Why Would not Obi-Wan Bear in mind R2-D2 in ‘A New Hope’?

Probably the most recognizable (and presumably the snarkiest) robots in popular culture, R2-D2 is a real staple in Star Wars lore. He seems in virtually each Star Wars film ever made (even with a cameo in Rogue One), and the story by no means would have labored with out him. From the start of the Skywalker saga to its epic finish, he stays a hero in contrast to some other.

And that is simply certainly one of many causes followers of the franchise scratch their heads when he reunites with Jedi Grasp Obi-Wan Kenobi in A New Hope. Regardless of years of adventures collectively, the Jedi would not seem to acknowledge the droid in any respect. It is senseless … or does it?

Obi-Wan’s now well-known “Good day there!” line marks the start of his decades-long presence within the Star Wars franchise. When A New Hope (then simply referred to as Star Wars) first launched in 1977, this was additionally the primary time he presumably met each Luke Skywalker and sassy astromech droid R2-D2.

As extra tales have launched since, audiences now know this was not, the truth is, his preliminary introduction to both get together. He first met R2-D2 means again in The Phantom Menace, and 2022’s Obi-Wan Kenobi collection on Disney+ revealed he briefly met Luke when the boy was a lot youthful.

So if Obi-Wan and R2 met earlier than, why did the previous act like he was simply assembly the droid for the primary time?

There are two potential solutions to this query — one “actual world” reply and the opposite a way more enjoyable “in-universe” fan idea. Virtually, when A New Hope was written, the opposite tales contradicting any of the occasions in that film did not exist but. In George Lucas’s head, it is very potential Obi-Wan had truly by no means met R2 previous to their joint presence on Tatooine.

Solely later, as different motion pictures have been launched, did such circumstances change.

Nonetheless, there are Star Wars fan theories suggesting Obi-Wan pretended to not know R2 on goal. He hid himself away on the planet with the only real goal of defending Luke, and through that first assembly, he was nonetheless attempting to defend the boy from hurt. Not letting on that he and R2 fought within the Clone Wars collectively prevented him from studying the reality about his bloodline too quickly.

It is the “I do not bear in mind ever proudly owning a droid” line that journeys viewers up. However Obi-Wan technically is not mendacity when he says it … from a sure perspective, that’s.

Obi-Wan by no means technically owned R2-D2 or any droid within the prequels. R2 belonged to Padmé Amidala earlier than she gifted him to Anakin Skywalker, and after the conflict, each R2 and C-3PO grew to become the property of Bail Organa. Obi-Wan knew him, however by no means owned him.

However Obi-Wan stretched the reality in some ways with Luke, realizing he wasn’t ready for the complete story of Anakin’s fall to the darkish aspect on the time. All of Luke’s life, Obi-Wan did all the things in his energy to guard him, even after the Jedi Grasp grew to become one with the Pressure.