Star Wars Speculation: 'Star Wars: The Rise Of Skywalker' Spoiler Thoughts

Now that nearly a week has passed, and I've seen Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker a total of five times, I felt it would be an appropriate occasion to discuss the film with no restrictions. If you haven't watched it yet, you can read my non-spoiler review and venture back here at a later date. Otherwise, I hope this clarifies my feelings about the film. 

**Spoiler Warning for all Star Wars films**

'Star Wars: The Rise Of Skywalker' Spoiler Thoughts

1) Rey Palpatine
To kick things off, the biggest surprise was the reveal that Rey's descended from the Emperor himself, Sheev Palpatine. I'll be honest and say that I rolled my eyes in the theater at this moment. One of my favorite things about The Last Jedi was Rian Johnson's decision that Rey's parents were nobodies. Anyone can be the hero of their story, regardless of their ancestry. Going into The Rise of Skywalker, I'd hoped that'd remain unchanged.

At first, I felt this twist was a betrayal of one of my favorite elements of The Last Jedi. However, I soon reconciled this as J.J. Abrams' intent unraveled. He and Chris Terrio were offering a complimentary message rather than detracting from Johnson's story. Your lineage doesn't determine your destiny. You have a choice and agency in deciding your future. In hindsight, I much prefer this to the other possibilities of Rey being a clone or biologically descended from a Skywalker or Kenobi. I don't view this as a stronger alternative to Johnson's proposal, but I think it holds weight as well.

It deepens her struggle between the light and dark side as she questions her own morality. This has been an underlying thread in the trilogy, but I love the notion that her noble and compassionate heart is stronger than blood. On the other hand, I still take issue with a few things. I loathe the line, "You have his power." I not fond of the idea that Rey's strength is attributed to someone else. She's strong on account of her own discipline. It's not because she's the Emperor's granddaughter. And that line seems made to dismiss the preposterous notion of her being a "Mary Sue."

2) Bendemption
By far, my favorite thing about The Rise of Skywalker is how Ben Solo's redemption was handled. I made an entire post about this topic and how I hoped it might play out. Above all, I love how his redemption relates to the poetry of the greater saga. First of all, it occurs on the remains of the second Death Star, which is also the site of Anakin’s redemption, where he made a choice to save Luke from the Emperor. There are deeper ties than that, though...

Anakin metaphorically died and was reborn as Vader in the lava of Mustafar. He faced a baptism by fire, which left him severely burned. With this fire came death, destruction, and pain. The evil Darth Vader was created. Towards the end of the duel between Rey and Kylo Ren on the oceanic moon of Kef Bir, she lands a fatal blow to Kylo Ren. However, rather than let him suffer, she heals him with the Force. In literature, water often represents life, rebirth, and purity. At this moment, Kylo Ren literally and figuratively died and is reborn as Ben Solo. It’s a baptism for Ben that cleanses him of his sins. This franchise is deeply rooted in spirituality and myth, so I love that Abrams and Terrio tapped into that.

One slight detail I've noticed in my successive viewings is that Ben's scar fades away as Rey heals him. Therefore, she heals all the physical wounds she ever caused him since she first gave him the scar in The Force Awakens. A beautiful gesture that underscores her kind heart in addition to further signifying his decision to be Ben Solo again. 

On top of that, there’s the beautiful parallel between The Force Awakens and The Rise Of Skywalker. When Ben Solo is left stranded on the planet, he's seen contemplating his next course of action. Ben's memory of Han Solo appears to console him. Ever since that fatal moment from The Force Awakens, Ben's been haunted by what he did to his father. It shook him to his core and left him more conflicted than ever. Han may not physically be there, but this time Ben can make things right. He can't undo anything, but he can choose to be better. To be a hero. Their conversation consists almost entirely of the same dialogue from their final encounter, but with a much different context. It provides a sense of closure between the two as Ben imagines how he desperately wishes that moment had happened.

I also love that the restoration of Ben Solo required both his parents reaching out to him. Only together, their final efforts bring their son back towards the light. It's tragic but poetic that Han and Leia each die in an attempt to redeem their fallen son. Han's death lingered with Ben, and, in tandem with the sensation that his mother is gone, Ben knows what he has to do. But he doesn't know if he has the strength to do it. Of course, Carrie Fisher's death made this hit home even more, but Harrison Ford and Adam Driver act the hell out of this scene, and it's stuck with me ever since. 

