11 Reasons You're Wrong About Solo: A Star Wars Story

6. It Elevates Our Understanding Of Han

At a glance, seeing how Han Solo became the biggest cynic in the galaxy doesn't exactly make for an interesting premise. Han had always been a cocky, skilled, if not slightly-insecure smuggler who secretly harboured a selfless streak to him. The less that was said, the better, and Harrison Ford conveyed a whole lot in his performance each and every time he stepped into the character's boots.

And yet, Solo: A Star Wars Story somehow manages to improve on that characterisation. Like Rogue One before it, the film forces fans to reexamine how they approach the Original Trilogy, and while it never seemed like a story worth telling, owing to the fact that Han was already such a bright spot of the franchise, the character emerges for the better thanks to the efforts of actor Alden Ehrenreich, writers Lawrence and Jon Kasdan, and director Ron Howard.

Now, the Solo of the Original Trilogy is a character who's not only had to fight for his reputation, but one who also used to display his good side in full view. Underestimated in every regard - even by Luke Skywalker in their first meeting - Han's status as a man who, odds be damned, can achieve the impossible, is enhanced by the spin-off, and there's even genuine pathos to the journey as well.

For years, "Han shot first" has been a rallying cry for fans chagrinned by the most notorious of changes George Lucas brought to his Original Trilogy. Now, it takes on a whole other meaning as the moment where Han learns Tobias Beckett's final lesson, and acclimatises to the environment we meet him in years later at Mos Eisley.