‘Star Wars: The Force Awakens’ Could Actually Just Be One Big Dream Sequence
Star Wars really brings out some of its fans’ wildest imaginations. It’s a big, galactic world with aliens and weird inventions, so that’s to be expected. And the crazier the theories that they come up with, sometimes, the more convincing the argument. And one fact about The Force Awakens actually calls into question: was it all a dream?
R2-D2 has a long relationship with the protagonists of ‘Star Wars’
This fun conspiracy theory is sort of meta, but it revolves around R2-D2 and his heavy involvement in all three trilogies. Or, rather, his heavy involvement in the first two trilogies and then the steep dropoff of his character in the last one.
As we all know, R2-D2 — also known as Artoo — is the blue and silver astromech droid who wormed his way into the audience’s hearts just as much as he did with the original and prequel characters. Chronologically, Artoo is introduced in Episode I: The Phantom Menace on Queen Amidala’s ship as they’re escaping the Trade Federation. After he’s the only droid that saves them, R2-D2 becomes a core member of the group. He follows Qui-Gon Jinn, Jar Jar Binks, and Padmé on their journey to Mos Eisley on Tatooine. And in Attack of the Clones, you see Artoo as the right-hand to Padmé, following her everywhere.
Artoo has an immensely close bond with Anakin Skywalker as well and becomes his astromech droid and friend once he marries Padmé (although no one knew that, of course). And his strong, close bonds continue because he was passed down to Princess Leia from her adoptive father, Bail Organa. Artoo then befriends Luke Skywalker, since he has to bring Ben Kenobi a message. And the rest is history.
If you look at Star Wars through the eyes of R2-D2, it would be really comprehensive. That droid has seen every little thing, plus his memory is never wipes. In fact, he’s in every major part of the prequels and original trilogies. The reason? He’s the narrator of the saga.
What does it mean that R2-D2 is the narrator of ‘Star Wars’?
As io9 reported in 2016, George Lucas told animation director Rob Coleman all about the “framing” he wanted to have within his saga. According to the book How Star Wars Conquered the Universe by Chris Taylor, Lucas placed Artoo in the story for a specific reason.
“The entire story of Star Wars is actually being recounted to the keeper of the ‘Journal of the Whills’ — remember that? — a hundred years after the events of Return of the Jedi by none other than R2-D2,” Lucas said.
Io9 reported that Taylor pointed out more instances where this makes perfect sense. Artoo is constantly a hero in the story and central to so many character’s lives. He’s a major play in the action and plot without actually being a character with a lot of sway in the way the story goes. If you were telling a huge Odyssey of a story, wouldn’t you center yourself as a hero too?
Because of this, did ‘The Force Awakens’ even really happen?
Ok, getting into the actual theory here: if R2-D2 is the narrator of Star Wars, and we’re watching his retelling on-screen, then who is telling the story of The Force Awakens? One commenter on io9 pointed out.
If you recall, Episode VII: The Force Awakens all happens without R2-D2 at all. He’s in sleep mode the entire time and only wakes up at the very end. The reasoning is because he’s been in non-stop operation for decades (you know, since the prequels), and needed those years to rest. However, if R2-D2 is asleep for Episode VII, did it really happen?
Well, if you were to indulge this theory, then yes, it would make that movie a dream sequence. This would actually explain a lot of things. For one, it would explain why the framework of the film is so similar to Episode IV. Since it’s, hypothetically, Artoo’s dream, he’d be using memories to makeup the scenarios. Right down to Rey and Finn having their own “Artoo,” in BB-8.
Now, this is just a fun theory, and, if anything, it only shows the further disconnect between Lucas’ first six films and the sequel trilogy. Odds are that someone retold everything to R2-D2 after he woke up. Plus, he was there for the last two films so that his story is complete. Fans probably won’t get a movie or series 100 years in the future, and won’t actually see the fruition of ‘Journal of the Whills.’ But still, makes you wonder, it does.
