What if Luke and Leia weren't siblings? What if they were together? Even though the revelations in The Empire Strikes Back and Return of the Jedi are great, it's worth noting that that was not necessarily the original plan. Luke and the princess shared a rather demure kiss in the first Star Wars movie, a perhaps not so demure one in Empire, and there was even a book that went on the assumption that they were romancing- Splinter of the Minds Eye by Alan Dean Foster. Which I'm sure makes interesting reading today!
As great a couple as Leia and Han are, I've wondered what Star Wars would have been like if Vader was not Luke's father, and Luke and Leia had been a thing. I think I like that idea better- sure the farm boy turned Jedi knight meets and wins the princess is a bit tired, though it wasn't quite as tired back when Star Wars came out. It could have worked... and after Return of the Jedi it might have been interesting to see how things went with a romance between the last Jedi knight and the leader of the New Republic. Does Luke go off into seclusion, does he stay around and form a new Jedi order, or does he hang with Leia and help run the Republic? That would have been fun to explore.
Or Vader can still be Luke's dad, that doesn't mean Luke and Leia need to be brother and sister. It wasn't until Return of the Jedi, after all, that we find out they're siblings.
They were just making this up as they went along, although obviously by the end of Empire Han and Leia were a couple. I'm just surprised at the ambiguity here if they were going in that direction.
I think Luke and Leia work better. The Leia and Han thing seems rushed. Yeah I know Han's the scoundrel. But I think Luke and Leia are the better couple.
So... what do YOU think?
You know, I've wondered if it was the plan all along for Han and Leia to be together. There did seem to be something brewing between Luke and Leia and when it was revealed that L & L were siblings, that was quite an ick moment. But if they hadn't been sibs, yeah, I'd like to have seen that relationship pursued. It is a tired trope but Lucas could refreshed it and made it new. But I think Han and Leia work too; there was heat there all along.
ReplyDeleteAs for what happens to Luke, I love the idea of him forming a new Jedi order. That would have been cool and so many possibilities.
Neat post!
I agree, what was the original plan? Would be fascinating to know, although I suspect it changed and morphed as they went along. I have read they went to extraordinary lengths to keep the Vader reveal secret, and also that Splinter was written as a sort of insurance policy in case they didn't make enough to get a sequel (or a big budget one). So when Splinter was written they were operating under the Luke and Leia.
DeleteI'd have liked to see it too, as I think that's where they were going originally. But who knows? Han and Leia do have that great line together at the end although when they hug at the end of Jedi it just looks so cutesy feely (maybe it's just me!).
And yes, a new Jedi order. I would like to see that, love that idea. Cause seriously, what else would he do?
Yeah, I see what you're saying, though it's difficult for me to see Luke and Leia together. I always figured the kisses were meant to make the audience cringe a little bit thinking about it. I agree with Bea, above - I think if they weren't siblings, they would have ended up together. Though I have to admit that I think Luke was too naive and immature for Leia.
ReplyDeleteI guess it's sort of the same idea as Hermione and Harry ending up together. I always expected - from the second book - that Harry would end up with Ginny. Everyone argued with me on that one. I do see that Ron and Hermione seem to be a bad match, but I don't think Harry and Hermione belong together.
Sorry, I just hijacked your Star Wars theme to a Harry Potter theme. :)
That's okay, more fun! These conversations are the joy of blogging,w e get to commiserate on fandoms. LOL. I think you have a great point about Luke and Leia, although I kinda like Luke's naivete around her, I think that's part of the charm. He's the young un on a hero's journey, she's the (older? I always thought so, but maybe not) more experienced leader. Loved their dynamic.
DeleteThank you for commenting, love this discussion!
Mmmmm, I don't know, I think she is better with Han. I just think that she is a woman and he is a boy in the way they act where she needs a real man or rogue in her life like Han - sorry is that sexist!!
ReplyDeleteI prefer them as twins! Great post Greg!
