When Star Wars fans came out in droves to see The Phantom Menace way back 22 years ago in 1999 (yes, that was 22 years ago. Yes, this means everybody is old now), many took it as a fun little connection to find out that Anakin Skywalker himself actually built the sometimes hated and sometimes really hated protocol droid C-3PO. But why exactly did the young Force-sensitive wunderkind decide to create a whole entire artificial being, complete with a personality? Was it just because he could? Or was there more to it?
Well, thanks to a newly released book exploring some of the deeper twists and turns under the surface of the Star Wars universe, curious fans finally have their answer. Skywalker: A Family At War just recently went to booksellers, offering some new perspectives into the lives and history of the franchise's most famous (and infamous) bloodline. Written by author and associate editor at StarWars.com Kristin Baver, the biography answers many questions asked by many over the years, as well as a few questions asked by considerably fewer people.
According to the book, Anakin's reason for creating the chatty interpreter droid was more than simple idle curiosity. In fact, it had everything to do with his dreams of one day leaving the confines of rather unpopular character Watto's shop on Tatooine and freely exploring the vast world before him. "Anakin dreamed that one day, with C-3PO as his faithful traveling companion, he and his mother would be able to venture anywhere in the galaxy and be understood and be able to understand the natives, whatever their language."
It adds a tragic undertone to C-3PO's whole story, changing him from a wacky comic relief character into the representation of regret and how things could have been. True, Anakin did eventually leave Tatooine and travel to countless far-off lands in his life as a Jedi (and later a Sith). But as the proverbial monkey's paw curled, he was forced to do so alone, leaving his mother behind. The droid did eventually come with him, but it was a hollow comfort without the 3 of them together. Luckily, 3PO did eventually find a new home with Senator Padmé Amidala, whom many rather justifiably insist was too good for Anakin.
In a way, however, Anakin's dreams were a boon to the galaxy as a whole. Those aspirations inspired the creation of a droid who aided many efforts by the Republic, Rebels, New Republic, and eventually the Resistance in helping people all over, sometimes despite his own bumbling efforts. Not only that, but his long-time friendship with the far more sassy R2-D2 contributed to both of them accomplishing many feats that might not have been possible without them. It's a roundabout justification, sure, but there's no denying that the droid's creation indirectly (and sometimes directly) influenced events in a largely positive way. It's a wonder why 3pO and the other droids in Star Wars are still treated so poorly. This consolation diminishes a bit when one considers the far greater damage Anakin did to the galaxy as Darth Vader. Luckily, nobody's talking about that right now. This is a happy place to talk about funny robots. Denial is fun sometimes.
Skywalker: A Family At War is now available in most book-carrying stores.
Source: ScreenRant