There’s oneThe Empire Strikes Backline that totally set up Han Solo’s death inStar Wars: The Force Awakens, and it’s kind of heartbreaking.The Empire Strikes Backis largely seen as one of theStar Warsfranchise’s best movies, and for good reason.
The Empire Strikes Backendswith a bit of uncertainty about Han Solo’s fate, though fans now know that he’s freed from carbonite at the beginning ofReturn of the Jedi. However, when it came to returning for the sequel trilogy, many fans wondered which original trilogy trio members - Luke Skywalker, Han Solo, or Leia Organa - would survive.
It was ultimately Han who met his fate first inThe Force Awakensat the hands of his own son, and though that alone is tragic, it gets worse. As it turns out, one comedic moment fromThe Empire Strikes Backactually predicted this fate 35 years earlier.
A Frustrated Leia Insisted Han Would Be Wrong One Day
One of the best aspects of the relationship between Luke, Han, and Leia isn’t just how deeply they all care for one another, but also their banter. All three of them, but especially Leia and Han, have biting senses of humor that can make them be a bit abrasive at times.
During the escape from Hoth inThe Empire Strikes Back,Leia Organa insists to Han Solo that“Someday you’ll be wrong. I hope I’m there to see it.”Han had every right to be a cocky pilot, as his flying skills had been showcased over and over again. Additionally, thanks to his familiarity with theMillennium Falcon, there’s little Han can’t do.
This moment is one of the building blocks for Han and Leia’s relationshipthat will continue to take shape over the course ofThe Empire Strikes Backand throughoutReturn of the Jedi.Their snark toward the other is how they show their true feelings. Unfortunately, this moment also became a devastating prophecy.
Han WAS Wrong About Redeeming Ben Solo - & It Cost Him His Life
InThe Force Awakens,it’s revealed that the villainous dark-side user Kylo Ren is actually the son of Han Solo and Leia Organa. It’s explained that Han and Leia lost their son, Ben Solo, to the dark side, and he became Kylo Ren.
This event that happened offscreen is also one of the reasons why Han and Leia were no longer together, despite clearly still caring for one another.Both Han and Leia would eventually die trying to bring their son back to the light side of the Force, though it wouldn’t be until Leia’s sacrifice inStar Wars: The Rise of Skywalkerthat it would work.
Leia Organa
Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker
Han Solo believed he could redeem Ben Solo, but he was wrong, and instead, Kylo Ren uses his lightsaber to kill his own father.The moment was heartbreaking, and Leia’s reaction of no longer feeling Han in the Force is still tragic.Han being wrong cost him his life, and the worst part was that Leia wasn’t there to see it or attempt to prevent his death.
While Leia couldn’t have known that her words to Han while escaping Hoth would eventually come back to haunt her, it’s heartbreaking to think that she might have remembered that. The love between Leia and Han is legendary, and seeing them torn apart after Han was wrong about his son makes a small moment fromThe Empire Strikes Backeven more poignant.