I know what you mean, Han is definitely more her equal.
DeleteI remember when I saw the movies for the first time I thought it would be Luke and Leia together, but I wondered how it was going to be resolved since Han was in the mix. And I have to admit I really like Han (Harrison Ford)!
ReplyDeleteI definitely think they were making it up as they went along...and they were very good at it. I certainly didn't think Luke and Leia were brother and sister and that Vadar was their father. That was all a great twist!
Me too, and I've always liked Han as well. It's only recently that I've even thought about this- as a kid I just accepted where the story went. And the twist WAS pretty spectacular- none of us saw it coming, i think!
DeleteI don't know, Greg. Like I said before I am really team Han on this one. I have read a bunch of books by various authors, about the Star Wars universe, some before the original trilogy, some after. I think Luke wouldn't have made Leia happy. She already knew who she was, like Han, and Luke was really trying to find himself. Which is why he goes off and starts the Jedi Academy later on. Good food for thought though.
ReplyDeleteTeam Han for the win! You might be right, like I said in one of the comments above, she seemed older than him and obviously more experienced, so yeah maybe Luke would have just been too young or naive or whatever. I don't know. And maybe Luke needs to be alone to do his Jedi thing. Fun to think about!
DeleteHmmm. I don't know! Luke is not my favorite character - I think he is a bit whiny. Lol. I am a big Han Solo fan though. :) I have a thing for the scoundrel type.
ReplyDeleteThe whole farm boy gets the princess thing though - I can dig that too. The Princess Bride is one of my favorite movies. :)
I like Luke, but I agree he does seem whiny at times, especially in that clip above. I can see why it's a deleted scene! And yeah Han is cool, I've always liked him.
DeleteI do think L & L were probably the original plan, and maybe they changed for story reasons. And it obviously worked, since the movies did okay. Han is more of an adult so maybe it's best. I just hope they're together- I get a sense from the trailer (new movie) that maybe they've been apart?
Love the Princess Bride!
I am pretty nervous about the new movie. Excited, but nervous!
DeleteI have heard that Luke and Leia might have been switched at the last minute - that Luke's character was originally supposed to have been female while Leia's was to be the male - Luke would be Leia, and Leia would be Luke. I wonder if that is true?
My husband thinks that Luke was never meant to be with anyone, following the "lone samuari" theory about Luke. He is just meant to be a jedi, alone, no distractions. The opposite of Han, really, who already has his buddy Chewy, and then ends up with Leia.
I'm the same way. From what I've seen, they're doing the movie right, but we all want to see different things so I'm afraid of being disappointed! That's interesting about Luke and Leia- I had never heard that.
DeleteI think your husband might be right. Just like Obi- Wan was reclusive and the lone Jedi, maybe that's Luke's role too. they seem to be kinda going that way...
I think of Luke & Leia not working just like Harry & Hermoine not working. There is love and affection between them but not enough *spark*. You are right about the plot changing. I had a set of empire Strikes Back trading cards that listed the ages of the characters when I was little. Han was listed as 24 Luke as 21 and Leia as 23 . That blows the twin theory away. And this deck was from Topps an authorized liscensee
ReplyDeleteInteresting! I had read that the book referenced above was written in case Lucas didn't get a follow up movie, or didn't have a big budget for a follow up- Alan Dean Foster was working off the assumption (at that time) that it was Luke and Leia. Of course later they started writing Empire and that changed...
DeleteI thought about it too, even if I'm a big Han Solo fan :) But not as the farm boy and the princess, rather as the last knight and the princess, a beautiful alliance !
ReplyDeleteSomething I always found interesting with their dynamic was how quickly their feelings for each other seemed to just disappear when they realized they were related. Now don't get me wrong, the ick factor could have been enough for them, but there didn't seem to really be any time for confusion - they just accepted it and moved on. It's been a long time since I've watched them however, and is definitely worth a revisit.
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