graciecatfamilyband:

Me re-watching ANH on May the Fourth:

Omg every line Han Solo says is so iconic, why ?!

Omg look at how he is with Chewie. That moment when he pets him on the head, that moment when troopers are spilling into the prison block and he makes sure even Chewie is behind him (essentially trying to shield the Wookie from blaster fire with his own human frame).

That moment when he makes sure each of his companions- Leia, Chewie, and Luke, get into the garbage chute before him. The way he takes care of Leia in the garbage compactor as the walls are closing in- a woman he just met and will swear up and down he didn’t want to rescue- trying to get her on top of the trash to give her the most amount of time possible before she is crushed.

Those moments when he shuts up for five seconds and appears somewhat seriously reflective. He watches Luke deflect the remotes with the blast shield down quite seriously, in fact, and only resumes his snarking after. When Leia says he doesn’t care about anything or anyone, it clearly hits a nerve even though he doesn’t deny it. He shuts up for a second, and looks reflective- before again, resuming his usual defenses, teasing Luke about whether he thinks he’s got a shot with the princess. George Carlin said, “Scratch any cynic and you will find a disappointed idealist,” and I believe that’s Han Solo to a T. Nothing in his life has ever made him think life is fair, or that people get what they deserve, or that beings don’t suffer cruelly and needlessly and too often without justice, but his impulses often fight against that even against his better judgment. And these moments make me think he wants to believe in something or someone, but it’s never worked out for him and he doesn’t give himself over that easily, especially when, in his experience, disappointment is guaranteed.

He also has a healthy respect for danger, bravado aside. When they realize they’re heading toward a space station that is likely Imperial, Obi-Wan tells Han to turn around- and Han immediately agrees, no snark. When the Rebels ask him to stay and fight, he doesn’t say he could easily blow the socks off the Imperials but just doesn’t care to spend the time- no, he doesn’t want to die today, he’s no martyr.

When Luke refuses his offer of employment on his freighter, which would also save Luke from the impending slaughter that Han knows is coming, Han gives him a gesture of respect and friendship to carry him through that. Despite not believing himself, he says “May the Force be with you.”

Han’s seriousness when he walks down that aisle to get his medal. Not a trace of sarcasm in that scene, he is every bit as committed to that particular action as Luke is, no irreverence in that moment.

(And this is to say nothing of his defining moment when he comes back to the battle at the last moment and saves the day. He couldn’t stay away.)

His core, undeniable decency leaks out of his tough guy, sarcastic exterior all over the place in this film. Sure his exterior gets worn away throughout ANH until his decency shines through clearly, and sure, the rest of the trilogy deepens and completes his arc. But that core decency was always there and it’s evident in basically every scene.

(Also @otterandterrier thinks she spotted a dino-like toy and a glass of blue milk on the tech station, and upon examination of the scene, I believe she’s right. What a dork that man is, amirite?)

I love him you guys.

Originally posted by gameraboy1