I was rewatching this edit and I have an idea I’ll throw your way Hal. The exchange between 3PO and R2 after the “we go together” moment, before the crew departs in the Millennium Falcon, where 3PO says something like “if I don’t make it back I want you to know you’re a real friend” to R2 just feels kind of on the nose and maybe could be justified if the character later on actually dies. But he doesn’t and this exchange feels somewhat out of character and unnatural.

I was watching the 1977 documentary “Making of Star Wars” which is on the OT blu-ray set and 3PO and R2 had an exchange that might work well in this moment. With this exchange, 3PO’s remark would point towards the conclusion of the story without being completely on-the-nose.

https://youtube.com/clip/Ugkx8L6iIpxkK0XIcfAkng0CEA_QFVNREKp-