# A quick Star Wars Question **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [January 8, 2001, 2:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-quick-star-wars-question/48991 "2001-01-08T14:10:18Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Gazoo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/ce73a5/32.png) [@Gazoo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gazoo)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2001, 2:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-quick-star-wars-question/48991/1 "2001-01-08T14:10:18Z")
I was watching Star Wars (episode IV) last night. The video I have for it contains a short segment with Lucas discussing things about episode II. Part of it involves C3PO getting his “skin.” He mentions how C3PO is basically just a bunch of junk put together (and we learned from Episode I that Anakin built him). Then the movie itself begins, and right off the bat, there is C3PO and behind him is an almost identical (silver instead of gold) clone of C3PO. WTF? Anakin made two? This pile of “junk” put together by a kid was such a marvel that others copied his idea? IIRC there are other C3PO clones walking around as well, I believe there is one in the Cloud City segments in Episode V and I swear I recall seeing a black version somewhere as well. Any idea what the scoop is on the multiple C3PO’s? I realize it’s just a movie, but as the whole Saga appears to be from C3PO’s viewpoint, you’d think he would avoid such an error, or that an explanation is coming. ---
**Author:** ![Boomfly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/db5fbb/32.png) [@Boomfly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boomfly)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2001, 2:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-quick-star-wars-question/48991/2 "2001-01-08T14:34:32Z")
C3PO is a Protocol-droid.(human-cyborg relations) All the “lookalikes” are protocol droids too. In the movies they are assigned to translation and protocol duty. I assume in the movies there is a standard type of protocol droid that looks basically like C3PO. (just like engineer/mechanic droids basically look like R2D2) ---
**Author:** ![Zebra](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/c0e974/32.png) [@Zebra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zebra)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2001, 2:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-quick-star-wars-question/48991/3 "2001-01-08T14:35:03Z")
Not sure but… I think the Annie built a C3PO. Meaning that he didn’t invent the that type of droid he just built one like you could buy a kit and build a radio. WAG ---
**Author:** ![lno](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/a8b319/32.png) [@lno](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lno)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2001, 2:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-quick-star-wars-question/48991/4 "2001-01-08T14:35:09Z")
I used to know this answer. My WAG is that Anakin basically built him from a kit. He sent in his box tops and proofs of purchase, waited four to six weeks, and got his Ready-To-Assemble protocol droid. ---
**Author:** ![Gazoo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/ce73a5/32.png) [@Gazoo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gazoo)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2001, 2:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-quick-star-wars-question/48991/5 "2001-01-08T14:43:43Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Boomfly \* > \*\*I assume in the movies there is a standard type of protocol droid that looks basically like C3PO. > (just like engineer/mechanic droids basically look like R2D2) \*\* Yeah, there are many droids that are similar in looks to C3PO (and R2D2 for that matter), but the one on Leia’s ship in Episode IV and the one in the Cloud City in Episode V do not look “basically” like C3PO, they look _exactly_ like him except they are silver. As to the kit idea, I thought of that, but again, Lucas explicitly says that C3PO was assempled from junk by Anakin. That doesn’t sound like a kit. ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2001, 2:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-quick-star-wars-question/48991/6 "2001-01-08T14:49:56Z")
Maybe he built CP3O from junked protocal droids. ---
**Author:** ![Damhna](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/3bc359/32.png) [@Damhna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Damhna)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2001, 2:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-quick-star-wars-question/48991/7 "2001-01-08T14:50:25Z")
Maybe there was a Droid Cookbook. Chapter 3 Protocol Droid a l’orange. Step 1 : Find yerself 3 dissused hovercraft eaftshankvalaves. Step 2: Locate some old cat 5 cabling Step 3: Scrounge around for a flux capacator. etc etc Step 348 Stick 'em all together as per diagram B ---
**Author:** ![Boomfly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/db5fbb/32.png) [@Boomfly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boomfly)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2001, 2:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-quick-star-wars-question/48991/8 "2001-01-08T14:52:56Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Damhna \* > \*\*Step 348 > Stick 'em all together as per diagram B \*\* LOL, Step 349 optional gold paint available 😃 ---
**Author:** ![system](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/original/2X/e/e489c3b7d8fce19c4b355dd4fc3f88cc39c34b87.png) [@system](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/system)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2001, 2:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-quick-star-wars-question/48991/9 "2001-01-08T14:55:52Z")
…and what the hell was a mechanic’s six-year-old slave boy doing building a droid programmed for “etiquette and protocol” anyway? ---
**Author:** ![TwistofFate](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/cdc98d/32.png) [@TwistofFate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TwistofFate)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2001, 3:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-quick-star-wars-question/48991/10 "2001-01-08T15:02:27Z")
IIRC, In episode 1 Anakin tells Quii-gon that he was building the droid to help his mother around the house. ---
