ST The relationship between Leia and Chewie

I just don't think it was needed. The story needed to benefit and develop Rey. If Chewie and Leia mourned off screen it doesn't advance the plot or grow the characters. The point is they're sad and we see that.

 

It's not a question of whether it was needed, or not. This isn't a case of an implied moment offscreen.

In the scene in question Leia and Chewie actually are not only in the same scene, but in the same frame. The fact that they didn't even look at each other is a HUGE missed opportunity for two characters with that kind of history, and who actually were within a foot of each other.

A knowing glance between the two would have done. But instead the moment was missed, or sacrificed, by having Chewie walk off to help attend to a man he barely knows, while Leia has a touching moment with a girl she doesn't know either.

Now mind you I thought the Leia/Rey moment was powerful, and likely has deeper implications, but if all four characters were written true to nature? Leia and Chewie would have hugged, while Rey rushed off to follow Finn.

 

Yeah, that was a sweet but sad moment. Chewie has a lot to deal with now. TFA was his best movie, to be honest.

 

But does it really matter or need to be implied? It's not that big of a deal.

 

That would have been fine. But in the context of this film, Chewie following Finn also makes a lot of sense, as Finn helped Chewie when he was wounded on the Giant Freighter.

 

Part of the answer might lie in the "Star Wars: The Force Awakens Visual Dictionary". It states, "Despite the loss of so many loved ones, Leia simply never surrenders to grief. Leia's brother, Luke, speculates that the strength of her will is how the Force manifests in her." (pg 57).

No matter what the SW universe says; however, I still feel more should have been done. When Han died, I was in shock (as was the family next to me who kept repeating, "Oh, no they didn't" and "That didn't just happen" over and over again! I kept waiting for the recognition of his death by Leia and the characters and it wasn't until the movie ended that I realized that it wasn't going to happen. I think they missed a huge opportunity here. Even if there had been a short hug or a brush on the shoulder between Chewie and Leia, it would have made more sense.

The only reasons that I can come up with are:

1) Rey is Han and Leia's daughter and that's why it was more important to Abrams for them to connect and grieve than for Leia and Chewie. (Don't hate on me though! I'm am not 100% in any of the Who's-your-mommy-and-daddy camps when it comes to Rey's parentage. This just makes sense to me.)

2). Abrams just dropped the ball on this one and it was a poorly executed scene.

 

True, it was awkward that they didn't even acknowledge each other then. What was JJ thinking of not having them embrace there? And the fact that she approached Rey instead tells me Leia knows who she is. She must be Luke's kid. Because why else use that moment if she isn't family, too?

18 months...can't wait.

 

The actual stabbing takes place for about 20-30 seconds, that's a long time. Rey cries out, Finn look horrified, and Chewie lets out an absolutely gut wrenching growl. Rey sobs a bit when Kylo says "we're not done yet" and says "you're a monster" -referring to his death. Later we get a scene of a celebration with subdued cheers over a melodramatic score as Leia embraces Rey because she realizes Han isn't getting off the ship. We then cut to Chewie with his head down letting out a sad grunt in silence, alone. We get another shot of Leia in sorrow, as 3PO enters declaring he has much needed (because everyone is sad about Han) good news.

It was a big shock to see Han die that first time, even when I knew it was coming from the leaks, but to say the film doesn't address it is ridiculous.

 

Honestly it was regarding subtly like this where Kasdan told JJ he should trust the audience, instead of explaining everything. It's pretty clear cut Rey is strong in the Force and recognizes Leia's sorrow, Leia sensed Han's death earlier (as noted in the script) and she was waiting hoping he'd come off (how would Poe know Han didn't make it when he reports he's got eyes on them *the Falcon*). The two had only heard rumblings of each other to this point but they were united in their grief and share an embrace, it was beautiful really with the backdrop of celebration. Chewy is then shown mourning alone, maybe this is how he deals with things? The point is it's shown and there's no reason narratively speaking why Leia and Chewy mourn together besides for fan service.

