Heya! Recently, I've been exploring themes in Star Wars films as I conduct a rewatch, and thought I'd leave some assorted thoughts on the themes in Solo: A Star Wars Story. It's actually the first Star Wars film I saw in theaters... I guess I'm the odd one out on a site of lifetime fans!
Freedom
The Empire's reign is in full effect during the movie's timeline. We first see Han Solo as a young street urchin on the planet Corellia, desperate to escape a life of servitude under the control of his superiors. He makes a daring escape attempt with his girlfriend Qi'ra, but they are separated during their escape. To me, his vow to return for her and rescue Qi'ra shows his commitment to securing a free future for them both, and it drives many of his future decisions as he works toward a better future. Deep inside, he also isn't loyal to the Empire and is ultimately willing to give coaxium away to help the fight for freedom.
Identity & Loyalty
The theme of identity is explored as Han struggles to find his place in the Imperial Navy, but his rebellious nature and desire to do things his way leads to his expulsion. He meets Chewbacca, a Wookiee slave, and the two form a bond as they escape from the Empire together. Han and Chewbacca join a group of smugglers led by Beckett and Val, and they attempt to steal a shipment of coaxium.
The heist goes wrong, and they are forced to turn to crime lord Dryden Vos to repay their debt. The theme of loyalty is explored as Han and his crew navigate the dangerous criminal underworld and are forced to make difficult decisions to protect their loved ones. Han's torn between a few worlds-- he loves Qi'ra, but she chooses to remain with Crimson Dawn. To her, she has different priorities and has suffered in their time apart. In this way, core aspects of her identity have changed, and while she appreciates Han, her loyalties seem to lie elsewhere.
In all, I felt like Solo: A Star Wars Story did a pretty decent job exploring the themes of identity, loyalty, and freedom. The film's exploration of these themes adds depth to the Star Wars universe and provides audiences with a fresh perspective--and while the film does focus on Han, its character development for others is pretty decent.
What were some of your favorite scenes, moments, or themes from Solo?