*Spoiler* Han's fate?

Well I suppose one emotionally taxing scene from the prequels might be the execution of Order 66, but it's different with Han Solo. I do believe though that it's not so much seeing Han Solo die as that it's seeing Harrison Ford die. The man isn't exactly known for dying on-screen.

What for me also goes into it is the fact that my dad is not just about the same age, but that he and Ford actually look alike quite a bit. They even share the same mannerisms and that rather dry, cynical humor. Watching Ford in all those interviews and press conferences the past few months I couldn't help but think "Yeah, that's pretty much exactly how my dad would react to that question". So yes, it hurts.

 

Thoughts on this:

1. This does leave the door open for Han to survive. He was inot cut in two or beheaded (not that that stopped Darth Maul, as some mentioned), and as far as I know, the blade did not pierce his heart. If they are hoping for Han's return in Ep 8, they can shoot scenes for Ep 8 (and possibly 9, in advance) involving Han and decide later whether to use them. God forbid, Ford crashes another plane and isn't so lucky this time, or he is taken by some ailment - his death scene is shot and fully acceptable as a demise for the character. It's what you do when your biggest star is a septuagenarian daredevil. If the demise sticks, RIP Han.

2. After all that going on about the EU no longer being canon, they have gone and done Jacen/Darth Caedus/Jaina after all! Only Kylo Ren murders his father rather than his brother, which actually is a welcome development? So either Jaina/Rey will kill Jacen/Kylo, as in the novels, or maybe Leia or Luke will, or maybe Vader will return from the dead and do it. I doubt Kylo Ren reemerges into the light. Maybe he pulls a Sheev and kills Snoke, but stays (even more!) evil... seeing this tomorrow!

 

I felt it more emotional to lose Obi-Wan than to lose Han Solo. For me, I did not feel the same connection to the character that I felt in the original trilogy. This was essentially an old friend, but we knew his days were numbered. From not knowing his own ship anymore, to awkwardly being the dad of the galaxy's next super villain.

 

We weren't expecting to lose Obiwan. We had just met him, after all. Our only inkling that he would be exiting early was Vader's comment that "escape is not his plan." But because our acquaintance with him was so brief, I always thought Luke's great attachment to him seemed forced, so to speak, unless it actually took months for the Falcon to get to Alderaan's remains and thence the Deathstar (which would at least have been scientifically accurate.) Mark Hamill is a greatly underrated actor, and the way we experienced Luke's devotion and grief were almost entirely dependent on his subtly moving peformance.

Han, on the other hand, has been the subject of rumors and spoilers since his threatened holdout from Return of the Jedi. Harrison Ford, while still spry and full of commanding screen presence, is 73, was seriously injured during filming, was even more seriously injured crash landing a plane shortly after getting out of the hospital... It isn't longsuffering George running things anymore, but Corporate Behemoth Disney, whom I can see making frantic calls to JJ and KK, screaming "Write him out, nowww!" into their handies.

But Han is also beloved, and I fear that the apparent urgency of giving the character a plausible exit may make his death seem a bit senseless, again, if it sticks. It would have more resonance a couple movies from now, after we had gotten to know Kylo Ren better, as well as the circumstances of his fall. It also makes Kylo Ren seem irredeemable as a character, which is perhaps too early a reveal of that hand. It could prove troublesome for the storyline in the same way Anakin's baby massacre was to the later saga. And btw, if Kylo Ren is finishing what Vader started, wouldn't he of all people know that Vader had turned agaist the Dark Side and killed the Emperor?

More on all this to follow, after I have actually seen the movie.

 

No offense...but really?

 

Why would you want to know this before seeing the film??

--- Double Post Merged, Dec 18, 2015, Original Post Date: Dec 18, 2015 ---

Like everyone else said: pure, dead silence.

 

Killing Han Solo showed Snoke that Ben was ready for his "next tier" of training. That's why he "had to do it" and asked "can you help me?"

Kylo is destined to become an anti-villain, he's on the wrong side, he'll stay dark, but he's going to be the one who eventually destroy Snoke for all that he has done.

