It's the 40th Anniversary to the best Star Wars movie ever, and my personal favorite movie of all time, #TheEmpireStrikesBack!
Even though #TheEmpireStrikesBack came out 40 years ago, it’s themes feel more relevant than ever in 2020. (SPOILERS FOR EMPIRE)
Luke Skywalker, Han Solo, and Princess Leia had an unforgettable adventure in A New Hope and became lifelong friends.
In Empire, they are all separated due to a powerful threat.
Han and Leia are on the Millennium Falcon inside a giant space worm, and they are struggling with cabin fever. And the only time they can leave the ship is if they wear a mask.
Due to the fact that they are stuck together, they start off hating each other because they are both so different personality wise. If you tell Han the odds of a plan working, he shuts you down and says "Never tell me the odds!" Leia on the other hand is more detail oriented and prefers to plan things out. Han Solo is focused on his own goals, while Leia is dedicated to helping the greater good. And yet they both develop these strong feelings for each other. They both compliment each other so well, and even learn from each other. Leia learns to love herself and be more vulnerable, while Han Solo learns to be more considerate of others and to care for someone more than himself.
Meanwhile, Luke Skywalker is on Dagobah, a swamp planet, where he has to train with Yoda in the ways of the Force.
While training with Yoda, Luke is anxious the entire time. He’s anxious to finish his training. He’s anxious to get his X-Wing out of the water. He’s anxious to be with his friends again. He’s anxious to take on Vader, even though Yoda and Obi-Wan Kenobi warn him he is not ready. Luke learns the hard way he should have listened to them.
When he fights Vader, he suffers damage physically and psychologically. He gets his hand cut off, and discovers Darth Vader, his worst enemy, is his father.
Luke Skywalker survives the fight, but puts his other friends in danger, and has to go to the ICU.
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| "Luke, I told you you should have stayed inside! Or at least worn a mask!" |
As for Leia and Han, Han Solo sacrifices himself for save the woman he loves. Han Solo is frozen in Carbonite and taken by Boba Fett to Jabba the Hutt. Han survives, but is frozen. Neither Leia or Han know that when they will see each other again, if ever. So they both let their love for each other be known. Leia, who at first was hesitant to be open about her personal feelings, confesses "I love you" to Han. Han Solo, who made his feelings for her obvious the whole time, simply replies "I know." And the two have to be separated for the foreseeable future.
This act of selflessness inspires Han Solo's longtime friend, Lando Calrissian. Lando betrayed Han and his friends by selling them out to the Empire in the hopes that the Empire would help his facility on Cloud City. It is only after seeing what Darth Vader does to his friend, Han Solo, that Lando sees the errors of his ways. Lando learns the importance of integrity, and the difference between doing what you think is right, and doing what actually is right.
In the end, the heroes feel the same way we all feel right now. Defeated. Lost. Isolated. Uncertain about the future. But strangely hopeful that somehow, things will get better. Eventually.
May the Force be with you. ❤️ 💫