 

An oversight from the filmmakers and nothing more, a very big oversight nontheless. Her and Chewie hugged when they first met up again.

 

Correct. It wasn't like Leia and Chewie never mourned Han, or anyone else for that matter. Let's not forget, Han wasn't the only hero to have died in that battle. It's also probably why Leia didn't go all out about a ceremony for Han.

But still, that one scene should have gone better, in my opinion. It was like Chewie either didn't see her or didn't want to blubber all over her about it. Or maybe he held a slight grudge against Leia, since he probably reasoned that it was her idea to confront their deranged son that got Han killed.

 

File this under "Things only people who post on SW message boards would ever even think to complain about"

 

Again, Chewie was running behind the transport carrying Finn, who is in critical condition. That's why he passes Leia. He's focused on trying to save the friend of his that's still alive.

 

That, too.

 

Again we see him mourning by himself. He walked by her, yeah, some people are very quiet at funerals and viewings- they internalize their problems. Chewie might just be one of those guys. The way they did it was fine.

 

The point of contention is not "Well, if you think about it this way..." or "Chewie's personality is probably such that..." or "Yeah, but we see them mourning separately in their own way..." or "If you look real close you can see Chewie is hustling after the medical transport" (if that's the case it should have been more obvious)...The point is that when watching this movie the first time, Chewie walking right past Leia without even acknowledging his just-killed best friend's wife completely took me out of the movie. Completely. It looked like an outtake for a gag reel. Chewie snubs her. Not even one glance or a growl...I mean, what??? The rest of the Rey-Leia hug scene I was just asking myself what the heck just happened with Chewie and Leia, and couldn't focus on them.

By contrast, in ANH, you get that great bit of Leia comforting Luke after Ben's death. "I can't believe he's gone." What a moment. All character, and no plot happening. And it doesn't take long or ruin pacing. Eff pacing.

What if, as Leia sees Rey exit the Falcon, we cut to Chewie, head down still inside the ship. Chewie then looks over to see Han's empty seat in the Falcon. He murmurs. Cut back to Leia embracing Rey...Anything but having Chewie literally go right past Leia.

To me it is a dropped ball by JJ. But it's not an insignificant one. Han's death was a huge deal to fans personally, and obviously to the story of TFA. So it's not too much to ask to have the reactions of the two characters who loved Han the most play out in a rewarding way.

 

It's not that big of a deal...to you. Thankfully we're all free to disagree.

It as a major dropped ball for me, quite a few people on this board, and....

Nope. My third time out I went to the film with two people who are absolutely no where near message board posters; I'm talking two people who enjoy the series, but can't even remember major story plot points from the PT and the OT. Both enjoyed the film but complained about the Chewie/Leia oversight within 10 minutes of the film concluding.

 

Congratulations for finding an outlier

 

For me, it's not that Leia snubbed Chewie or vice versa in any way - Leia knows who Rey is and is seeing her for the first time (in a long time?). Chewie knows what's up too and is giving them time to have a 'moment'. Rey is Luke's daughter, Han knew, Leia knows, Chewie would know and this scene is another pointer I that direction for me

 

Absoluelty. Chewie made it a point to hug Leia at the castle showing his connection to her, even after a long time. Horrible ball dropping for sure.

 

Totally agree! Even the slightest look would be better than now ...
Chewie and Leia not having contact after Han's death was a big complaint I had after watching the movie. Even the second time ...

 

Guys lets take a look at this from a story perspective. Chewie was a lovable, second-third string lead in the OT. He was Han's sidekick, and he's never even had a character arc. Leia was a second string supporting character who showed up in the final act for this film. The leads in TFA were Rey, Finn, and Han. From the perspective of pacing it would have completely derailed the finale to take time to show two lower tier supporting character's grieving- a scene which neither advances the plot, nor develops the characters of our leads.

It's a good example of why amateurs (myself included) aren't qualified to write material for these sorts of things.

 

Chewie couldn't see Leia because there was something in his eye.

 

The focus wasn't on Han's death it was quickly diverted to Luke.

 

Because Leia is racist