 

So Kylo is still a wannabe in training? A "badawan", if you will?!

 

Ok, this sure is a subjective topic, but I think the fact that makes Han's death more shocking and devastating is that he wasn't ready for it, he didn't expect that and that's why it hurts more. Obi-Wan atleast fought, and made it as his decision and we, just as Luke, can understand and respect that decision. The Han's death on the other hand is a completely different matter.

 

You can always learn more about the Force, even Yoda after all his years and all his training had not fully unlocked its secrets.

You'll note that Snoke only agrees to complete Kylo's training until after he's proven he can kill Solo. That's one of the reasons he "had too" and "thanked" Han for making it easy to do it.

Once he's powerful enough to kill Snoke, then and only then can he be free of the darkness. I'm pretty sure that's the trap that Kylo finds himself in.

 

I was also wondering if Han is gone for good. No body. No funeral. As for those who say he blew up, well it didn't show Hux, Phasma, or Kylo Ren leaving the planet either. I am glad I knew beforehand that Han was going to die, or I would have lost it. There were many sharp intakes of breath in our theater room, some people even vocally said "no!" I am still hoping he comes back to save the day in Episode 8. He could just have a cool scar on his chest now. My gut tells me that Harrison Ford is done with the character though, and Han is gone forever.

 

an uncomfortable silence. a guy in the row in front of me put his hand over his mouth and looked a tad distressed actually.

obviously we had all heard the rumours.. pretty much since the announcement of the OT cast being involved in the movie.
I never thought it would actually happen though, and i was strongly refusing to believe the rumours and posted several times on this site to say that disney would never kill off a main character.

from Han's first conversation with Leia... i knew, and from that point on i was pretty much waiting for it.

How do i feel about the Scene itself? i think it was a beautiful. He knew walking out onto that bridge what could very well happen, but he called out to his Son and tried to save him. Even as Ben/Kylo pushed the saber through him.. he delicately touched his sons face.

i think that once the dust settles it will be regarded as one of the greatest scenes.. but we will see.

How do i feel about Han Solo being killed off? Game of Thrones has de-sensitised me a little in this regard. I've become attached to so many characters in that, and they keep killing em off! lol. It was done well, and i think it has made me more enthusiastic about the Han Solo movie. Perhaps on some level that movie will have more meaning to us now that we know his eventual fate? only time will tell i guess.

 

@Maximus; I think I have been de-sensitized in much the same way.

@ThePurloinedFowl; Kylo Ren is attempting to follow in the footsteps of Darth Vader, who to him, was one of the greatest practitioners of the Dark Side. The character is delusional and conflicted, spending most of his time attempting to appease Supreme Leader Snoke, talking to Darth Vader's helmet, or destroying things in fits of rage.

 

When I saw the scene, while I was watching Han walking towards Kylo I just thought "I have a bad feeling about this." When it happened I covered my mouth with a muted cry. I sort of was expecting this but seeing it in reality is different. And the fact that they cut to Leia feeling it through the Force was even more poignant since I could see all their scenes together in the OT played in my head.(Yeah the "you stuck up, half-witted, scruffy-looking, nerf-herder", "I love you, I know", "Someone who loves you", "Hold me" etc. I know, have a soft spot for romantic stuff lol)

From all the speculation it would be awesome but yet kind of difficult he was still alive. However, you never know lol. What I really know is that Kylo Ren is way beyond redemption.

 

I think it's less force when you consider that Luke thought of him as an uncle after his own Uncle Owen dies. He's the last form of family that Luke has so it makes sense that he would be upset.

I think this is also supposed to be a mirror image in TFA because Rey considers Han as a father figure, or possibly her actual uncle?

 

His life flashed before your eyes ...

 

LFL'd better come out with several books between ROTJ and TFA at least to get a glimpse of their happy years.

 

I I kind of doubt that they are going to write Star Wars romance novels .

 

Come on, it's Disney!!! LOL at least something to replace The Thrawn Trilogy, etc. But if they want to keep the mystery alive during the sequels, I doubt they do something during these years lol.