Main Finn/John Boyega Episode IX Thread

I disagree. I've always thought the story would have played out better if both Rey and Finn were force sensitives, with Ray being naturally talented with the force, and Finn having to work a bit harder to get on her level. I don't see how him not being force sensitive makes him more special. With what we've seen so far, they seemed to have underutilized his stormtrooper past anyway.

Hopefully, he'll get to do some cool stuff in TROS, but I really feel like his character has been wasted in this trilogy. Rey too.

 

Where do I sign up to join the club?

 

Han and Finns arc sound kinda similar to me.

In TFA, Finn rescues Poe because he wants out of the FO. He chose Poe because he needed a pilot and Poe would want to get out of there just as much as he did. This is a selfish act. If he didn't want out, Poe could likely still be in the hand of the FO. After he escapes, his main objective is about himself, getting away. We see some signs of compassion when he meets Rey and wants to help her, twice. Once when she was being attacked on Jakku until he sees she can handle herself. The second was when he sees Kylo take her, but just before, he was still just thinking of himself and was in the "I gotta get out of here" mode.

In TLJ, after Finn awakens and finds out Rey is ok, he goes back to trying to get away from the FO, just thinking of himself. It was after meeting Rose that he changes from the selfish mentality to being fully compassionate and thinking of others. Even to the point of going to sacrifice himself for the benefit of others. He seems to have made a manly transition to me.

I'll be interested in see where Finn goes next in ROS.

 

I guess we're just waiting to see what that destiny is. Because if all it was, was to be a Resistance Fighter...

 

In the words of Stewart Stern:

Jim: What can you do when you have to be a man?...Now you give me a direct answer!

Frank: Listen, Jimbo. When you're older, you'll look back at this, and you'll, well, you'll laugh at yourself, for thinking that this is so important. It's not as if you are alone. This has happened to every boy.

Rebel Without A Cause (1955)

 

Then it's a terrible look for Lucasfilm. If we compile all the evidence from the marketing materials to the novelization to the movie itself, that's a lot of work put in just to dash people's hopes. And there's no way you can argue otherwise. No matter which side you fall on. Whether you believe all this stuff had legitimate implications or that it's simply an attempt at misdirection, it's still a terrible look. As far as I'm concerned, it's the most egregious use of a character ever.

 

^ this should be above the door of the forum

i'm having a t-shirt made up with this on it

 

I see a lot of potential to further develop Finn's character in The Rise of Skywalker. One point that I think is a *POSSIBILITY*? Exploring Finn's background. We know that he was taken from his family as a young child to become a Stormtrooper. In this we see some echoes to the PT where the Jedi would take Force sensitive children into the Order from their families. That whole concept of taking children from their families to indoctrinate them into some organization is horrifying. And the story of child soldiers around our world is an ongoing tragedy.

Will Finn's story revolve around this concept of the Stormtroopers having been stolen as children to be used as cannon fodder for the First Order? And will he be put in a position to right that wrong? Is there a possibility that Finn could be reunited with the family from whom he was stolen? When I saw the Vanity Fair photo of Finn and Jannah side by side, it certainly got me wondering.

 

Two things I hope they make Finn either a jedi or a mandalore. Finn being a Mandalore can be a great way bring the Madanlorians into this new trilogy .

 

Finn and Rose (either separate or together) need their own tv show by Dave Filoni. Give Finn the war stories that are too action-packed or violent (not necessarily gory, just violent) for shows like Resistance (and Rebels); make it like Band of Brothers. Give Rose a claustrophobic-like show like Battlestar Galactica.

What I want out of Finn in Episode IX - a great story arc that won't be fully dependent on Rey and can stand beside her story as an equal - might happen, but if the focus is going to continue to be on the Force, and they're sticking with Finn not being Force-Sensitive, then the chances of that are lower than I'd like.

What I dream for Finn (being a Skywalker) won't happen, but I've come to terms with that and me. Besides, my favorite crackpot theories never happen...I mean, sure, they're tinfoil, but sometimes a little tinfoil in a series is a better way surprise the audience. So long as it makes thematic, logistical, and in-universe logical sense.*

What I expect out of Finn will be there though - a solid story arc with fun character interaction and great acting by John Boyega.

