CT Is Han Solo useless in ANH?

Han had no idea just how important Luke, Ben and the droids were. Ben says "no questions asked, let's just say we'd like to avoid any Imperial entanglements." Han wasn't an angel and never pretended to be. He was a brash smuggler who was hired for one trip to Alderaan. When Alderaan was destroyed the mission became something else entirely. That's why he walked away near the end of the film. He had that mindset of 'this isn't my fight, I just got pulled into it'. But his attitude changed.

 

The entire opening post is a big spin sounding much like those people who claim the Empire was actually good and the Rebellion was evil.

 

This is the latest in a series of threads from the same poster that to me are a total wind up.

 

*Pilots the ship the good guys need to move the story forward
*Helps Luke sneak onto the Detention Block to save Leia
*Provides a hiding place onboard the Falcon once the ship is captured on the Death Star
*Saves the day at the end with the last ditch rescue

And all this happens despite Han not appearing until about halfway through the movie.

So yeah, I'd say that's a no.

 

Seriously, how can anyone come to this conclusion with a straight face? The Han Solo character was an independent smuggler who got reluctantly drawn into a much larger conflict that initially had nothing to do with him. Just because his somewhat selfish sense of self-preservation meant he didn't want to get involved doesn't mean he was "useless".


In the end, he decides he actually cares about these people enough to come back and help them, despite the suicide nature of their mission. Given that he already has his money and can go and do whatever he wants, it is an entirely selfless act.

 

Exactly! Isn't it his 'save' that saves them at the end?

Vader: I have you now
[blast of a wingman/wingwoman, destroyed by the returning Falcon]
Han: Yeeee haaa!
Vader (and everyone): Whaat?
Other wingman/wingwoman: Look out! (saving their commander, by pushing Vader's ship out of the line of fire and taking the hit/crashing into the wall)
Han and Luke speak, Luke fires. The rest is history.

Pretty sure Han is crucial there right!!!

 

You're all clear kid! Now let's blow this thing and go home.

 

I ain't falling for this bait.

 

He saved Luke. And then saved him again. So I'd say he's pretty important to the galaxy.

 

Not even a little. By that logic, every protagonist who makes a mistake or acts on poor judgment is "useless".

 

Han Solo is not useless in ANH because he was a good team member, even if he was reluctant and mainly self-interested in the film. Plus, he came back and shot Vader's wingman down. He was lucky, certainly, since Vader was attempting to concentrate on Luke, and thus, all of his perception was geared toward Luke. If he hadn't been doing so, Vader could still have destroyed Han, given that Vader was the better pilot.

I think most people like Han for his portrayal in ANH and TESB. Harrison Ford didn't apparently want to be in ROTJ, and his performance in that film is a bit too comical for my taste. I liked it as a kid, but as an adult, I'm like, "Eh."

 

Han is clearly meant to be self-centered and primarily out for his own survival in the first film. Which is in contrast to him selflessly returning to save Luke in the finale, and his general behavior later in the series. It's deliberate character development.

Having said that, in his first scene on-screen Han agrees to provide transport off-world for a pair of wanted fugitives. Not exactly something conducive to staying away from "Imperial entanglements".

 

It was Obi-Wan who wanted to "avoid any Imperial entanglements" - not Han.

 

True. But getting involved with fugitives on the run from the Empire is not something likely to increase one's odds of survival.

 

Which is why Han charges extra.

 

Next thing he’ll be telling us that Daniel LaRusso was the jerk and Johnny Lawrence was the good guy in “The Karate Kid”..................<whistles>

 

Sure, 100% agree, Han was completely useless. OK, we are supposed to believe he helped destroy the Death Star, but anyone could have done that. If Han had not shot down that TIE Vader would have had a last-minute change of mind and in a split second would have turned to the light side and not have fired. Or else I'm sure a meteorite would have hit Vader's TIE just one second before Vader would have shot at Luke's X-Wing. Or maybe one of the other TIE wingmen would have lost control and hit Vader's ship anyway. Or maybe Luke would have Force-choked Vader. Anyway, Han in no way helped save Luke and the entire Alliance, not in the least bit. No, we certainly don't need Han in ANH. What was Lucas even thinking, having this Western-type trigger-happy character in SW? We all know the movie is supposed to be hard sci-fi and should be absolutely serious. It was originally meant to be something like 2001. But look what we got, a movie full of silly aliens, guys dressing up in black or white armors, walking dogs, Western gunslingers, princesses and farmboys. And those silly lightsabers? Who needs that in a serious SF movie?

 

Boba Fett once told Jaina Solo that her dad was a "smart barve."

 

what does that mean?

 

A smart barve like Han Solo always knows where his towel is.

 

Nope.

 

Who started this thread?

 

I think if you want to make a case for Han being useless or not needed then ROTJ is the film you should be looking at. Even then I don't mind him in ROTJ as much as others seem to.

 

Luke being blown up by Vader and the Death Star blowing up Yavin 4 say otherwise.