6. C-3PO
The Movies... Star Wars (1977-2004) C-3PO has proven to be something of a polarising character amongst
Star Wars fans, given that he spends much of his time being made fun of, bumbling around like an idiot, and arguing with Han Solo. Still, even the majority of fans who "like" C-3PO still likely think he's irritating, because he is - and that's kind of because he was designed to be. I mean, George Lucas didn't write this character and say, "Oh, people are gonna love 3PO" (Jar Jar is a different matter, though). He wrote 3PO to be one half of a bickering robot duo. Sadly, he wasn't destined to be the "cool" half - that fell to R2D2, the robot equivalent of a "badass."
And Yet... One brief, single action that we've all glimpsed a dozen times leads to the saving of an entire galaxy and allows Luke Skywalker to fulfill his destiny - and it's committed by our friend C3PO. Seriously. Think back to the first movie in 1977, when the Jawas brought 3PO and R2-D2 to Uncle Owen's Moisture Farm. Originally Owen buys 3PO and another droid, which instantly breaks down. And then what does C3PO do? He suggests that Owen purchases R2D2. That's it. But if he hasn't done such a thing, R2 would've ended up somewhere completely different and the Luke wouldn't have got Leia's message. As a result, C3PO is indirectly responsible for everything that happens, even the destruction of the Death Star - he ultimately ensures the crucial attack plans get to the right person. So, yeah, despite the fact that he doesn't do much of worth for the rest of these movies, I think it's safe to say that C3PO did all he ever needed to do at this overlooked moment (he's still irritating as hell, though - one cannot deny the facts).