Every movie franchise has iconic moments and iconic characters that helps drive the franchise itself. Star Wars is no stranger to having both. From Vader revealing to Luke he was his father to seeing the Death Star fire for the first time, Star Wars has captured our imaginations and our hearts. One of the most Iconic movie characters of all time from Star Wars is Han Solo, everyone’s favorite scoundrel. What makes Han an Iconic character? What made us fall in love with the Corellian smuggler? Let’s explore some of Han’s greatest moments in the entire Star Wars franchise and remember what made him so great.
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#5 – “I thought they smelled bad on the outside.” In The Empire Strikes Back we get a glimpse of just how loyal a character Han is. The Rebels hiding from the Empire on Hoth after the destruction of the Death Star we see Luke not come back from his patrol. Han without even second guessing himself goes out to find Luke. Han finally finds Luke in the snow, after Luke’s harrowing escape from the Wampa, delirious and close to death. As the temperature drops, Han’s tauntaun drops dead from the cold. Always thinking Han drags Luke to the tauntaun and slices it’s belly open with the lightsaber. After he puts Luke inside the tauntaun he utters, “I thought they smelled bad on the outside.” One of the more humorous lines Han says in the saga, but also a moment showing just how important his friends are to him and to the lengths at which he will go to protect them.
#4 – “Chewie, we’re home” One of the more emotional scenes for more seasoned Star Wars fans. Han declaring with Chewie by his side that they were home after stepping onto the Millennium Falcon once again after thinking it was lost to them. The moment itself in The Force Awakens was more for nostalgia purposes to Star Wars fans but it is an iconic moment none the less. It delivered all the feels you would expect and more as for some fans it was like greeting an old friend they had not seen in a very long time. This will be etched in people’s memories for a long time.
#3 – Who Shot First? Han or Greedo? For many years that question has been asked amongst all Star Wars fans. Heavily debated and everyone having their opinion on who shot first. In the original Star Wars one of our first impressions of Han comes from this scene. Greedo, a Rodian bounty hunter sent by Jabba the Hutt to capture Solo, corners Han in the cantina at Mos Eisley. Greedo attempting to claim the bounty himself doesn’t pay attention to Han pulling out his blaster under the table. Just before Greedo can shoot Han blasts him under the table. Obviously in the special editions George Lucas changed this to make it look like Greedo shot first, and Han dodging it. We all know Han shot first and we wouldn’t have it any other way.
#2 – Han Saves the Day One of the big things with Han in A New Hope was the will he or won’t he scenario. We see him getting his big pay day from the Rebel Alliance after rescuing Princess Leia from the Death Star. Luke tries to get him to stay and help, and in true Han fashion he returns the offer with an offer to Luke to join up with him instead. After Luke goes off to get into an X-Wing, Chewie says something to Han that obviously struck a chord as he looks unsure of himself. But we still know the Falcon took off. As the battle around the Death Star began to draw to a close we started to feel a helplessness arise as one by one the Rebel pilots were dropping. Enter Vader into the field taking down X-Wings in the trench. Just as Vader has Luke zeroed in we hear a “Yahoo!” over the comm as the Falcon roars onto the battlefield and helps clear the way for Luke to deliver the final blow for a Rebel Alliance victory. Han proved that there was more than greed to him, that he was a hero and ready to take a stand against the Empire.
Honorable Mentions – Here are a few honorable mentions for some of Han’s better moments in the franchise. Han showing off his skill as a pilot flying into the asteroid field and uttering the line, “Never tell me the odds” to C-3PO. The Falcon and her crew escaping the Empire thanks to Han’s skill as a pilot. The Solo Philosophy – Hokey religions and ancient weapons are no match for a blaster by your side. Han is one of the greatest gunslingers in the Star Wars Universe and he lived by that motto his entire life. Han and Luke on the Death Star as Stormtroopers attempting to save Princess Leia. In an attempt keep the Imperials away from the detention block Han gets on the comm and tries to talk his way out of it. When he fails in true Han Solo fashion he shoots the panel, “Boring conversation anyway.”
#1 – I love you. I know. Han’s most stoic moment doesn’t come during a fire fight or in a dog fight. It comes in a moment where he knows he may not survive. Most people would let their emotions get the best of them in a moment like that and return the gesture of someone saying they love you. Not Han Solo though. Han looks at Leia and calmly replies, “I know.” Whether he knew he would survive or not he showed no fear and accepted his fate. In the original script it called for Han to reciprocate his feelings for Leia. Actor Harrison Ford ad libbed the line as he knew Han would never truly admit his feelings, even in the face of possible death.
There you have it. Top 5 Han Solo moments in the Star Wars Saga. I want to say that this is my top 5. Yours could be different or the same. Please feel free to chime in and let us know if you agree or disagree with them. We all know Han’s fate from The Force Awakens. It was heart breaking to witness. Disney and Lucasfilm however will give us a chance for more Han Solo moments though when we finally get the standalone movie in the future. Now I will say it is hard for me to imagine that Alden Ehrenreich can fill the shoes of Harrison Ford as Han Solo. But let’s give Disney a chance and see if he can make a moment or 2 that can at least crack our top 10s. Until that time comes, for now, just keep enjoying the many moments that the Star Wars saga has created for us. May the Force be with you.
