Solo [Official Info] Emilia Clarke (Qi'ra) in Solo

Great analysis! I agree she made her choices. She was seduced by power and chose that over being with Han, despite deeply caring about him. She made an active choice to stay in service to crimson dawn. It was a surprising twist but a nice one that has great potential.

Now when will hasbro make a new qi'ra figure?

 

It's a PG-13 movie, but I think it's pretty clear that she's Dryden's sex slave/concubine. There's a Han/Qi'ra exchange that really drives it home:

"How did you get out?"
"I didn't."

To me, that says she's not there by choice. She didn't make a deal. She's Dryden's property just like she and Han were Lady Proxima's property on Corellia. Hence she didn't "get out" even though she's living in luxury now.

Also notice how Dryden doesn't hesitate to send Qi'ra on a likely suicide mission because she's ultimately expendable to him. The fact that he dresses her in fancy clothes and jewels while teaching her Teras Kasi is part of their twisted master/slave relationship. Think of 12 Years a Slave. Solomon Northup is basically his master's "lieutenant" -- he assists with building projects, receives praise and preferential treatment, he's even allowed to head into town alone. But he's still a slave whom Michael Fassbender's character can kill if he feels like it (and he almost does in one scene). That's the true horror of Solomon's situation -- even when it seems bearable, it's a nightmare. Same goes with Qi'ra.

As such, I don't think Qi'ra is attracted to powerful men. What's happening at the end is that she's seizing power for herself. With Dryden dead, she can take his place and have the money and power that comes with it. Love is nice when you're young. But when you're an adult who's struggled and suffered, you'd rather have money.

 

That was kind of my point, though. I never said Qi'ra ended up in that life because she's "attracted to powerful men", but that I find her an intriguing character because - IMO - she chooses to stay in that life because she wants a share of the power that Maul represents. Not because she's simply too scared to leave or just ends up going from one abusive master to another because she's too helpless to do anything else, which is how some early reports seemed to frame it.

It's pretty clear to me that she's Vos's concubine, which is what I said about the brand mark above. I think they made it a lot more clear than I expected from a Star Wars film. But another quote (I forget the wording) also says that Vos helped her out of a bad situation. Obviously Vos didn't do it out of the goodness of his heart. Obviously Qi'ra isn't with him because he's the man she'd have chosen for herself. But after being trapped on Corellia her life was obviously bad, and at some point she needed - and accepted - Vos's "help". Someone who "saves" you can also take advantage of you, that was my point. Like I said, a better deal is still an enforced deal when life gives you precious little options to choose from.

I just prefer to read Qi'ra and the choices she makes in this film not as a helpless victim, but as a survivor with a plan.

 

I mean, ROTJ had Leia in a metal bikini and chained to Jabba.

A little wrist tattoo was tame in comparison to that.

 

I disagree that she stays because she wants a share of the power that Maul represents. When Enfys Nest recounts the brutality of Crimson Dawn, Qi'ra instinctively cover her mark. That is not indicative of someone who wants to rise to the top of a crime syndicate for the sake of power. I still think she stays because it simply offer the best chance for survival above any other reasons. Leaving would mean Maul hunting her down, basically a death sentence for her.

 

Oh okay. I read this sentence and thought you meant she was with Vos voluntarily.

I do think it's important to note that Qi'ra being "helpless" or a "victim" (being a slave) doesn't make her a weak person or a weak character. In fact, it makes her much STRONGER in my eyes. The fact that she's persevered through poverty, slavery and abuse with her spirit in tact is incredibly admirable. Just like the real-life victims of slavery/human trafficking who survive and go on to live happy, healthy lives.

That's what makes Qi'ra's arc so satisfying. At the end, she finally has an opportunity to be in control, to make her own fortune, and she's going to take it. Even though it means losing Han again.

 

I don't know if it was Clarke's performance or the writing, but Qi'ra's motivation throughout the whole movie made no sense to me. It seems like they couldn't decide whether she was a victim or some criminal mastermind and she flip-flopped randomly between the two throughout. Interesting character, to be sure, but didn't quite work for me compared to the others.

