Each month, the fabulous Helen Lowe sends us ideas for posts - because sometimes, you get so caught up in your world (both the real one and the one in your head) that you just can't conceive of what to blog about.
I don't know if Helen was inspired by one of the comments on my last post, but one of her prompts about swashbucking rogues mentioned the one, the only, Han Solo. So, let's get our Solo love on.
What was it about Solo that attracted us (apart from the fact he was played by Harrison Ford - seriously, just look at that face!)? Why was it the bad boy, who wasn't supposed to be much more than a foil to show up how heroic Luke was, who became the star of the trilogy?
I've always kinda felt sorry for Mark Hamill. He should have been the one to come out of those movies a megastar. Instead, we've been gifted with decades of Harrison Ford.
I don't think it's just about the actors. I don't think it's about the fact Hamill had that accident and it changed his face. I think it was about the characters.
While Luke had the real hero storyline, he started off selfish and a whiner and I don't think any of us ever got over that. Whereas the first time we see Han he's poised, in control, and you bet your sweet patootie that he shot first! Not likeable, but still you see in the relationship with Chewbacca that there's something to him. Han knew who he was, and he wasn't apologising for it. Luke knew what he wanted to be, and did nothing to get himself there until circumstances allowed it.
In the end, I think that's the attraction of the rogue - it's his confidence. He don't care what people think, and we'd all like to be like that.
So let's drink a toast to Han Solo and his ilk - may we never lack for a good rogue!
What do you love most about Han Solo in particular, but rogues in general? I'd love to know. Help inspire me to write my own lovable rogue!
2 comments:
Hey Nicole, am glad the prompts are occasionally helpful.:) I think one of the essential Han Solo elements was the humor, both his own wry cynicism, but also the situations he charged into. Plus that you always knew he would come through in the end...
Oh, absolutely! That confidence and cynicism worked like a charm for me, and I think I was still in diapers when I fell for the man =D
Besides, you kind of know from the beginning only a man like him could win the love of independent and fierce Leiah.
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