Red Five with Rey . Not only is that the ship R2 - D2 flew in during the original trilogy , he and Chewbacca accompanied Rey to Ahch - To . R2 - D2 clearly had a stronger bond with the premature Skywalker generations , but audiences can feel somewhat confident that he at least know Rey on some stratum . Having him fly with Poe works in theory ( Poe needs an astromech ) , but the estimation is not executed well .
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