 

I didn't get the sense that she was a victim or a criminal mastermind; the way that I saw it was that she tried to make the best of some tough situations while Han was trying his thing with the Imperial academy for 3 years. Eventually, she had found her way to Crimson Dawn, and close to Dryden Vos . When she was able to defeat Dryden Vos, she just took the opportunity that presented itself at that moment to take his place.

 

So I'm guessing if Qi'ra appears in another one of these films she'll betray Han and that along with Beckett's betrayal will edge him to becoming the man we originally met in ANH?

I wonder if Qi'ra life will mirror Kylo Ren's life in that she feels like she's gone too far down a dark path to ever come back?

 

She has lied to Han already by saying she’d be right behind him. She then proceeded to fly away and become a close partner with Maul. I’d say their relationship is fractured quite a bit. Han probably holds out hope he can bring her back, which won’t be successful.

 

I don't see Qi'ra being the equivalent of Kylo Ren; she didn't murder her own father for example. I don't get the sense that Qi'ra is ruthless or a crime lord. In her report to Darth Maul, she doesn't mention Han Solo's involvement. She tries to walk the line between loyalty to her friends and her own self-interest and preservation.

 

I didn't like the majority of this film but I love Han's look of devastation when Qi'ra abandons him.

 

I loved qi'ra and L3's scene together. Girl talk. When L3 leans in and says "it's just us (girls)" I got a laugh.

Regarding qi'ra -- did anyone see her forces of destiny short? Not bad

 

Yeah. Don’t trust anybody is a big lesson of this film.

 

Qi'ra was cool and Emilia did a good job. Hope we see her in another film. Loved the scene near the end with Maul. Very intriguing.

 

I also find it interesting in that she (presumably secondhand through Vos) has already picked up some of Maul's mentality. When Vos asks her what should be done about her betrayal, her response is that Vos should find out why she conspired against him, and then "take away something [she loves]." Camera pan to Han Solo, with the implication that Vos will kill him or Qi'ra will be forced to kill him. Where else do we see this concept for punishment? In TCW, with Maul and Satine and with Sheev and Savage. Whether consciously or unconsciously, I think Maul is passing down his Sith worldview to ordinary, non-Force Sensitive people. The Pykes and Lady Proxima choose the more typical response of punishment through physical torture.

 

Emilia Clarke did a much, much better acting job that she's being given credit for, IMO.

 

Qi'ra is definitely the most complex character in this movie. I wouldn't mind if Maul recognizes that she is strong in the Force and decides to train her. Her hand-to-hand combat ability and the decisions she makes at the end definitely set up this possibility.

 

It didn’t even occur to me that Maul might train Qi’ra in the ways of the Force until now. I don’t see them going down that road. If she’s to run into Han again that wouldn’t make sense that.

 

Darth Maul stealing Han Solo's girlfriend is not even a plot point the EU came up with.

 

I loved her character! She was gorgeous, capable and cunning. She will certainly be a shaping character within the GFFA and certainly a causation for Hans demeanor at the start of ANH. Hers is a character that I instantly gravitated to and I loved seeing the look on her face change there during her last scene. She's the one to watch!

 

Awkward first date scene incoming.

 

So BEAUTIFUL!!!

 

Lol, just posted the same thought on another thread. Man, I hope they don't go that way and a her and Han hook up in his darkest hour after leaving Leia or something which you could draw all sorts of conclusion from. The would be terrible.

 

very Interesting character. I really think that the situation at the end was rather simple. Mostly she was a realist even at the gate she understood the situation and told Han to just go. Here she knew there was little options. Running would only lead to Maul killing both her and Han. The only chance they both have to survive was for her to kill Vos leave Han and tell a story to Maul to explain everything away leaving Han out of it. I also feal that while she is attracted to Han she isn’t head over heals he is a friend partner at least that was the vibe I got. My impression also is Maul knows she killed Vas

On a side note her story line / tattoo is a little dark but no more the Leia’s.