Han is not a gambler -- he's a cowboy ('Han Solo Cowboy' generates 1,040,000 Google hits versus 197,000 for 'Han Solo Gambler'). Look no further than the vest and the way he holsters his blaster.
Episodes IV and V Han: (i) shoots first, (ii) doesn't go looking for fight, (iii) pays for his messes, (v) is incredibly loyal and bails out/saves his buddies, (vi) is resourceful, and (vii) stoically accepts his fate (he had know way of knowing he would survive the freezing process). That's a cowboy.
Han's TFA backstories utterly destroys all that which is Han Solo. TFA Han: (i) has ditched his wife, family and friends, (ii) is unreliable in business and (iii) is more worried about retrieving the Falcon instead of taking down the little sociopath he helped bring into the galaxy. That's a scumbag.
The new TFA Han backstory is utter and complete cr*p.
If I were writing Han's final scene, it would start with him saying "Chewie, give me your crossbow. . ."
And from there -- in keeping with the Cowboy mythos -- a hard and stern Solo would proceed and take care of business, perishing nobly in the process. The end.
Taking a step back, the whole subplot (from Leia saying "bring him home" to Han's demise) is absurd. I'm surprised that there hasn't been more of a rejection by fans.
If you cared about the original Han Solo Character, you have to reject TFA.
Old rallying cry:
Han shot first.
New rallying cry
Han deserved better than patricide. |