*Which Finn Skywalker totally could! In TFA Finn gets all of Luke's allusions (from certain story beats like saving the Rebellion/Resistance hostage, to musical cues, to little shoutouts like the training droid). Logistical might actually make more, terrible sense, but meh. And in-universe logical...I mean, biracial babies come in all skin tones, and half of Luke's canonical interests (the girl from Heir to the Jedi, Leia, Aphra, and Tula Markona) have been black. But alas, it won't happen, and I'll live with that.

 

This would be great!...They won't though.

--- Double Post Merged, Jul 8, 2019, Original Post Date: Jul 8, 2019 ---

I had the same thoughts! This would be great!....They won't though

 

To quote Yoda, "So certain are you?"

In order for Finn to be a complete character his story needs to go somewhere. So where does his arc go following the events of both THE FORCE AWAKENS as well as THE LAST JEDI? In TFA we see Finn escape from the First Order, he finds friendship and begins to find his own courage. Then in TLJ Finn explores that newfound sense of loyalty to his friends. But DJ comes along and shows Finn jut how far reaching the influence of the First Order is, how money is an insidious force in galactic affairs, and that there is more moral ambiguity than he might know. Things become that much more complicated by DJ's betrayal. And the level of desperation rises so high that Finn nearly sacrifices himself in a suicide attack against the First Order's battering ram cannon. I actually think that the deletion of the scene with Tom Hardy as a Stormtrooper might have been a lost opportunity in further developing his past with the Stormtroopers.

Both TFA and TLJ invested something substantial into Finn from a story perspective. It's clearly building towards SOMETHING. Finn has shown that he can be a leader, and might be able to grasp more than what is right in front of him. So where does he go? Leading troops in combat is a somewhat two-dimensional concept for Finn. At the end of TLJ we're left with this notion: "We're the spark that will light the fire that will burn the First Order down". And having a former Stormtrooper lead an attack for hearts and minds to take down the Stormtroopers is something that might make a lot of sense in the arc of the sequel trilogy.

 

That's a really cool way of considering Finn's arc in TLJ! I never thought about it that way. Thanks for the insight!

 

Thanks! I have seen a significant number of fans voice a lot of criticism of the entire Canto Bight sequences. But there's a lot there that gives you a sense of scope about the First Order and the state of the galaxy. And it does so in a way that doesn't beat you over the head with Galactic Politics the way that some people perceived that the PT explored that general theme. Finn gets a sense of the nature of the First Order beyond his own experience as a Stormtrooper through that journey, seeing the unseemly nature of wealth created by the First Order and its war machine, the oppressed who serve to keep it going, and how it seeks to stamp out all resistance.

 

Those looks John gave after she said "I think we would like to learn more about Finn" PRICELESS. I like he is tempering expectatations and he is very intentionally directing focus towards Rey's story. I think Finn will get to kick some butt, have a (minor) love story and if we get any backstory or any story that is tied to his own personal story outside of the main conflict.....that would be icing on top of the Finn story cake....I doubt there will be icing ....but (happily) surprised if there is icing.

 

I noticed his redirection in response to questions as well. Two ways to read that.

1. Your way, where he is tempering expectations and putting focus where it appears the main story is
2. If you're a glutton for punishment and still think Finn will be a true deuteragonist, it looks like he's redirecting questions about his character to avoid spoiling any reveals

You doubt there will be icing for Finn, I doubt there will be cake. A Dark Rey, a Rey Kylo rematch, and a resurrected Palpatine is the bakery. I doubt there will be anything remotely significant as those three things. I don't even think Rey's parentage is as interesting a question to answer anymore as the 3 things we get from the sizzle reel. Everything else is going to be background noise.

Boyega already said that we'd get some background on Finn (a strange thing to be doing in the finale of a trilogy). I have a hard time imagining anything from Finn's background or ties to Jannah being comparably meaningful to the main plot as the return of Palpatine, Rey and Kylo's reignited rivalry, and the prospect that Rey could go dark. I suspect the expansion on Finn will come off more as a check box exercise we always feared. Lots of screen time, little autonomy and relevance within it, all concluded with praise for his development. Past is often prologue.

 

I think (sadly) your prognostication will be accurate. The best and worse case scenario simultaneously. I do believe he will get to look good as a fighter though. Probably kill a nameless Knight of Ren...that is Finn cake. But when the cake does not turn out how you want it. You blame thr bakers not the cake.