HOLLYWOOD, CA – FEBRUARY 28: R2-D2 of Star Wars attends the 88th Annual Academy Awards at Dolby Theatre on February 28, 2016 in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Christopher Polk/Getty Images)
R2-D2 (The Last Jedi)
R2-D2 spent almost the entirety of The Force Awakens in low power mode, only reawakening at the end to conveniently provide the missing piece of the map to Ahch-To and Luke Skywalker.
The beloved astromech droid might not have had a ton of screen time in The Last Jedi either, but at least he had a pivotal scene with Luke. The reunion between Luke and R2 aboard the Millennium Falcon is touching in itself, and amusing with the banter between the two old friends.
What makes this scene even more special and meaningful is that R2 helps convince a stubborn Luke that he should train Rey, a decision that challenges the status quo Luke has created for himself, and which has a major impact on the story moving forward.
R2 pushing Luke in this way feels authentic because of the long and rich history that the characters shared in the original trilogy. That scene is R2’s best in the sequel trilogy so far, which gives The Last Jedi the upper hand in this case.
Hopefully The Rise of Skywalker will provide the most R2-D2 screen time yet in the sequel trilogy, ultimately making it the sequel trilogy film that does him the most justice.