4) Ben Solo Comes To The Rescue
Perhaps, the biggest crowd-pleasing moment of the entire film is when Ben rushes in to help Rey. I'll touch on their bond momentarily, but it's such a triumphant moment when Rey passes his family's saber to him through the Force. In this sequence, he displays so much of his family's heroic bravado and even channels many of his father's iconic gif-able mannerisms. It's a phenomenal entrance and great payoff to his arc. Anyways, if there's one thing I'd tweak about the film, it would be for Ben Solo to live when all is said and done. I can accept his death and appreciate that it wasn't derivative of Vader's, but I still wish he'd survived. However, I really love that he was able to do what Anakin couldn't and save the one he loved from dying by transferring his life force to Rey. An upside regarding his tragic fate.

5) "Be With Me"

Another one of my favorite moments is when Rey hears the voices of the Jedi who came before. Heard in the scene are Anakin Skywalker, Luke Skywalker, Obi-Wan Kenobi (Ewan McGregor and Alec Guinness), Yoda, Qui-Gon Jinn, Mace Windu, Ahsoka Tano, Luminara Unduli, Aayla Secura, and Adi Galla. While I'd hoped to see several Force Ghosts, I prefer this approach because Rey doesn't really know any of them aside from Luke, so their appearance would mean nothing to her. I think this is a nice compromise that doesn't detract from Rey in the scene. 

6) A Dyad In The Force

Something else I really liked about The Rise of Skywalker was the expansion of Force-lore. I liked how J.J. developed the Force bond between Rey and Kylo Ren prominently seen in The Last Jedi, as physical objects transcend their connection (something first teased by Rian when Kylo Ren wipes his brow and water droplets appear). 

Concerning their complex dynamic, I find the continued contrast between them very interesting. Rey is dressed in white and struggles with inner darkness while Kylo Ren is dressed in black and struggles with an inner light. Previously, there was the angle that Rey came from nothing while Kylo Ren is descended from a dynasty of powerful Force-users. Now, Rey is related to the ultimate evil in the galaxy, while Ben Solo's parents are the embodiment of hope and goodness (even his grandfather brought balance to the Force). While I don't think The Rise of Skywalker thematically-rich as The Last Jedi, it's become abundantly clear to me that The Rise of Skywalker is all about the power of choice. As I alluded to earlier, your destiny isn't predetermined by blood. Only you can make the decision to be good or evil. 

7) Ending Where It All Began

The ending of the film sees Rey travel to the Lars homestead on Tatooine to bury Luke and Leia's lightsabers. She's asked who she is, to which she eventually responds, "Rey... Rey Skywalker" after looking to see the Force ghosts of Luke and Leia on the horizon. Then she and BB-8 gaze at the twin sunset. There's, of course, the reoccurring motif of "twins" with the binary sunset, the twin sabers, and twin Skywalkers, which I kinda dig. Then, I also like that Rey's chosen to take up the Skywalker name. I've seen a wide array of opinions on this, but it doesn't really bother me. 

After my initial viewing, I felt very conflicted about many decisions made in The Rise of Skywalker. It's been a process for me to sort them all out, but I think I've come to terms with them all and found a greater appreciation for this ending now that all is said and done. I'm not expecting to change anyone's mind, but I hope that my thoughts have inspired others to find a greater appreciation for the things that disappointed them or the aspects they also adore! 

There's plenty more to discuss, but I thought this analysis would be an excellent place to start. I'll continue to post about The Rise of Skywalker and the Skywalker Saga in the coming months as ideas come to mind.

-May the Force be with you, always!

'Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker' Review

Nominated For: Best Visual Effects, Best Sound Editing, and Best Original Score.

Synopsis: The surviving Resistance faces the First Order once more as Rey, Finn, and Poe Dameron's journey continues. With the power and knowledge of generations behind them, the final battle commences.

Runtime: 141 minutes

MPAA Rating: PG-13 (for sci-fi violence and action)

Who should see it? Star Wars fans eager to see the end of the Skywalker Saga.