**Author:** ![Balance](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ccd318/32.png) [@Balance](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Balance)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2001, 3:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-quick-star-wars-question/48991/11 "2001-01-08T15:04:33Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by blessedwolf \* > …and what the hell was a mechanic’s six-year-old slave boy doing building a droid programmed for “etiquette and protocol” anyway? Well, he _said_ it was to help his mother–but his boss sure could’ve used some help in that area, couldn’t he? Maybe they needed a translator for something, although everyone always seem to understand every language spoken in the galaxy. Maybe, since protocol droids are obviously likely to absorb more abuse than most types ("\ What did I say?"), those were just the most readily available parts? ---
**Author:** ![system](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/original/2X/e/e489c3b7d8fce19c4b355dd4fc3f88cc39c34b87.png) [@system](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/system)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2001, 3:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-quick-star-wars-question/48991/12 "2001-01-08T15:08:02Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by TwistofFate \* > \*\*IIRC, In episode 1 Anakin tells Quii-gon that he was building the droid to help his mother around the house. \*\* That rings a bell. But what would **she** need with him? Wasn’t she a cleaning lady or some such? ---
**Author:** ![andyman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/8491ac/32.png) [@andyman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/andyman)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2001, 3:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-quick-star-wars-question/48991/13 "2001-01-08T15:24:49Z")
> [@](#): > > Then the movie itself begins, and right off the bat, there is C3PO and behind him is an almost identical (silver instead of gold) clone of C3PO. WTF? Anakin made two? This pile of “junk” put together by a kid was such a marvel that others copied his idea? Protocol droids are already around at this point. There was one on the Trade Federation’s ship. TC-14 or something like that. In Watto’s shop, there is a protocol droid shell. Think that might come in useful later? > [@](#): > > IIRC there are other C3PO clones walking around as well, I believe there is one in the Cloud City segments in Episode V and I swear I recall seeing a black version somewhere as well. Yep, there everywhere. In “A New Hope” we see other protocol droids on the Corellian Corvette that Leia was on in the very beginning, there’s a white one on Hoth, and the rude one on Cloud City. ---
**Author:** ![Damhna](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/3bc359/32.png) [@Damhna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Damhna)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2001, 5:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-quick-star-wars-question/48991/14 "2001-01-08T17:21:55Z")
“Anakin Darling…” “Yes Mummy ?” “Its about That droid of yours …” “mmmm…” “Well its REAAAAALLLLYYYY polite and its speaks three million languages and all but…” “yes” “Its fuck all use at the washing up” “Mother!!!” “Sorry kid but youve just wasted your five of your formative years. Okay if id been in the diplomatic corp I could understand but Anakin honey…Im a slave” “Sniff” “Stop blubbering kid and use that droid to block the draft by the window” ---
**Author:** ![Damhna](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/3bc359/32.png) [@Damhna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Damhna)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2001, 5:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-quick-star-wars-question/48991/15 "2001-01-08T17:22:02Z")
“Anakin Darling…” “Yes Mummy ?” “Its about That droid of yours …” “mmmm…” “Well its REAAAAALLLLYYYY polite and its speaks three million languages and all but…” “yes” “Its fuck all use at the washing up” “Mother!!!” “Sorry kid but youve just wasted your five of your formative years. Okay if id been in the diplomatic corp I could understood but Anakin honey…Im a slave” “Sniff” “Stop blubbering kid and use that droid to block the draft by the window” ---
**Author:** ![Damhna](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/3bc359/32.png) [@Damhna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Damhna)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2001, 5:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-quick-star-wars-question/48991/16 "2001-01-08T17:23:29Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Boomfly \* > \*\* > > > [@](#): > > > > \*Originally posted by Damhna \* > > \*\*Step 348 > > Stick 'em all together as per diagram B \*\* > > LOL, > Step 349 optional gold paint available 😃 \*\* Thats why it was Protocol Droid “A L’orange” ---
**Author:** ![xizor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/xizor/32/102_2.png) [@xizor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/xizor)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2001, 5:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-quick-star-wars-question/48991/17 "2001-01-08T17:27:32Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Balance \* > **Maybe they needed a translator for something, although everyone always seem to understand every language spoken in the galaxy.** Because they all speak “Basic”, except for those who don’t have the vocal cords or desire to (like Chewbacca, Jabba the Hutt, Greedo,…) ---
**Author:** ![Alzarian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ad7895/32.png) [@Alzarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alzarian)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2001, 5:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-quick-star-wars-question/48991/18 "2001-01-08T17:33:39Z")
I had a problem with the whole idea of leaving Anakin’s mom behind on Tattoine. I mean, how hard would it have been to get rid of Watto, and just take her. Course, I guess that wouldn’t have been the honorable thing to do, but then, was keeping her a slave honorable. I can just about accept them leaving her behind at the time, since they were in a minority on the planet, and couldn’t risk inviting the whole planet to be against them, but then why not go back afterwards and collect her. I’m sure Watto could be bought. Guess it couldn’t be done for “plot” reasons. ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2001, 5:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-quick-star-wars-question/48991/19 "2001-01-08T17:43:02Z")
Yeah, but they can have a scene in 20 years when Vader knocks on his door… (HISS) And how is…(HISS)… my Mother? ---
**Author:** ![Diceman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/22d042/32.png) [@Diceman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diceman)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2001, 6:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-quick-star-wars-question/48991/20 "2001-01-08T18:04:56Z")
My prediction: something will happen to Anakin’s mother in Episode 2, and this will cause him to turn to the Dark Side. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-quick-star-wars-question/48991.md?page=2)