Star Words: Episode V, Part 1
Dec. 26th, 2019 04:39 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
matrilWe're entering a different sort of territory here with Episode V. I began this series partly as a counterpoint to all those "Lucas-written dialogue in Star Wars is garbage" arguments, though of course it ended up providing a convenient entry point for deep-dive analysis of plot, character, theme or whatever else comes to mind as I write. And I'll continue to do the same for the remaining two films, though Episode V is the only episode in the six-part saga that doesn't include screenwriting credits for Lucas, and VI is only a secondary credit. While I'm sure the previous films contained dialogue not actually penned by the credited screenwriters, the bulk of it came from the saga's creator. Not so with Episode V or VI. However, the story in all its important details still belongs to Lucas.
Which is all a longwinded way of saying, George Lucas is a great storyteller and here's more evidence to prove it. ;)
Episode V is primarily about relationships. The plot is actually not that complicated -- it involves a lot of running and hiding. The Rebels are discovered and have to flee after a disastrous battle; Luke spends most of the time training in secret on a remote planet; Leia and Han limp along from one hiding place to another in a broken ship. The final climax revolves around our heroes' escape from Imperials -- not a glorious victory, but a piecemeal triumph with many problems and questions yet to be resolved.
And yet the movie is unquestionably compelling. Much of that is thanks to the foundation established in the first film, as we were introduced to the principle characters and witnessed their various interactions with each other. All of those introductory character dynamics will deepen and expand throughout Episode V. We get a hint of Luke and Han's friendly camaraderie as they exchange reports over commlink; we'll see more development there later. The big thing that shows up first is Leia and Han.
We saw sparks fly between them in the last film. Some time has passed; we don't know exactly how much or every detail of their interactions, but we can fill in the blanks well enough. Things are fraught. Every look they exchange speaks volumes. The very fact that they keep making eye contact, then looking away, refusing to acknowledge anything openly -- Leia pretending disinterest while Han talks to General Riekkan, Han pretending he doesn't notice her listening closely -- these two are such ridiculous idiots. I find myself doubting that either one has ever been in a mature, adult relationship!
Still, Han has grown a lot in other ways. He's planning on leaving, but this time it's not for selfish mercenary motives. Jabba the Hutt has put out a bounty on him, and he's endangering the Rebellion as well as his own life the longer he lingers. If not for that, it seems quite likely that Han would stick around. For high ideals, or only because he's formed friendships with Leia and Luke? Either way, it's proof that he's changed for the better. Anyway, the general understands and bears him no ill will.
"A death mark's not an easy thing to live with."
There's just something about this line that tickles me. I mean, thanks, Captain Obvious. A death mark does, indeed, make living rather tricky.
More seriously, I wonder how many others with sordid pasts have joined the Rebellion. It doesn't seem like they can afford to be too picky when they're so desperate for recruits. General Riekkan doesn't sneer at the notion that Han has gotten in trouble with a crime lord -- after all, his smuggling skills could be put to good use as a Rebel. On the other hand, I wonder if the Empire has ever attempted to send spies to infiltrate the Rebellion? Do the Rebels have any sort of screening process to avoid being betrayed? Maybe such infiltration is considered unnecessary, seeing how Vader's probe droids do the trick well enough. I'm just imagining the incredibly challenging process of recruiting Rebels -- finding willing pilots and fighters without accidentally drawing the attention of Imperials. All of this is ripe material for fan fiction, of course. But the death mark line has always intrigued me.
Next, the first of many heated exchanges between Leia and Han...
Which is all a longwinded way of saying, George Lucas is a great storyteller and here's more evidence to prove it. ;)
Episode V is primarily about relationships. The plot is actually not that complicated -- it involves a lot of running and hiding. The Rebels are discovered and have to flee after a disastrous battle; Luke spends most of the time training in secret on a remote planet; Leia and Han limp along from one hiding place to another in a broken ship. The final climax revolves around our heroes' escape from Imperials -- not a glorious victory, but a piecemeal triumph with many problems and questions yet to be resolved.
And yet the movie is unquestionably compelling. Much of that is thanks to the foundation established in the first film, as we were introduced to the principle characters and witnessed their various interactions with each other. All of those introductory character dynamics will deepen and expand throughout Episode V. We get a hint of Luke and Han's friendly camaraderie as they exchange reports over commlink; we'll see more development there later. The big thing that shows up first is Leia and Han.
We saw sparks fly between them in the last film. Some time has passed; we don't know exactly how much or every detail of their interactions, but we can fill in the blanks well enough. Things are fraught. Every look they exchange speaks volumes. The very fact that they keep making eye contact, then looking away, refusing to acknowledge anything openly -- Leia pretending disinterest while Han talks to General Riekkan, Han pretending he doesn't notice her listening closely -- these two are such ridiculous idiots. I find myself doubting that either one has ever been in a mature, adult relationship!
Still, Han has grown a lot in other ways. He's planning on leaving, but this time it's not for selfish mercenary motives. Jabba the Hutt has put out a bounty on him, and he's endangering the Rebellion as well as his own life the longer he lingers. If not for that, it seems quite likely that Han would stick around. For high ideals, or only because he's formed friendships with Leia and Luke? Either way, it's proof that he's changed for the better. Anyway, the general understands and bears him no ill will.
"A death mark's not an easy thing to live with."
There's just something about this line that tickles me. I mean, thanks, Captain Obvious. A death mark does, indeed, make living rather tricky.
More seriously, I wonder how many others with sordid pasts have joined the Rebellion. It doesn't seem like they can afford to be too picky when they're so desperate for recruits. General Riekkan doesn't sneer at the notion that Han has gotten in trouble with a crime lord -- after all, his smuggling skills could be put to good use as a Rebel. On the other hand, I wonder if the Empire has ever attempted to send spies to infiltrate the Rebellion? Do the Rebels have any sort of screening process to avoid being betrayed? Maybe such infiltration is considered unnecessary, seeing how Vader's probe droids do the trick well enough. I'm just imagining the incredibly challenging process of recruiting Rebels -- finding willing pilots and fighters without accidentally drawing the attention of Imperials. All of this is ripe material for fan fiction, of course. But the death mark line has always intrigued me.
Next, the first of many heated exchanges between Leia and Han...
no subject
Date: 2019-12-26 11:01 pm (UTC)Otherwise, not that long ago I began considering this particular scene myself as showing Han was already well-changed from A New Hope (although that might get to countering the tut-tutting that "he has no room for character growth left in RotJ, so obviously those rumours Harrison Ford was irate his character wasn't being killed off must be valid"). I suppose there could be a question as to why he hadn't tried to pay off his debt in between movies (the old Marvel comics did offer an explanation there right away, though), and have got to wondering a bit to what extent I saw his "having to leave" as "not being able to come back" (to say nothing of "the risk of giving the secret base's location away") before starting to think the "heated exchanges between Han and Leia" sprang from something a bit different.
Anyway, it is nice to be getting back to the saga.
no subject
Date: 2019-12-28 02:54 am (UTC)There are lot of interesting blanks to fill in about what happened between the first film and the second. Why hasn't he left to pay off Jabba? I agree that it might not be a simple matter of leaving and coming back...and I suspect too that he's especially reluctant to leave Leia when he senses something significant emerging between them. Han's character has clearly undergone some changes already, but there is plenty of room for more growth, and that's plain enough from how he continues to mature in the final film.