The DisneyStar Warstrilogy introduced fans to a whole new cast of heroes like Rey, Poe Dameron, BB-8, and certainly Finn. Specifically, by the trilogy’s conclusion inRise of Skywalker,fans noticed a diminishing role for John Boyega’s Finn. Fans expected many things from him, even things that were hinted at on posters or through the character’s behavior or dialogue in the movies, but none of them came to pass. For those who remember the originalStar Warstrilogy, Finn’s course is not all that different from fan-favorite Han Solo. This raises the question, is Han Solo the OT’s Finn?
Fan expectations rise and fallwith time. During the run of the Disney Trilogy, the hype and the speculation over Finn was rampant. So to was it during the Original Trilogy over Han Solo. Tellingly, Harrison Ford expected Han Solo to die in the sequel,Empire, because he believed there would be no growth or development for the character. This remained true for the Disney Trilogy, and Han ultimately met his fate to serve the defining crisis of his son Kylo Ren. Han was so “important” a character that his death was the best use of him. The same could be argued by some about Finn.
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FN-2187
Finn is established inthe Force Awakensas a runaway Stormtrooper. He becomes Rey’s friend and unwillingcompatriot in the Resistance, alongside his best buddy Poe. The first entry in the Disney trilogy hinted at two core things to his potential future trajectory. One, that Finn might have a crush on Rey. Two, that Finn may also be Force-sensitive. The first is expressed in awkward dialogue and interaction between the two (not awkward like the Prequel’s, deliberately awkward), or his longing gazes, and his inflated confidence to impress her. The second is rooted in his ease of use with a lightsaber at the end on Starkiller Base. It was a short duel, but it wasclear enough to make a statement.
InLast Jedi,Finn iswholly dedicated to Rey, but intersects with Rose Tico. In Rose, he is distracted by another potential romantic interest. He also takes a direct role in the Resistance to save the fleeing ships from General Hux’s molasses advance. By the movie’s end, he is ready to sacrifice himself totally for the cause, even though he is “rescued” by Rose. Nothing new is added except his sagging diversion with Rose to Canto Bight. There is no development with regards to his romance with Rey, nor his use of the Force.
InRise of Skywalker,Finn becomes a General of the Resistance with Poe. They go on a mission to find the Sith wayfinder to confront the resurrected Emperor Palpatine and his Final Order over planet Exegol. He is distracted by a potential romantic interest with Jannah, who, like him, is an ex-Stormtrooper. Again, no more romance with Rey and no more Force sensitivity. Nothing is resolvedexcept the conclusion of his feudwith Captain Phasma.
Han Solo
Han Solo is shown inA New Hopeas a smuggler and an underworld pilot. He becomes friends with Luke and Leia and an unwilling compatriot to the Rebel Alliance. Only friendship and allegiance are established for Han in the first of the Original Trilogy. He has a debt to Jabba the Hutt to pay off, but that is about it.
InEmpire Strikes Back, a romance with Leia is added to his character and agreater role in the Rebel Alliance, this time as a consultant of sorts. After escaping the Battle of Hoth and Imperial pursuit he leads the team to Bespin City and isexchanged to Darth Vaderfrom Lando Calrissian through an increasingly one-sided deal. From here on, he is basically cut out of the movie and becomes a literal object. He issold to Boba Fettas a consequence of the debt he owes Jabba.
ByReturn of the Jedi,Han’s romance with Leia is fulfilled and he becomes a General in the Rebel Alliance.That is basically it. Han got to complete his romance where Finn did not. Finn grew from a frightened defector into one of the leaders of the whole Resistance organization.
Much like Finn, fans of the OT expected Han to have a greater role in the trilogy. Instead, he remains a supporting character with limited reach in the story. In hindsight, fans love Solo for his personality and attitude not for his grand activities. In twenty years or so, thesame thing will happen to Finn. He will be remembered for his friendship to Rey and Poe, and his ethical turn from a Stormtrooper to a Resistance leader.Star Warsfans will not remember that he was presumed to have force powers or a romantic involvement with Rey, because those things never played out in the trilogy. They will be downplayed and forgotten. to end on a fun fact: FN-2187 is a reference to Princess Leia’s cell on the Death Star inA New Hope.
