Official Finn Episode VIII thread

His shooting on Takodona was pretty impressive.

 

His shooting was reasonable for someone of his training, I wouldn't say it was extraordinary. Funny though the one area where Rey really did not shine (compared to her other skills) was in her shooting, she fired with the safety on once and then missed the next shot badly. And she looked absolutely pathetic firing at Kylo Ren. I think they meant to make that her weakness since out of all the main characters that shoot, she is the worst but for some reason you hardly notice it, and you also don't notice that Finn never misses with a blaster (because there were only 2 shots and they were relatively close - of course Han doesn't miss either, but he's Han and so... you'd kinda expect that from a smuggler). If they had included the snow speeder scene it would have been even more obvious.

It's like they were trying to allude to the fact that Rey is the flight expert and the hand to hand combat expert and Finn is the shooter and the strategist. Rey never comes up with any plans, Finn never pilots anything, but they both do a delve into each other's area of combat expertise, and show some proficiency. But they also go through pains to make sure you know which one they're good at and which one they're bad.

So if there is no more LS in Finn's future in TLJ, I expect him to shoot the lights out in every way possible.

 

Well problem is Finn shouldnt suck at H2H given his background....

Beyond that there are ways to show someone is an elite shooter or a master tactician/strategy in stories and they really didnt do it for Finn.

 

I think the metadata that does exist points towards Finn's aptitude for targeting and shooting. Whether we feel like it was demonstrated on an elite level is another matter altogether, but I think it's clear that they're alluding to it.

On an unrelated note, I'm still wondering who it was that Maz was referring to when saying that she had seen Finn's eyes before and if that person she is referring to has appeared in previous films. And was it that observation that caused her insist that Finn take the LS (when anyone could've taken it)

 

You know I've never really thought about that. With all the talk about Rey's parentage and where she comes from, the vast majority of us seem to forget that Maz made that comment in-universe and Abrams said that there is a reason that both Finn and Rey don't have last names. Alluding to the fact that there was an important reason for it. Now it could simply be that the reason is simply because he's a stormtrooper. But I struggle to think that that is all there is to it considering the fact that we already knew about Finns stormtrooper origin long before that comment was made. I really hope they expand on these things as I think it has potential for some very interesting twists and turns in Finns story.
Now on the subject of who Maz could have been referring to with regards to Finn's eyes, I think maybe we should look at the comment she made after that was cut from the movie. Remember she tells him he has the eyes of a warrior. So what I think it was that she was perhaps that he has the ability to wield the force (still holding out hope, don't judge me) thereby having the ability to use the lightsaber effectively, which is why she gave it to him. Or maybe she saw a warrior that doesn't have the force but can wield a lightsaber on par or nearly on par with a Jedi.
Speaking of his ability to wield a lightsaber, I'm going to kind of backtrack on one of my previous comments, I think he did so with more skill than Rey. Which is funny because I've seen someone say he used it like a club, and someone elese said he just flailed around with it which is ridiculous because he was actually shown doing real moves like striking and parrying.

 

Finn used the saber better than folks give him credit for.
Rey was just attacking and Kylo wasn't trying to kill her.
Finn lost to Kylo and the stormtrooper. Both were using weapons with more experience and skill than Finn and the saber.

Finn, with enough time, could probably royally F stuff up with it.

 

Why Finn? I mean I thought they were kinda hinting at it with Chirrut and Baze in R1. There really are no context clues at all for either ones of these guys being gay. I don't see it happening, but I can imagine them adding characters in the future who are.

 

Yeah I didnt see anything that made it look like Finn was Gay.
Poe Sure.
Finn Nope.

 

In TLJ we find out that Rey is stuck on Poe but he's interested in Finn, who's in love with Rey, the circle closes and everyone ends up unhappy.

 

That's part of the key though... having time. Seeing as 8 picks up immediately after 7, it depends on how they long everyone has to "level up" (Rey, Kylo, Finn, the Resistance, the FO). How much time will 8 span? I would think it would need to be at least a year

--- Double Post Merged, Apr 27, 2017, Original Post Date: Apr 27, 2017 ---

He didn't have traditional Jedi skill (and I think I may be one of the only people that actually liked the whirly light saber fights of the PT, so that's the frame of reference I'm coming from) so yeah Finn was a bit clunky... actually only Kylo showed any real proficiency (as should be expected). Ironically, Finn spent more time on offense against Kylo than he did against TR-8R. It wasn't much offense in either event, but there was still more of it against Kylo.

 

I don't think there has to be time in the movie universe, just time as in time for him to have the chance. A point where he isn't:
1. Completely flustered and panicked because he just left everything he ever knew
2. Worked up over protecting and rescuing Rey.

Give Finn time to adjust and I think he'd do just fine vs anyone but Kylo with the saber.

 

I want to switch gears a little bit. I don't think it will be revealed in TLJ (the focus will be Luke and the big reveal about Rey's parents) but I think in Episode 9 we will find out Finn's ties to the greater Star Wars Universe. Any bets on who they will link Finn to either directly or indirectly?

Ezra Bridger? ,Lando (hope not), the Skywalkers (I still think this on the table especially if Rey is not), Someone else in the greater Star Wars universe not yet mentioned? Someone who is not canon (anymore) but could be made canon by linking them to Finn (Kar Vastor?) I started a thread about this back in the TFA forum but people are not focused on Finn's background anymore and I still think it comes into play. Thoughts?

