Agreed. And it makes sense considering that:Originally Posted by Meister
1/ Force Users have always been a rarity, even during the time of the Republic. Until the Clone Wars, most of the galactic population had never encountered a Jedi. And even then, still most of the galactic population would have never encountered a Jedi anyway -- the typical refugee or fighter would've faced droids or clones. When the Senate sent Obi-Wan Kenobi and Qui Gon Jinn to end the Nemoidian blockade of Naboo, the Nemoidians freaked out as none of them had ever met a Jedi IRL. And Sith are even rarer -- even the Jedi had just presumed that the Sith had become extinct 1000 years ago, and during the Clone Wars there were very few Sith, with the movies explaining the Sith's Rule of Two, and it's true - we only ever see 2 Sith at any one time in the movies. Force Users in the SW universe are like a reclusive religious order. Even if most of the population may be aware of their existence, very few would have ever met one, let alone understand much about them. How many of us have ever met a Franciscan Monk or a member of the Amish community IRL? The Original Trilogy very much established just how obscure the Force had become. Aside from Han's dismissal, we also had this memorable conversation in Ep IV:
Darth Vader: "Don't be too proud of this technological terror you've constructed. The ability to destroy a planet is insignificant next to the power of the Force."
Admiral Motti: "Don't try to frighten us with your sorcerer's ways, Lord Vader. Your sad devotion to that ancient Jedi religion has not helped you conjure up the stolen data tapes, or given you enough clairvoyance to find the rebels' hidden fortress... hrrrkkkk--"
Darth Vader: "I find your lack of faith disturbing."
Yeah, I've seen these comments crop up online since yesterday, but in all honesty, it's nothing new. Han's character started developing way back in the latter part of A New Hope, basically from the moment that he changed his mind and turned back to help the Rebels destroy the Death Star.
"You're all clear, kid. Now let's blow this thing and go home!"
Of course, we see Han and Luke (but not Chewie?!?) being given medals for the part that they played in the destruction of the first Death Star. This is a clear shift from Han being the self-interested scoundrel to becoming someone who cares for others and is willing to risk himself for the greater good. Turning back and joining the Rebels placed Han in great danger, as he was unable to repay his debt to Jabba the Hutt. Han could have very easily followed his initial plan to abandon the Rebels and deliver his reward money to Jabba, thus lifting the bounty on his head.
The Original Trilogy is very much character driven, which IMO is what makes it so much better than the Prequel Trilogy. But yeah, it's great that Abrams is definitely taking Han as the character that he had developed into by the end of the Original Trilogy and running with it. He's not the selfish scoundrel that he was when we first saw him at Mos Eisley, because quite frankly he changed from being that character back at the Battle of Yavin.
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