The Visual Dictionary reveals that Maz was a mentor to Han, likely getting him started as a smuggler. It is, of course, ironic that his mentor was a secret Force user. It makes me wonder if she ever tried to tell Han about the Force and he rejected the idea as nonsense, thinking she was […]
Sith
Analysis of The Force Awakens — General Hux: Fanatical Madman of The First Order
As suggested by the junior novel Servants of the Empire: The Secret Academy, and confirmed in the Visual Dictionary, General Hux is the son of Commandant Brendol Hux. During the time of the Empire, Brendol, unimpressed by the Imperial recruitment system, conceived the idea of raising stormtroopers from birth in order to emulate the loyalty […]
Analysis of The Force Awakens — Snoke: A New Phantom Menace
Snoke is a very mysterious and intriguing figure who, according to the novelization, witnessed the rise and fall of the Empire. Where was Snoke during this time? Was he someone Palpatine was aware of, or was he lurking in the shadows, waiting for his time to rise to power? His disfigured visage shows that he […]
Analysis of The Force Awakens — Han Solo: From Cynical Smuggler to Believing Mentor
The portrayal of Han in The Force Awakens was one of the few things I was worried about leading up to the premiere. There were many fans I encountered who believed Han was the type of character who would never settle down and have a family, but that, to me, ignores his entire character arc […]
Analysis of The Force Awakens — Rey: A Hero’s Awakening
While Rey is in many ways an obvious reflection of Luke and Anakin, she also has a unique twist to her starting point. Unlike Luke, and even Anakin, Rey has no family to support her in her struggle to survive in the harsh environment of Jakku. There is no wasting time with friends or picking […]
Analysis of The Force Awakens — Leia Organa: A Princess and a General
Carrie Fisher’s portrayal of General Leia was a wonderful surprise. The lack of her presence in the trailers beyond a few brief shots made me worry that we would either see very little of her in the film, or that Carrie’s acting wouldn’t be on par with the other actors. But her scenes with Ford […]