--- Double Post Merged, Apr 28, 2017, Original Post Date: Apr 28, 2017 ---

I think they are definitely floating a romance angle between those two which they will either pursue or discard by Episode IX. What do you have against a Rose v Finn romance?

 

Ever since Lost Stars came out I thought Finn would be revealed to be the child of Ciene Ree and Thane Kyrell.
I hope he isn't connected to any character from any previous movie. Something I would be interested in ( if he discovers his force abilities) is after he has been trained he picks a name (like the pope) after doing research of a Jedi he can look up to, maybe he picks Kenobi and that is like a special sign to Luke, so he would be Finn Kenobi. Something like this would be a good way to continue Obi Wan's legacy without forcing him have a secret child (like those Rey theories). It would also be cool to find out that Vader kept Obi Wan's lightsaber and at some point it was recovered and through the course of events is gifted to Finn, that way the next generation of jedi (or whatever new name they might be called) are using the sabers of Obi Wan and Anakin/Luke.

 

I don't have anything against Rose...I am invested in Finn being a central character Rose to my book does nothing to help that and probably hurts that goal ergo....I take Rey or even Poe over her every time...now if Rose last name turns out to be Wren well get back to me.

 

I just feel like everyone needs time to build and refine their combat skills.

 

Thank you. Thank you.

What a perfectly reasonable and refreshing outlook compared to the countless others who seem to want to limit Finn's romantic possibilities. You may not be super in love withe idea of Finn and Rey ending up together, but at least you don't see it as some out-of-left-field possibility that would be a detriment to the franchise. You keep an open mind and see the possibilities in different outcomes.

Don't think it is a coincidence that numbers of people who have been perfectly okay without seeing a gay relationship n SW movies and books all of a sudden rush to the idea that Finn/Poe would be ideal. Not that I'm against a gay relationship in the franchise and I get how big a step that would be for Hollywood in general. But yeah I'm suspicious that the clamoring for Finn/Poe by some is because, believe it or not, such a pairing would be more comfortably accepted than even the idea of Finn and Rey. People out there who see "no chemistry" between Finn and Rey but see it in spades between Finn and Poe? Get out of here. Granted everything is subjective but......come on. And many of those very same folks will be happy to suddenly drop their fake love for Finn/Poe if Rose comes along and hits it off with Finn. That would mean they won't have to indulge a homosexual coupling in hopes that TPTB keep the black guy from their leading white lady. Talk about a win-win.

Seriously leading up to the TFA release I heard or read so many comments by bloggers, podcasters, SW fans in general who, despite seeing all the scenes and clips of Finn and Rey together, could never even discuss the possibility of their romantic pairing. But these same people immediately pair off Rose with Finn despite at this point of not seeing any scene, photo or clip of the two together nor even knowing any spoilers about who she is. That's extremely telling

 

I honestly couldn't not give a blast if Finn or Rey have any romantic partners, it honestly isn't necessary. Luke went through his trilogy without any romantic interest (Yeah he was smitten by Leia in ANH but that doesn't count). I don't care if they make Poe gay because since he was supposed to die in TFA he is the biggest blank canvas for them to try new stuff on, but Finn being gay I don't think works with what we have seen. From TFA you can tell Finn was interested in Rey and whether the feelings were reciprocal doesn't matter since all we are talking about is Finn. I also believe Boyega said Finn is going to be enamored by Rose but that could just end up being like Lando flirting with Leia.

 

In the press junket for the promotion of American Gods, actress Emily Browning has repeatedly mentioned how when she first had a meeting to discuss her character with the showrunners she told them she would scream if they told her that her character was "the heart and soul" of the show. For her situation what she meant by this was that as a woman she was used to getting scripts in which the female role was underwritten and not as crucial to the plot, but TPTB would try to get her to overlook these issues by assuring her that her character was important because she was, well, you know, "the heart and soul" of the whole thing.

This is something actresses deal with a lot. But such a scenario isn't limited to actresses. Saying a character is "the heart and soul" is the coded and kind way of explaining that the character isn't as equal or as vital or as interesting. It is the epitome of being supporting in every, single way. In terms of industry speak , when you resort to describing a character as being "the heart and soul" you are admitting you really don't have anything important to say about the character in terms of the story arcs and plot. And worse of all it is subjective with no method available to prove it. So, as far as Finn is concerned, when we see people on message boards or elsewhere describe him that way it takes on the same type of meaning. It is a lazy, reflexive and perhaps even defensive response by a person trying to justify Finn getting the shaft in regards to story, character arc, promotion, etc.

--- Double Post Merged, Apr 28, 2017, Original Post Date: Apr 28, 2017 ---

That's fine but this is not about what YOU care about or even what I care about. Okay? We can argue if any outcome of Finn's romantic life is necessary. But what's important is that a black male actor's romantic onscreen opportunities in such situations, now and going forward, isn't limited because certain sections of society aren't yet ready for certain pairings (even heterosexual ones).

 

Sam is the "heart and soul" of the Lord of the Rings and Sean Astin is arguably the co-lead (LotR is weird because it had two seperate plots going so you can argue that Viggo Mortneson, Ian McKellan, Sean Astin, and Elijah Wood are all the leads). I understand what you are saying but I don't think "heart and soul" immediately equals what you said.

--- Double Post Merged, Apr 28, 2017, Original Post Date: Apr 28, 2017 ---

Well as a fan it should to an extent be what I (we as fans) care about. I don't think anyone who actually likes Star Wars would care about an interracial couple. There will be those who disagree and they will be very vocal (because the media loves to push a racism story) but they won't be the majority.