At last, the time has come to talk about another new Star Wars movie... And not just any new Star Wars movie. Directed by J.J. Abrams, Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker concludes the nine-episode space opera, which first began forty-two years ago. Entering the auditorium, I was overcome with feelings of joy, sadness, and anxiety since I knew this story I cherished so much was finally coming to an end. Now, it's worth noting that this ending provides closure to the Saga while also leaving room for future installments. So we'll have to wait and see whether Disney and Lucasfilm maintain their stance on this genuinely being the end or not... Though, for the time being, this is it for the core saga. 

Those who know me are well-aware of what this franchise means to me, so naturally, it may seem that my opinion's slightly biased in the film's favor. However, I was very nervous about a good number of things. Before I continue, I'd like to preface my thoughts with a brief disclaimer, though... I'm incredibly gracious to have the opportunity to see The Rise of Skywalker early, so I'm going to offer my readers the same courtesy I'd expect from any other reviewer. I will tread carefully in writing my review to avoid even the slightest spoiler or plot detail currently unknown by the general public. At times, my critiques may seem vague, but I'll be more than happy to elaborate in a clearly marked spoiler review after opening weekend. It's taken time for me to process what I watched, and there was a lot of information to absorb. 

I want to start by addressing the elephant in the room. The Last Jedi is my favorite movie period. I have not been shy about this, but I am also aware of its divisive reception. One of my concerns regarding The Rise of Skywalker was that J.J. Abrams and his co-writer Chris Terrio might choose to "course-correct" and reverse specific creative choice made by Rian Johnson for the sake of mass appeal. I'm glad to report I didn't feel that was the case. However, when I returned to social media yesterday, I discovered a storm of controversy due to certain "retcons." I'll address this in more detail in my spoiler review sometime next week, but the magnitude of these "retcons" is being grossly overblown.

These "retcons" being answers to questions that fans have obsessed over since before the release of The Force Awakens. The answers actually altered my perception of the sequel trilogy as a whole, so I'm interested in rewatching it with them in mind. Still, I felt they made logical sense and didn't contradict anything previously established by Rian Johnson, George Lucas, or any of the other Star Wars filmmakers. For those concerned, I went into the film with a particular mindset of what I hoped wouldn't happen and was surprised that Abrams and Terrio convinced me otherwise on specific points. The execution sold me on the ideas I wouldn't have expected to like. So keep an open mind and go along for the ride before casting judgment. I'm still in the process of reconciling certain creative choices myself. 

Otherwise, J.J. Abrams absolutely delivers on the spectacle expected for a grand finale. The central lightsaber duel showcased heavily in the promotional material is unreal, and the final confrontation offers starship combat on a scale previously unseen in the franchise. I was also delighted to see Abrams and Terrio up the ante in terms of Force abilities. Needless to say, I was very giddy throughout and can't wait to experience my favorite crowd-pleasing moments with a packed theater of Star Wars fans due to the huge surprises in store! The technicality of everything ranging from cinematography to sound design to visual effects to John Williams' musical score was impeccable.

In a mega-blockbuster such as this, large casts are typical, and it'd honestly be excessive for me to discuss every actor's performance in excruciating detail. Therefore, I'm going to stick to the leads and significant supporting players, but know all characters, new and old, are great in it. If I were to single anyone out as a standout, it would be Daisy Ridley's Rey. This is the role that skyrocketed her to stardom, and this time around, Ridley offers her best performance yet. In her third and possibly final outing, Ridley feels more confident, which translates wonderfully to Rey's screen presence. Ridley also gets an opportunity to demonstrate more of her emotional range and excels on all accounts.

Opposite Ridley, Adam Driver continues to make Kylo Ren a very compelling character. Driver has quickly become my favorite actor working today, and he lends so much dimension to Kylo Ren with his multifaceted portrayal. This outing is no different, and Driver gives it his all! I was especially glad to see the unique dynamic between him and Rey further explored in greater detail because that's one of my favorite aspects of the sequel trilogy. Star Wars fans keen to see his devout followers, the Knights of Ren onscreen will be happy that they have some cool moments in the limelight. With that said, they're more-or-less an afterthought in the grand scheme of things so temper your expectations there. 

