ST Things that I still don't understand about TFA...(SPOILERS)

This is what annoys me. The Visual Dictionary is not the movie. Essential plot points shouldn't be explained offscreen.

 

I agree. Episode VIII will probably discuss it more. It's a good bet the Republic will now go to war alongside the Resistance with the First Order.

 

I just hope they don't fall into the "Oh, that'll get explained in the next episode" trap that the prequels did.

 

my theory about R2 is that Luke sense Rey's return to the force and sent a signal to R2 to wake him up

 

Then why does Luke seem so surprised to see her?

 

I didn't read so much "surprise" in his face as "uncertainty/worry." It felt like "well, I guess I can't escape my destiny after all". But I could be wrong. As much as people whine about there being so little Luke in the movie (which is a fair point), Hamill's acting in that scene is great. You can seemingly read a thousand different expressions in his face in that moment.

 

Re: R2.

I think it's pretty simply explained.

Why bother waking up until l the rest of the map to his master is present.

BB-8 shows up, map in tow, and R2 wakes up and they complete the map.

As a secondary, perhaps he sensed Luke's old lightsaber too?