mikebot20

That definitely could have been the case. Thanks, everyone!

Hi - thanks for this - appreciate it! I admit before last week I was going from memory. That said I DEFINITELY saw a version last week with closed portholes. Maybe that was something they did along the way? It was in a “post-specialised” version of the film. Strange.

Hi everyone. I’m new to the forum, so I apologise if this has already been covered.

I notice on my copy of the despecialised edition that through the portholes in back of Darth Vader when he strangles Antilles, you can see newly added activity - just some stormtroopers milling around. I haven’t seen the old copy, where the portholes are just closed doors, in a long time. However, on a Cathay Pacific flight I just took, they were playing a specialised edition of Star Wars, but there was no additional activity — just closed doors like in the original.

Will future versions of the despecialised edition get rid of the additional activity through the portholes?

Your question number 3 is excellent! The answer is covered in the radio play. While aboard the Tantive IV, Antilles actuates code EPSILON ACTUAL, a voice-override to 3PO and R2’s programming that programmes them to protect the princes at all costs. Lying and self-destruction are included. Princess Leia actuates EPSILON ACTUAL again when giving R2 the Death Star plans, and that’s why he becomes so focused on getting to Kenobi. It’s also why 3PO lies to Luke re knowledge of the princess.