I'm sure many of you are rightfully wondering about Leia's inclusion, and I'll just say I was amazed at how J.J. Abrams was able to integrate archival footage of Carrie Fisher so naturally. Her presence lingers over the movie in a powerful way, and I'm glad to see Leia's send-off handled with such reverence. Among all the discourse which will surround this movie, I highly doubt anyone will be displeased with how she was treated. As for the other lingering inclusion, I was surprisingly pleased with the return of Ian McDiarmid's Emperor Palpatine. I can't say much else for fear of spoilers, but I was thrilled to hear his maniacal laughter once more, and his malevolent presence is stronger than ever! 

Returning to a galaxy far, far away, John Boyega, Oscar Isaac, and Kelly Marie Tran comfortably reprise their roles in the fight against the First Order as Finn, Poe, and Rose. The marketing for The Rise of Skywalker prominently featured the companionship between the trio of Rey, Finn, and Poe, and they certainly had a great rapport between the three of them. Regarding the beloved legacy characters of Chewbacca, C-3PO, and R2-D2, Joonas Suotamo, Anthony Daniels, and Jimmy Vee are as endearing as ever, and each has memorable moments! Rolling back onscreen, BB-8 continues to delight while D-O is a fun new droid companion. Then, of course, it was truly wonderful to see Billy Dee Williams playing Lando Calrissian again. He may be 82, but he's still got his trademark swagger! Meanwhile, the new characters Zorii Bliss, Jannah, and Allegiant General Pryde, portrayed by Keri Russell, Naomie Ackie, and Richard E. Grant respectively, were terrific additions to the sprawling ensemble. If I didn't mention someone, it's likely because they had a smaller part or have a surprise appearance, but the remaining cast members fulfilled their roles to the fullest!

At times, Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker is too overwhelming for its own good. The opening thrusts the audience right into the thick of it, and there's a lot of information to digest very quickly. Perhaps, the pacing will improve for me on repeat viewings, but that remains to be seen. It's not my favorite Star Wars movie, but it never needed to be. In the end, J.J. Abrams stuck the landing and delivered a finale that's epic, entertaining, emotional, and incredibly satisfying. 

Film Assessment: A-

Let's Talk About STAR WARS: THE LAST JEDI Behind The Scenes

If you follow my social media, you may or may not have seen that I made a video essay abut Star Wars: The Last Jedi. If you haven't heard and are interested in watching it, I'll embed it right here for you:

Now that you've hopefully watched it, I'd like to share some fun factoids, sources of inspiration, and any other Behind The Scenes content that may interest you! For starters, I made this video because I love The Last Jedi and felt like I had a lot to say on it which couldn't be expressed through a blog post. Secondly, I'd been considering making the foray back into YouTube and decided this might be a good start. I made it my goal to find something about the film which I hadn't seen covered extensively online while sharing my own interpretation of the film, and I think I was successful.

I figured I'd start with a script because an unscripted ramble would probably be disastrous and go on for far too long. That took about a week, I shared it with some people via social media, took their feedback into account, and then made revisions from there. That went on for about two-three weeks before I began recording. I was honestly surprised how long I wound up recording some sections due to mispronunciations and me fumbling over my own words. 

Here's a funny example:

Hey everyone! Enjoy this out-of context minute long clip of me struggling to say “Earth’s myths.” pic.twitter.com/Ym72DdnJP5

— David Weiser (@weiser_david) October 29, 2018

On that note, an interesting tidbit is that I scrapped all my narration audio earlier this week and rerecorded the entire thing because I wasn't satisfied with the audio quality. It's honestly still not quite at the level I'd like, but I was pleased enough with it and wanted to meet the deadline of December 15th so I settled. I did this multiple times to be honest...

For those wondering, The Art of The Last Jedi was probably the best resource for me when writing the script aside from the film itself and requisite bonus features. I found a lot of information in there which helped the idea of the video take shape. If you loved The Last Jedi, I highly recommend the book as it's very insightful. It has plenty of gorgeous concept art and lots fascinating commentary from the filmmakers.

