Why does not Obi-Wan consider R2-D2 once they reunite in 'A New Hope'? 'Star Wars' fans were confused via the exchange for years.

Source: Lucasfilm

One of essentially the most recognizable (and in all probability the snarkiest) robots in popular culture, R2-D2 is a real staple in Star Wars lore. He appears in virtually every Star Wars film ever made (even with a cameo in Rogue One), and the story never would have worked with out him. From the start of the Skywalker saga to its epic finish, he remains a hero not like any other.

And that's simply one of many reasons fans of the franchise scratch their heads when he reunites with Jedi Master Obi-Wan Kenobi in A New Hope. Despite years of adventures in combination, the Jedi does not appear to recognize the droid in any respect. It makes no sense ... or does it?

Why does not Obi-Wan acknowledge R2-D2 in 'A New Hope'?

Source: Lucasfilm

Obi-Wan's now famous "Hello there!" line marks the beginning of his decades-long presence within the Star Wars franchise. When A New Hope (then just referred to as Star Wars) first released in 1977, this used to be also the first time he probably met each Luke Skywalker and sassy astromech droid R2-D2.

As more tales have released since, audiences now know this used to be not, in truth, his initial introduction to both party. He first met R2-D2 long ago in The Phantom Menace, and 2022's Obi-Wan Kenobi series on Disney+ printed he in short met Luke when the boy was once much younger.

So if Obi-Wan and R2 met sooner than, why did the previous act like he was once simply meeting the droid for the primary time?

There are two conceivable solutions to this question — one "real world" resolution and the opposite a a lot more amusing "in-universe" fan principle. Practically, when A New Hope used to be written, the opposite tales contradicting any of the events in that movie didn't exist yet. In George Lucas's head, it's very conceivable Obi-Wan had in reality never met R2 prior to their joint presence on Tatooine.

Only later, as different films have been launched, did such instances trade.

However, there are Star Wars fan theories suggesting Obi-Wan pretended to not know R2 on objective. He concealed himself away in the world with the only purpose of shielding Luke, and right through that first assembly, he was still seeking to protect the boy from harm. Not letting on that he and R2 fought in the Clone Wars in combination avoided him from finding out the truth about his bloodline too quickly.

Obi-Wan technically didn't deceive Luke once they first met.

It's the "I don't remember ever owning a droid" line that trips audience up. But Obi-Wan technically is not lying when he says it ... from a definite perspective, this is.

Obi-Wan never technically owned R2-D2 or any droid in the prequels. R2 belonged to Padmé Amidala prior to she proficient him to Anakin Skywalker, and after the struggle, each R2 and C-3PO became the property of Bail Organa. Obi-Wan knew him, but by no means owned him.

But Obi-Wan stretched the reality in some ways with Luke, knowing he wasn't prepared for the whole story of Anakin's fall to the dark aspect at the time. All of Luke's life, Obi-Wan did the entirety in his energy to protect him, even after the Jedi Master changed into one with the Force.

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