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R2-D2 survived a direct shot by Darth Vader during the assault on the first Death Star. (Not sure how somebody as Force powerful and skilled a pilot as Darth Vader could have missed blowing the X-Wing fighter apart instead of merely nicking a mere astromech droid, but hey, we'll go with this.)

R2 comes back all beat up and C-3PO promises to gladly donate some of its circuits.

How much damage did R2 receive during the battle?

Was its "brain" destroyed and many (all?) of its memories zapped?

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  • 6
    His head was just blown off a little, it's all good.
    – Jeff
    Jan 16, 2017 at 1:44
  • 14
    @Jeff Next, somebody is going to tell me it was just a flesh wound.
    – RichS
    Jan 16, 2017 at 2:09
  • 17
    Given that one of R2D2's data ports was in the head...I'd be tempted to say it was just a Flash wound
    – Andrew Tice
    Jan 16, 2017 at 10:49
  • 4
    @AndrewTice slow clap
    – krillgar
    Jan 16, 2017 at 13:42

1 Answer 1

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Based on what we see of what's in R2D2's dome, the answer seems to be very little important is in there. In other words, it's not his "head". It's unlikely they would leave it so exposed in the back of an X-Wing if it were

What we do see is

  1. A radar dish of some sort
  2. A periscope
  3. A hidden compartment Luke hides his lightsaber in
  4. Apparently the dark dome is his camera. He swivels this in canon to face what he's looking at.
  5. A holoprojector
  6. Various equipment to grab things. Most notably he can repair an X-Wing and serve drinks

What we don't see displayed here are core (mission critical) systems. Moreover, there wouldn't be a lot of room for said systems with so much crammed in there. Presumably, R2D2 was blind from having the dome destroyed. Possibly whatever circuits that he uses to communicate. But the core was clearly undamaged. Only his utility would have been affected.

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  • 4
    Making R2-D2 serve drinks was a waste of his talents. It's like telling a rocket scientist at NASA to get a job as a cocktail waitress.
    – RichS
    Jan 16, 2017 at 3:06
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    In Episode III (yes, I know), Obi-wan's droid R4 in the Jedi Fighter got his head disconnected by a buzz droid. He was making little a little wobbly scream as it flew away, so I assumed there was some sentience in there, not just sensors. But... it was Episode III. As hard as I try, I can't seem to remove them from my memory...
    – Jane S
    Jan 16, 2017 at 3:31
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    @JaneS Nah, you didn't hear the R4 droid scream, because in space, nobody can you hear you scream.
    – RichS
    Jan 16, 2017 at 3:53
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    @RichS I suspect the screams were all the fanboys (and fangirls! ;) ) at just how stupid that movie truly was.
    – Jane S
    Jan 16, 2017 at 3:54
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    @JaneS He was making little a little wobbly scream as it flew away, so I assumed there was some sentience in there, not just sensors. ...could be sentience or could be like when I unplug my laptop from my speakers and leave the jack plug on a metallic surface and I can hear them "screaming" while I walk away with the laptop. That isn't sentience. I certainly hope not. It's just... a glitch... a noise that... because if not... Oh, my... what if I am a monster...?
    – xDaizu
    Jan 16, 2017 at 11:45

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