Other factoids:  

-I included many of the Star Wars trademarks such as an opening crawl and wipe transitions. The end credits are even in the style of a Star Wars film as well. In order to do that though, I knew I'd have to somehow use John Williams' main theme... Only if I used the actual audio, the video would surely get a copyright strike. I then decided to put together an a cappella arrangement as a work around by enlisting help from some vocalists at my local church. We recorded during the week of Thanksgiving break and it was the first part of the video which was finalized.

-Early on in the process I made the thumbnail and crawl. When writing the opening crawl, I looked to The Last Jedi's crawl as inspiration for the proper wording. As for the thumbnail, I made a more simplistic version, but it was recommended for me to work in a person's face because that would help the video get more views. I decided to impose Luke on top and then changed the lighting and coloring to better blend everything together. 

-If you watch Star Wars Rebels, you may have caught onto how the World Between Worlds aesthetic influenced this particular graphic. 

-The most time-consuming part of the process was probably searching for specific footage on the Internet. You would be amazed at how difficult it was to find certain clips without a watermark, and in some cases, I had to settle for standard definition because there was no HD version available. 

Otherwise, I don't have much else to share with you. I hope you enjoyed the video as well as this post, and I'll catch up on all my film reviews soon as I've seen about ten films since my last review.

Star Wars Speculation: The Smuggler

It's been awhile since my last Star Wars Speculation, but I figured I needed to whip something together for this week's release of Solo: A Star Wars Story. After thinking it over, I decided to make this post the first in a three-part series. The series of posts will highlight each member of the Original Trilogy's protagonist trio and be titled The Smuggler, The Princess, and The Jedi Knight respectively. Naturally, I figured Solo would be a good starting point. It's also worth noting that I'll be incorporating a brief discussion of each character's latest tie-in novel for my analysis (Last Shot, Leia: Princess of Alderaan, and The Legend of Luke Skywalker) and I've reached out to my Twitter followers asking for their thoughts on these characters so I'll highlight their responses at the beginning of each post.

Twitter Responses

So, same as last time, if you wouldn’t mind answering these two questions, it would be greatly appreciated and your response may even be featured in my post!
WHO is the character of Han Solo to YOU? &
WHAT does the character of Han Solo mean to YOU? pic.twitter.com/nJufgz2CID

— David Weiser (@weiser_david) May 22, 2018

1) Han Solo was more than just a good smuggler and a crack shot. He was always one step ahead of the Empire. His sarcastic and cocky manner made him feel more real and relatable. Hero isn’t the word you would associate with someone like him,yet you find yourself more drawn to him

— Kara Byrne (@Kara_Byrne_) May 23, 2018

2) He’s charming and compelling. He’s the comical character yet comes across as the heroic figure. His sense of adventure is something everyone can relate to especially me, and anyone who’s best friends with a Wookiee, is awesome in my books.

— Kara Byrne (@Kara_Byrne_) May 23, 2018

1. To me Han is the real reluctant hero of the original trilogy. I mean, Luke’s hero’s journey is cool and all, but Han has always felt like the real beating heart of the story, the every man dragged out of his comfort zone.

— Beck Bros (@beck_bros) May 22, 2018

2. Han was the first “movie scoundrel” I ever got attached to, so for me, he was an example of how “flawed” characters are always the most compelling. I connected a lot with him, which might say something. Lol

— Beck Bros (@beck_bros) May 22, 2018

Han Solo to me is the smuggler who became a hero. A hero who became a legend just as his friends. He the best friend who can you get into trouble with and Get you out. His the greatest pilot in the galaxy, with the coolest ship ever.

— Kieran Bennett (@KieranMBennett) May 22, 2018

To me he means a man trying to do the right thing even if he know it’s not going to go well. When he tried to reach out to his son, Liea said your his farther, Luke is a Jedi. He knew he wasn’t going to end well but he never gave up.

— Kieran Bennett (@KieranMBennett) May 22, 2018

Solo: The Smuggler 

Han Solo can best be described as a scoundrel with a heart of gold. Over the characters' 41 year history, that much has remained constant. When we first meet him in the Mos Eisley Cantina, he's boastful, confident, and dubious that an all-powerful force could control his destiny. Han gets by on dumb luck, putting his faith into reckless action because it's proven successful more often than not. Why try anything else if you're good with a blaster and captain of the fastest ship in the galaxy? Han's the kind of guy that will try and talk his way out of a hairy situation till there's no other choice but to blast the problem away. Once there's no other alternative, he shoots first and asks questions later. 

