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Han and Chewbacca’s first
jump into a larger journey
Solo: A Star Wars Story
Writers: Lawrence Kasdan & Jon Kasdan
Director: Ron Howard
Solo: A Star Wars Story is a love story.
Oh. Yes. But it is also so much more. Solo is a high-rolling serial adventure that soars among the stars while diving deep into themes like survival and freedom. It challenges its characters and viewers to clear up what you personally define each one to be. There are a lot of layers to this tale of how one of the greatest characters of all time got his start (and name). But make no mistake: This is a love story.
The love story isn’t about Han Solo and Qi’ra. It’s not between Han and his new crush, the Millennium Falcon. The tale of love told here is between Han Solo and Chewbacca. It’s the beginning of their lifelong partnership and friendship. A connection that we know will pass the test of time. Han didn’t know that at first as he was too busy basing his entire life around the girl he thought got away, Qi’ra. But it’s definitely about him and Chewbacca. Even Qi’ra has to tell him that at one point. Han and Chewie truly love each other.
All of this feeds into one of the sweetest and most touching moments in the entire Star Wars saga albeit quick and simple.
The moment when two friends set off for a lifetime of adventures as Han and Chewie jump to lightspeed for the first time as captain and first mate.
Han and Chewbacca’s friendship was born out of circumstances beyond their control. They were literally chained together and have to work together to survive. Yet they are quickly forged together through the missions they are forced to take. Chewbacca has a chance to leave Han behind, but he decides to stay during the raid on Kessel after seeing Han’s true nature and devotion to helping others. They’re tribemates now. As they fly out of Numidian Prime, Han having just won the Falcon from Lando, the iconic duo has already been through a lot in a short amount of time, but a lot more is about to come their way.
This moment is certainly served by the audience being fully aware of this. It plays on that knowledge. From meeting Luke and Obi-Wan in Mos Eisley’s Chalmun’s Cantina to all the events of the Galactic Civil War and, yes, even Han’s death, the audience has all of this burned into their souls by the time Han and Chewie are ready to make the jump. It’s a tug on the nostalgia heart strings for sure, but it’s an earned tug.
The levers click, the buttons tick, and Han even needs to flick a display to get it working. This is certainly the Millennium Falcon we all grew up daydreaming about. It’s fast and sheik, but you sometimes wonder if it’s going to work at all. Which is similar to the very dynamic of Han and Chewbacca. They are the best duo in the galaxy for sure (apologies to C-3PO and R2-D2) but you sometimes wonder how they work at all. And that is on display here as well, adding depth to a tiny moment. Han already has their next hairbrained scheme in mind and Chewie is dubious. Han asks when he’s ever steered Chewbacca wrong. Chewie has several answers; however, he knows it won’t matter. Han’s smile means they’re going on their next adventure. This is certainly the Han Solo and Chewbacca we all grew up rooting for.
Everything we know and love about these characters is swimming around our brains. It’s as if the whole saga is flying right before our eyes. There are moments in this movie where their adventures do begin in a literal sense. Even a great moment when Chewbacca takes the copilot’s seat for the first time. Yet, as they both reach their hands up and start to make the jump to lightspeed, we know that everything before this moment was the prologue. The funny story at the bar about how they first met. Now, as the stars start to blur and fade into streaks, Han Solo, dirty scumrat from the streets of Corellia, and Chewbacca, mighty son of the proud Wookiees of Kashyyyk, are not just jumping into lightspeed in the moment, they are becoming Han & Chewie forever.