Star Wars: The Force Awakens - 10 Moments Everyone Misunderstands

7. Why Han Goes Onto The Bridge

No, I'm still not over it either. The death of Han Solo was always likely to happen in The Force Awakens, but that didn't make the moment any less emotional. It is, simply, the most devastating death of any Star Wars film to date. Perhaps one of the most devastating in cinema, in terms of how beloved Han was for almost 40 years.

Worse still, though, is the idea that his death wasn't fitting for the character, that this is HAN SOLO and he should go out in a blaze of glory, while piloting the Falcon, with some fans complaining that his death was more about setting up Kylo Ren's character than it was a finale for the scruffy-looking nerf herder. Now, while his death does undoubtedly play a major part in the development of Kylo Ren (more on that later), that completely misunderstands the point of this moment and Han the character to say that it wasn't fitting, or it was all about Kylo.

When Han steps onto that bridge, he's got to be aware that he may die. But he also knows that he has to do it, and it's not just so Kylo Ren can become a better villain. It's because of Leia. They'd drifted apart, but she asked him to bring their son back. How could he not attempt that? He'd already got to be the Han Solo of old in this film, piloting the Falcon and trying to talk his way out of impossible situations, but this was who he really is, or at least the person we see him become in the original trilogy. He dies trying to save his and Leia's son, after she asked him to. It was necessary for the film and this new trilogy, but it was also perfectly judged, from that shout of "Ben!" to the last caress of the face.