Compounding his roguish behavior, Han Solo always looks out for himself first, his loyal Wookie companion second, and that's it. He couldn't possibly muster the motivation to care about anything else at this point. Han is initially driven by a selfish desire to save his own neck. He only agrees to help Obi Wan and Luke because the reward could prove useful in paying off Jabba the Hutt and getting the slug off his back. He's not a hero, not yet at least... However, Luke's virtue and worldview rubs off on him a bit as he slowly becomes more interested in helping others and begins to sees the galaxy through a different lens. He swoops in to save Luke at the end of A New Hope not for glory or more financial reward, but because he knows he's able to help a friend and now has a desire to do his part in the larger Rebellion.

Solo: The Scoundrel

Han had numerous chances to take the money, leave, and never return, but he's still around three years later when the Rebellion's holed up on Hoth. The problem is that he's scared of commitment and isn't quite sure he can admit to himself that he actually has a desire to stay. He claims to want to settle his debt with Jabba, but persistently sticks around to help out his friends. Just look to the first thirty minutes in which he journeys out into the planet's frozen wasteland to find Luke or later when he takes Leia and C-3PO with him and Chewie in the evacuation of Hoth. He doesn't leave anyone high and dry at this point because he's grown to care about these newfound friend of his. 

He clearly stuck around because of his feelings for Leia, and despite her harsh rejection, Han does everything in his power to ensure she reaches the Rebellion's rendezvous point safely. Along the way, Han charms the princess with his wits and willingness to protect her. He pulls all the tricks up his sleeve and slyly avoids the Empire by flying straight into an asteroid field, hiding in a cave (which turns out to be a space worm they must subsequently escape from), and then attaches the Falcon to a Star Destroyer before stealthily drifting away with the garbage en route to Cloud City.

On Cloud City, the group is met by an old buddy of Han's, Lando Calrissian, who turns them over to the Empire almost immediately for Han to be frozen in carbonite and delivered to Jabba the Hutt. It's interesting that Lando is a foil of Han as they both are charming rogues initially in it for themselves. Introducing Lando as a traitor only further shows how much Han's grown since we were introduced to him in that wretched hive of scum and villainy. Where Lando betrayed the Rebels for his vested interest in his mining operation, Han did everything he could to keep them safe.

And I believe that's why Leia fell for Han in the end. She realized there was a good man underneath the stuck-up, half-witted, scruffy-looking nerf herder exterior. Sure, Han's roguish charm probably played a factor as well, but I'd like to believe it was primarily because Leia uncovered his heart of gold and saw Han for who he really was. Too bad it had to happen right before he was frozen in carbonite and carted away for delivery to a slimy space gangster.

Solo: The Hero

Next time we see Solo, he's the one being rescued thanks to some harebrained scheme cooked up by Luke Skywalker. Once unfrozen by Leia, Han's shown to be suffering from carbonite hibernation sickness. In these moments we see Han, the cockiest man in the galaxy, in a state of unease and confusion and it's very telling that Leia's presence calms his nerves a bit. Of course he's soon captured once again by Jabba and his crew and taken to the Sarlacc pit along with Luke and Chewbacca, only for Skywalker to somehow pull off an insane escape by defeating the pirates and bounty hunters on Jabba's payroll and destroying Jabba's sail barge. The heroes ride off into the twin sunset.

But that's not all... The Rebels rendezvous to coordinate an assault on a second Death Star where Han volunteers to lead a ground assault on the shield generator protecting the superweapon. Here, we're shown that Han finally feels comfortable committing himself to the cause. He takes the mantle of leadership proudly and is willing to do whatever it takes to help the Rebels win this fight. The Rebellion is of course victorious and Han lives happily ever after with Leia. The End. Just kidding!! There's subsequently thirty years of vaguely explored history for me to tackle!

Solo: Husband and Father

One of the most fascinating elements of the sequel trilogy and subsequent new canon material is how they enables us to view these treasured heroes through a different lens. There were many things that were alluded to in The Force Awakens, but the nitty-gritty details are fleshed out in expanding multimedia arena of novels, comic books, and video games. I've detailed the more commonly known background of Han Solo, but I felt his feelings on parenthood were well-worth diving into as well because of how it further defines him as a character.

