The Princess and The Smuggler

I've been watching Star Wars for the last couple of days. (I keep falling asleep so I have to continue the movie the next day- I fall asleep, not because I'm bored but because it's late when I watch them.) And by Star Wars I mean Episodes 4, 5, and 6 because I've never been a fan of the first three episodes. Plus, I love Han Solo and Star Wars without Han Solo is a SIN!

Anyway... One of my favorite parts about the original Star Wars is the whole Han Solo/Princess Leia UST (Unresolved Sexual Tension). Not that it's completely unresolved. Okay maybe we should say the ST. The first movie has them at odds with each other but you know they (or at least Han Solo) like are attracted to each other. And Luke... oh Luke probably needs to see a therapist after the last movie when he finds out that he's been attracted to his own twin sister. GA-ROSS!!

So the first movie has you thinking that it's going to be some kind of love triangle between Han Solo, Leia, and Luke. But there just isn't any chemistry between Luke and Leia- not that there should be on account of their being siblings. (*shudders*) But there is definite chemistry between Han Solo and Leia. She spends the whole time they're rescuing her from the evil clutches of Darth Vadar putting him down... that could have been the stress of the moment and the unplanniness of their (Han and Luke) rescue plan.

In the second movie, The Empire Strikes Back, the chemistry is compounded. It's almost tangible. Leia can barely stand to look at Han Solo, not because he disgusts her but because she is SO attracted to the "Scruffy looking nerf herder". But I doubt even she realizes the extent of her attraction at this point. Of course, someone as soundrel-ious as Han Solo knows that she likes him. And he likes her although I don't think he was planning on acting upon his feelings (at this point). He is wanted by a bad guy (Jabba the Hutt) at this point. His life is already all sorts of complicated.

Plus, she's a princess and he's a smuggler. They're all sorts of wrong for each other... or are they? *wink, wink*

But of course, halfway through the second movie, they kiss- stupid droid ruins it!- and I think they both acknowledge their feeling even if they don't express them. Even better! Their relationship doesn't change. They still bicker and snark (kindly-ish) at each other.

Han is a little possessive of her when another charming scoundrel, Lando Calrission, sets his sights on the pretty princess. I love how he takes Leia's hand from Lando's and pulls her away from the other man. Lando gets the message although he doesn't stop trying to charm her.

We come to the moment when Han Solo is led to the Carbon Freezing chamber. They share a passionate kiss before he is brutally tugged away.

"I love you!" Leia declares for all to hear.

And in his moment of awesomeness, all Han says is (just a smidge smugly if I may point out) "I know."

There it is!! They've finally acknowledged their feelings. Or more accurately, Princess Leia has acknowledged her feelings. Maybe Han Solo already knew his feelings... Yeah, I'm thinking he did. He's just enough of a scoundrel to know when he's fallen for a girl. And he's just enough of a scoundrel to not say it outloud- meaning the lack of his own confessions of love. (Despite this, we still love him for the scoundrel that he is!)

I've never before made the connection between Princess Leia and her mother... whatever her name is. Perhaps it is because I don't care much for the first three episodes of this series? Anyway, her mother, *runstogoogletolookup* Padme, falls in love with a guy most unsuitable for her station, Anakin Skywalker- who is also younger than her but I don't remember how much. Anyway, Anakin is training to be a Jedi Knight and she, Padme, is some kind of government official or something. They aren't what you'd call a "match made in fictional heaven". But they love each other and secretly marry and have children together. (Okay so Anakin goes to the Dark side in the midst of this and learns only of his son, Luke, and not his daughter, Leia, but you get the story.)

Like mother, like daughter. Leia has fallen in love with someone who is beneath her station. Of course, at this point in the history of the galaxy, it's not so scandalous because it's just a princess of a now blown up planet and a wanted smuggler. It's not against the rules or anything.

Okay, so Han Solo and Leia have now acknowledge their love for each other. That doesn't mean they don't still bicker and get angry and what-have-you. It shows you that even people from two different walks of life can make it. It won't be easy- and it's not for Han or Leia. However, to them, it's worth the fight.

I hope that one day, I can find a relationship like that. One that is worth the fight.

Until then, I'm content to watch The Princess and The Smuggler find happy ever afters as they fight the evil Empire and conquer the world.

Until Next Time,

 The Hopeless Romantic