50 Most Memorable Moments from Star Wars Rebels

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50. C-3PO and R2-D2 are technically Imperial Droids.

Episode: Season 1 Episode 3: Droids in Distress

The Moment:  C-3PO and R2-D2 accompany Minister Tui, an Imperial officer, on a journey via transport to the planet of Garel. The members of the Ghost crew(our main characters) happen to be on-board the same flight, smuggling cargo of a banned weaponry.

3PO, who was unaware of a secret mission that R2 knew fully of, betrays the Ghost crew accidentally to the Empire.

The end of the episode reveals that Imperial Senator Bail Organa was using the two droids to spy on the crew of The Ghost, in order to see if they were worthy enough of fully joining the rebel cause.

Why It’s Memorable: The two iconic droids have appeared in every Star Wars film or animated series ever released, continuing that trend in Rebels.

3PO is as clueless as ever, while R-2 knows everything that is going on(surprise, surprise), providing the slap-stick humor Star Wars fans have grown accustomed to.

The fact that these iconic droids are considered to be part of the Empire was a bit surprising. Bail Organa is part of the Imperial Senate, so his droids would have the same designation as well. It makes total sense.

I was so used to them being part of the rebellion, that I forgot of their label as (technically) one of the bad guys. It’s also a reminder of all that Organa risked while fronting as an Imperial loyalist, but secretly aiding, and even leading, the Rebel Alliance.

A Jedi proverb spoken by Organa to Kanan put a nice finishing touch on this episode, cleverly revealing to Kanan the true intentions of the so-called Imperial.

Not to mention Organa retrieving the recorded information on the crew from R2 was a nod to A New Hope when Princess Leia, his adopted daughter, did the same thing.

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