Did R2 know suited up Vader was Anakin??

Hello boyos, I was just wondering if yall think that R2 knew that suited up Vader was really Anakin? I got this idea from a newbie that posted R2 knows all. But did he know? I do not recall a scene that verifys that. But I would be kinda surprised if R2 didn't figure that out because he's so smart. Thanks,

 

Probably not. As far as R2 is concerned, Anakin never returned from Mustafar. Furthermore, I don't think he had the opportunity to eavesdrop a conversation in ROTS, TESB or ROTJ where the Anakin/Vader duality was mentioned.

R2 never meets Vader in the OT, and nobody but OBW and Yoda know who Darth Vader used to be (and presumably never told anyone). It's therefore unlikely he would ever accumulate any evidence to make a connection between Anakin and Vader.

The droid's perceived "intelligence" is only artificial, after all, and however advanced its heuristic analysis, wouldn't it still require data (evidence/observations) logically linking the two apparently unrelated people.

 

There's no basis to support that Artoo Deetoo knew Anakin Skywalker was Darth Vader. There's no scene in the OT where we even see Artoo and Vader together. So, no!

 

Well, it's generally true that R2 and Vader never "meet up" in the CT, but they do cross paths in ANH. The droids flee to the Falcon upon the distraction of the Vader/Obi-Wan duel. Then of course, in the Battle of Yavin, Vader shoots and damages R2 during the trench run. However, the explanations above are accurate enough.

 

I think he probably did. I can?t recall exactly where he was during Obi-Wan and Luke?s conversation in RTOJ but I was under the impression that people tended to talk freely in front of R2. He did have this way of turning his little domed head toward people?s conversations like he was he was eavesdropping. I think he was equipped with a bionic ear too.

 

But did Obi-Wan refer to 'Darth Vader - your father' or 'Anakin Skywalker - your father'?

As mentioned before, R2's last 'memory' of Anakin was on Mustafar when Anakin told him to stay with the ship. C3P0 and Obi-wan then take him back along with Amidala. As far as R2's concerned, Anakin's dead - Obi-Wan killed him (left him for dead).
Only Yoda and Obi-Wan know Vader's real identity.

 

No he didnt because in eposode 3 he was brain wiped

 

wrong droid

 

In "Dark Lord, Rise of Darth Vader", Bail Organa is pretty sure that he knows that Anakin Skywalker is Darth Vader. I'm guessing that R2 figures it out too, either from what he hears on the holonet or from eavesdropping on Bail. The Curious little droid even tries to listen in on Yoda/Luke in ESB. He even squeaks out an upset sound when Luke fails in the cave on Degobah. Almost a "On no, I'm going to be flying around with some crazy mass murderer again. He's just too crafty to NOT know.

Carnage

 

In Ep. IV, while in Obi-Wan's hut, he tells Luke that Vader killed Anakin while R2 is right there, and one would think that R2 knows that didn't happen, unless he's thinking the old man is going senile. He had to know Vader was Anakin, and knew to keep quiet about it,or else he would have thrown a fit, 3PO would have translated and Luke would know Obi-Wan killed Anakin.

 

Good point you have. Sometimes it's great that Lucas doesn't clarify these little points cause it keeps us guessing. I dont think there is quite enough evidence to support the idea, but we all know it could be possible.

 

R2 knows Obi-Wan and has enough sense not to interfere in such matters. That's why he doesn't get a memory wipe. R2 won't tell anything.

 

Obi-Wan: "Your father was sedused by the Dark Side of the Force. He ceased to be Anakin Skywalker and became Darth Vader..."
- Return of the Jedi


As I recall, R2 was there when Obi-Wan said this.

 

I think R2 very well may have put 2 and 2 together, he is a very clever little droid after all. But really, after so many years without a memory wipe, starhopping around the big black with C-3P0...I bet he learned just to keep his dome down and let things like that slide ya know? I love that little Astromech lol

 

It's not certain that R2 had any real understanding of the Force and the fact that Anakin turned to the dark side. From what I can remember R2 was never around when Anakin was adressed as Darth Vader it is therefore possible that R2 did not know that Anakin and Vader is the same person.
But he could possibly put two and two together as Ben talks about his apprentice Darth Vader in ANH (R2 must have known that Anakin was Obi's only apprentice).

 

Yeah, i was gonna say, he was on Degobagh when Luke and Ben have that chat. So from this point in ROTJ on, he knows the truth...if he heard them talk.
Up until then i dont think there is any concrete evidence that he knows Suited Vader is Anakin.
Although, it is possible he put two and two together, especially if he knew Anakin was called Darth Vader when they went to Mustufar together. Dont think he overhears him going by that name though
I love R2, and I wouldnt put anything past him
If he did know, he knew enough to keep quiet...

 

I don't think he knew. R2 never saw Anakin in the suit. He probably realised that Anakin=Vader later, after Luke found out who his father really is.

 

no, Bail said "have the protocol droid's (Threepio) mind wiped." he never said anything about R2.
what i think: I think he did, wasn't he with Luke when Obi Wan told Luke about Anakin?

EDIT: I just had a thought; Can Droids see ghosts?

 

As one of the above posters stated, I think R2 was listening to OW while he was talking to Luke on Dagobah after Yoda died. Luke did ask OW why didnt he tell him about Vader. So I think the droid has put together all the pieces and just chose not to say anything.

 

R2 knowing the truth about Vader once Luke knows is a moot point. The real pertinent question should focus on what R2 knew before Luke first confronted Vader.

 

Even if R2 knew, he wouldn't tell anyone. He keeps things to himself unless absolutely necessary. Although I can't think of any specific time that he would have found out in the films, I'm sure there was a point that he did find out prior to coming into Luke's ownership.

 

When Anakin was landing on Mustufar to meet with the sep leaders, I assume R2D2 had to transmit some type of clearancec that would refer to Anakin as Darth Vader. I doubt the seps were just letting anyone land

Michael

 

^^Good point. I never thought of that.

 

That is a good point.

Maybe there's more detail in the RotS novelization about the time R2D2 spents with pre-suited Vader (aka from the dubbing Anakin as Vader to the duel on Mustafar) - anyone have a copy lying around? (it wouldn't constitute canon evidence, but probably comes pretty close).

I also have to agree with the points folks are making about the general actuteness of R2 - he is a sharp little droid and he knows when to keep his mouth shut: I wouldn't be surprised if R2 knew Anakin = Suited Vader pre-OT.

 

no he does not know, cause Antilles at the end of ROTS tells an officer to take them and erase their memory