Star Wars: C-3P0 — That Time Darth Vader Built a Droid
He’s here to be fussy during a galactic civil war. It’s C-3P0, human-cyborg relations. Just don’t ask Threepio how many languages he speaks.
When it comes to Star Wars characters, many are there for most of the saga. Some are even there for all of the most important bits of most of the saga. But C-3P0 is one of the few who can say that he’s seen just about everything there is to see. Even if he can’t remember it. Maybe R2 will fill him in. No, you’re right.
Courtesy of Lucas Films
C-3P0, or Threepio, is a fussy, tirelessly proper protocol droid. Fluent in over six million forms of communication,” and riddled with artificial anxiety, Threepio has one of the most distinct personalities in Star Wars.
C-3P0’s Creation
Rebuilt from spare parts by a young Anakin Skywalker on Tatooine. He met his lifelong companion, R2-D2, at the time Queen Padme Amidala’s droid, while he was still “naked.” But before long Threepio would have metallic plating. Anakin left his droid with his mother, Shmi, when he went off-world to train with the Jedi. Ten years later when Anakin returned home to save/avenge his mother, he found his old droid working on the Lars’ moisture farm and after killing a bunch of younglings, he took C-3PO with him.
Threepio in the Clone Wars
After this point, C-3P0 became a witness and sometimes active participant in the most major battles and developments of the galaxy. This started with the First Battle of Geonosis, the first battle of the Clone Wars.
Courtesy of Lucas Films
During the Clone Wars, Threepio spent much of his time with R2-D2 serving now-Senator Padme Amidala. This is when his silver plating was replaced with his signature gold plating. With Amidala, C-3P0’s adventures and missions would take him to every corner of the galaxy and have him interacting with Hutts, commanding clone officers, and a future galactic emperor.
Unfortunately, C-3P0 is a character who has been programmed to talk. He can’t help but say anything and everything that comes to his electronic mind, and so as the Empire rose to power and Anakin became Darth Vader, Threepio’s knowledge of everything went from a useful to a dangerous liability. When Padme died, Bail Organa was entrusted to care for her two droids and infant daughter, Leia. And Bail decided that the most safe way to keep C-3P0 around was to have his memory wiped.
He looked terrifying without his plating, but don’t tell him that. I think he’d take it personally, courtesy of Lucas Films
This was also a convenient way for him to not remember anything relevant through the original trilogy. It would have been a much different series of movies if he remembered Kenobi, Anakin, the Lars moisture farm, etc.
C-3P0 During the Galactic Civil War
Along with R2-D2, 3P0 ran Rebel Alliance adjacent errands for Bail and eventually became the trusted droids of Leia Organa. Once again involved in everything, the droids would escape Imperial capture to smuggle the Death Star plans to Obi-Wan Kenobi on Tatooine. He briefly went back to the ownership of Lars before leaving the planet again with Luke. From this point on, C-3P0 was always in the background of every major galactic event.
Courtesy of Lucas Films
From the war room at the destruction of the Death Star to the Millennium Falcon for every major mission, Threepio was there. He was one of the first to discover the Imperial presence in Cloud City, acted as translator when Luke Skywalker tried to negotiate with Jabba the Hutt, and always had a less-than-helpful piece of information to share along the way.
C-3P0’s time to truly shine came towards the end of the war on Endor. Using his nearly endless list of known languages and Luke’s force abilities, he charmed the Ewoks and convinced them that he was a god. After saving Han, he regaled the Ewoks with the tales of their galactic adventures. It’s likely the single reason they agreed to work with the Rebellion against the Galactic Empire as opposed to against both of them… Or simply hiding in the trees and staying quiet. And the Ewoks became invaluable in the Battle of Endor and the Rebellion’s victory overall.
Courtesy of Lucas Films
Threepio in the New Republic
In the new era of tentative peace, C-3P0 continued serving Leia as her duties turned toward the New Republic. At this time most of his duties included accompanying the Senator to meetings and events.
On a mission to rescue Admiral Ackbar, 3p0 was damaged with his entire left arm torn off. On the same mission, another droid, Omri, whom C-3P0 had come to consider a friend, was entirely destroyed, with the exception of his arm. He eventually replaced his arm with his late friends as a tribute. And then never gave up an opportunity to point out the red arm after.
Not a combat-heavy character, 3P0 spent much of the next few years accompanying Leia and sometimes doing spy work for her. In one of these missions, he, once again, had his memory replaced. This time it was stolen by a rival spymaster, Terex.
Courtesy of Lucas Film
The Resistance (and C-3P0)
Throughout the sequels, C-3P0 was once again present for just about everything of note to happen. From flagship bridges to war rooms, Threepio manages to always be right there.
Thanks to his extensive language database, C-3P0 was able to assist Rey in translating Sith writing to locate the First Order’s fleet on Exegol. While this act did cause his memory to be wiped again, his long-time companion R2-D2 was able to restore his memory from a backup.
What’s your favorite c-3P0 moment? Which droid would you want to have accompany you around the galaxy? Do you think Darth Vader recognized the droid he built? Let us know in the comments!
May the Force be with you, adventurers!