For instance, readers are treated to a glimpse of Han and Leia's early life together after the Battle of Endor in the novel Last Shot. Other canon material had already confirmed that Han and Leia soon married and Ben Solo was born a year later, but Last Shot offers an exploration of what Han was like as a parent. Ben Solo is two years old as of the events detailed in Last Shot, and it's revealed that Han was pretty uncomfortable about being a father because he was scared he might screw the whole thing up. He's shown to be apprehensive about how the entire ordeal and relieved to have an excuse to escape it all for awhile when Lando arrives on his doorstep asking for help at the start of the book.

Both Han and Leia wound up busy in later years so Ben was sent off to train with Luke as a result. We know from Bloodline that Han and Leia never told Ben the truth about his grandfather, and Leia's heritage is soon discovered and revealed to the galaxy. Since Ben and Luke were rarely ever able to be contacted, Leia wrote Ben a letter to try and explain the situation to him. However, I imagine Ben found out elsewhere and was subsequently seduced by the Dark Side only to completely turn to Kylo Ren when Luke tried to confront him and only made things worse (as depicted in The Last Jedi). The public revelation that Leia's related to Darth Vader happens approximately six years before the events of The Force Awakens and we know based on dialogue that Han is racing star fighters at this point in time, so I believe Han went back to smuggling alongside Chewbacca shortly after Ben turned to the Dark Side. 

I believe it happened at this particular breaking point because Han tells Leia, "We both had to deal with it in our own way. I went back to the only thing I was ever any good at." when they discuss redeeming Ben. Leia responds that they both did. Based on this dialogue exchange and information gleaned in Bloodline, I presume they both went their separate ways when they got news of what had happened to Ben. Around this point in time, Leia was practically shut out of the New Republic Senate because of her lineage. Meanwhile, she had just discovered hints of the First Order so she began to form the Resistance as an independent military force in hopes of countering any threats from remnants of the Empire. On the flip side, I believe Han resigned himself to smuggling because of his guilt.

I think Han feels partially responsible for everything that happened with Ben because he believes deep-inside that he messed it all up as a neglectful parent or something along those lines. Therefore, he went right back into the criminal underworld because he didn't know what else to possibly do. Then, in The Force Awakens, it seems to me that Han sees Rey as a surrogate daughter just as she views him to be a surrogate father because they share various skills and character traits. I think some part of him thought he reconcile his guilt by helping out Rey and giving her a place in the galaxy working alongside him and Chewie instead of waiting on Jakku for parents that would never return. 

I think this also contributed to his motivation to go to Starkiller Base towards the end because he probably thought he could help rescue Rey from First Order and have a chance at redeeming Ben's soul in one fell swoop. On that note, it's also very telling to me that he didn't confront Kylo Ren when he first saw him on Takodana. While there probably wasn't much he could have done aside from yell "Ben!" as he does later on, I think it echoes his fear of being a parent that I mentioned earlier. The difference being that he's more likely scared he'll make things worse somehow. Confronting his son and failing would mean he'd accept full responsibility for putting him down a darker path. I'm not sure Han wanted to add anything to his burden of guilt considering he already feels like he's failed as a father.

In the end, Han may not have been the best at settling down and starting a family, but his final act is irrefutably one fueled by love and devotion to his wife and son. The man who was once one of the most selfish in the galaxy commits to a purely selfless act to redeem his son. Han wants Ben back for Leia's sake, as well as his own, because neither could bear to think what had become of their son. So Han confronts his son and offers to help free him of his pain before being met with a lightsaber through the chest. As Solo begins to fall, he reaches out and touches his son's face one last time before falling to his death. Even while dying at the hands of his son, Solo still offers one last loving gesture towards Ben, which perhaps reveals more about Han as a father than anything else. Devoted till the bitter end. 

Conclusion

As of right now, I think that's about all I can say about the beloved smuggler, but we're sure to learn much more of the character's history later this week in Solo: A Star Wars Story. Seeing as I'd like to publish this post before then, I can't speak for that part of Han's life quite yet, but I'm excited to break it down in future online discussions!

-As always, thanks for reading and May the Force be with you!!