MovieChat Forums > Star Wars (1977) Discussion > Should Han Solo have gotten a medal?

Should Han Solo have gotten a medal?

posted 4 years ago by Saenzwa9 (505)
10 replies | jump to latest

Technically yes...

but did he really deserve it?

He got Vader off Luke's back so Luke could make the shot the destroyed the death star. If not for Han the mission would've tanked, and Luke may have ended up killed to

Why would this even be up for debate? Well one could say Han didn't deserve it because he's either a coward, or a true mercenary. The rebels ended up winning, but they barely one. Had Han stuck around the entire battle more lives could've been saved. A pilot of his skill would have been invaluable during the battle, and maybe the victory could have come with less sacrifice

Yes he came back, and he was lucky to come back when he did. One may argue he just sat around watching the battle from a distance, then decided to intervene when it was convenient. All he had to do was ambush Darth Vader. He didn't fight anybody, and his life was never in danger. Did Luke or anyone else give a damn? No! In the end it only matters that Han Solo delivered results, but if one particularly had it out for Han these are some objections that could be brought up to deny him his medal

[–] [deleted] 4 years ago

[deleted]

[–] AckbarsRevenge (3800) 4 years ago

It was Leia's decision. She had a crush on Solo. The white bearded guy handing out the medals didn't seem very impressed.

[–] [deleted] 4 years ago

Dammit. Now I have to watch this movie again.

[–] AbercrombieJolen (70) 4 years ago

Han wasn't part of the resistance. He didn't owe anyone anything. He had already been paid, and was well on his way out of town. They were lucky he decided to come back. Luke couldn't have made the winning shot without Han's assistance. The real question is does Chewie deserve a medal just for sitting next to Han?

[–] GreenGoblinsOck8 (7983) 4 years ago

I maybe wrong but I thought the Millennium Falcon needed 2 people to pilot it and that both Han and Chewie were always operating it. Otherwise he wouldn't so often be up front next to Han in the movies.

[–] PaladinNJ (21772) 4 years ago

That's how I always saw it as well. When Lando took the Falcon into battle in Return of the Jedi, the little guy sitting next to him seemed to be as busy as Lando was.

[–] Ace_Spade (9658) 4 years ago

Yeah, it's either necessary or close to it. In the TIE fighter attack in A New Hope, Han hops into the gun turret and Leia sits at the controls, so I think the implication is that it's certainly easier to fly with two than with one. That said, there are instances of it being flown alone, so it seems possible.

I'm guessing that one pilot deals with immediate maneouvres while the co-pilot tracks operating systems (like shields), navigates, and/or operates weapon systems. So, Leia's probably helping Chewie track TIE fighters out of vision (radar?) or something like that. Maybe she's re-routing power from the chess game to the shields.

[–] Ace_Spade (9658) 4 years ago

I think he might have received the medal for his rescue of the princess as much as for his assisting in the battle of Yavin IV. Luke and Han get medals because they were instrumental in both operations, and in fact, they basically volunteered for the former. Okay, Han got money, but I'm sure Rebel pilots are paid, too.

Was there any other reason? Probably. Somebody else cited Leia crushing on Han - that's maybe a factor. But it also might be a bit of a lure. "Here's a medal, Han. You're super-brave and awesome. Oh, just, uh...if you're curious, you could join the, uh - yeah, yeah, we'd let you join the Rebels..." It might be a bit of a psychological manipulation to recruit him.

Occam's razor, though, suggests that Han was simply awarded a medal for a) rescuing Leia, and b) being the only reason Luke (and all of Yavin IV) aren't space debris.

Here's a question, though: why not have fighters skim over the trench during the attack runs to prevent the fighters from blasting them from behind? I'm guessing the AA "Space Flak" canons were too thick?

[–] MikeCable (1915) 4 years ago

If we consider all that Han was involved in (transporting, rescuing and helping people and droids), he did a lot and deserved the medal. I'm sure Chewie received a lot of appreciation and gratitude from various people even if they couldn't speak his language.

I am not surprised if Chewie's language barrier contributed to his limited role in just helping Han all the time. The writers couldn't do much else with him without Han around. I imagine the ride back from Bespin was quiet, except for when Chewie erupts at Lando to make him go get Luke.

[–] brux (14840) 4 years ago

In that world, what is the point of giving anyone a medal? They are rebels on the run who are always just one step ahead of death. It should be argued that there is no time or resources for partying and stupid medals ... kind of like how the Biden administration doesn't have time to diddle around they need to get stuff done, especially election reform, so every election from here to eternity is not just a fake rigged by Republicans election.

None of them deserve medals because the Empire is expanding and taking over and they are losing.