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Star Words: Episode V, Part 34
Aug. 13th, 2020 01:00 pmBespin is a gorgeous place, a city floating amid the clouds. Thanks to Luke's vision, however, we're already tensing ourselves for the horrors lurking beneath the beautiful surface. There are ominous glimpses: in the hostile words of the guards directing them to land, and in Lando's initial angry appearance. Then he breaks the tension with a delightful chuckle, and things are looking light-hearted again. Bouncy music, bright interiors, friendly chatter from Lando. Han is downright amused by his old friend's transformation into a responsible leader.
Lando pauses for a moment, his buoyancy settling into something more wistful and nostalgic. It's these little glimpses of Han and Lando's shared past that provide dimensionality to their characters, an implied history that gives their friendship depth and nuance. Of course, if you know the betrayal that's coming -- and even first-time viewers know that some sort of danger is approaching -- you could interpret Lando's wistfulness as more complicated, perhaps the guilt of someone caught between betraying his friend or losing his beloved city to Imperial control.
In any case, he shakes it off and replies to Han's earlier comment.
"Yeah, I'm responsible these days. It's the price you pay for being successful."
It's a simple line, but I think it says a lot about Lando. As we'll see later, he's much more than a con man who tricks Han and company into trusting him so he can hand them over to the Empire for profit. Whatever his shady past, he has become a respected leader, and he's learned to accept that role. And I don't think it's merely because he endures it for the sake of attaining greater financial success. When everything falls apart after Han is frozen in carbonite, Lando makes a point of warning the citizens of his city about the Imperials. There's no monetary advantage to that; it only further endangers him. His priority at that point is people, not possessions.
Of course I'm getting ahead of myself. I just really like this line and what it illustrates about Lando's unexpected journey into becoming respectable.
Next, more ominous warnings of treachery....
Lando pauses for a moment, his buoyancy settling into something more wistful and nostalgic. It's these little glimpses of Han and Lando's shared past that provide dimensionality to their characters, an implied history that gives their friendship depth and nuance. Of course, if you know the betrayal that's coming -- and even first-time viewers know that some sort of danger is approaching -- you could interpret Lando's wistfulness as more complicated, perhaps the guilt of someone caught between betraying his friend or losing his beloved city to Imperial control.
In any case, he shakes it off and replies to Han's earlier comment.
"Yeah, I'm responsible these days. It's the price you pay for being successful."
It's a simple line, but I think it says a lot about Lando. As we'll see later, he's much more than a con man who tricks Han and company into trusting him so he can hand them over to the Empire for profit. Whatever his shady past, he has become a respected leader, and he's learned to accept that role. And I don't think it's merely because he endures it for the sake of attaining greater financial success. When everything falls apart after Han is frozen in carbonite, Lando makes a point of warning the citizens of his city about the Imperials. There's no monetary advantage to that; it only further endangers him. His priority at that point is people, not possessions.
Of course I'm getting ahead of myself. I just really like this line and what it illustrates about Lando's unexpected journey into becoming respectable.
Next, more ominous warnings of treachery....
