Grogu meets R2-D2 alongside Luke Skywalker in The Mandalorian season 2 finale, “Chapter 16: The Rescue,” but just why is the astromech droid so excited to see Baby Yoda? Follow Din Djarin and co’s rescue mission to take back Grogu from Moff Gideon, all hope seemed lost as the Dark Troopers arrived back on the light cruiser. While the heroes were faced with no way out, an X-wing landed on the ship, from which a hooded cloak emerged, who then started cutting through the Dark Troopers with a green lightsaber and the Force. Luke Skywalker had turned up in The Mandalorian, ready to take Baby Yoda away from Jedi training, and by his side was, of course, Artoo.
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While the main focus of the scene is on Grogu’s touching farewell moment with the Mandalorian, as well as the arrival of Luke and Baby Yoda’s decision to go with him, R2-D2 does get a brief-yet-notable moment to shine. When the droid and the Child come face-to-face, Artoo excitedly beeps and whistles, but unless you can speak astromech, it’s difficult to know the reasoning behind it, though there are a few possibilities.
It may simply be that, in the moment, R2-D2 is the audience’s avatar; after all, the story of Star Wars was intended to be told through his (and C-3PO’s eyes), and so him reflecting how a fan would react to seeing Grogu – which is to say, incredibly excited – does make sense in a meta sort of way. However, given how it lingers, there is likely more to it. It could be that R2-D2 is excited by Grogu because he is, well, a baby Yoda: R2-D2 won’t have seen another of Yoda’s kind in a few years, but they did recognize each other on Dagobah, and so it could be that viewers are seeing here. Given how rare Yoda’s species is, then it would make sense to get worked up over encountering another member of it.
It’s also possible, though, that there is something even deeper here, and that R2-D2 and Baby Yoda have met before. Part of Grogu’s Jedi backstory is that he was rescued from the Temple on Coruscant at the outset of Order 66, with some mysterious savior – or saviors – whisking him away. Much of what R2-D2 was doing at the outset of Order 66 is unclear, which means that it’s very possible he was around when Anakin Skywalker slaughters the younglings (since he’s with him throughout most of this arc, it’d make sense). R2-D2 would’ve had a chance to meet several of the would-be Jedi over the years, and given he is a hero, then he could have helped conspire to save Grogu in a last-ditch effort, while unable to do the same for anyone else.
Given how much tragedy there is with R2-D2 witnessing Anakin’s fall to the dark side, then it would add another layer to that story by having this be the case. Artoo is also one of the great heroes in Star Wars, having saved the lives of so many characters. On top of that, he’s one of the few active characters who remembers the Dark Times. Having him know Grogu and be so excited to see that he is alive and still ok would be fitting, and could even tie into The Mandalorian season 3. At a stretch, it’s possible that Luke heard Baby Yoda calling out through the Force and, when he repeated the name Grogu, Artoo encouraged him to find the Child. The explanation could be more innoccuous, but it does feel like there’s more to the story of R2-D2 and Baby Yoda.