The galaxy far, far away has often transcended our understanding of what truly exists out in the far reaches of space. From desert planets to planet-destroying space stations, Star Wars has grabbed our attention and hearts time and time again. Over the course of its run, the attachments we made to our cherished characters were unmatched; and the severed ties will forever hold a place in our hearts. Here are five emotional roller coasters that Star Wars has put us through.
Order 66 – Episode III: Revenge of the Sith
We’re coming out swinging right away with this tearjerker of a sequence. Order 66 was the turning point of Episode III, and in a lot of ways the entire universe. It was an order made directly by Emperor Palpatine to every Clone commander in the fleet, echoing to kill every Jedi that they were in the vicinity of. From Commander Cody opening the sequence by betraying his General and friend, Obi-Wan, to Anakin terrorizing the Jedi temple with youngling murders, this was surely one of the most impactful scenes we’ve had in the Star Wars universe.
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Han Solo Frozen In Carbonite – Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back
I already know what you’re thinking and all I ask is that you take the time out to search your feelings. If you remember correctly, Han Solo was betrayed by Lando Calrissian, one of his closest friends. The deal was for Lando to give up Han to Vader in exchange for the safety of Cloud City and Vader’s promise to leave. After capturing Han, Chewie, and Leia, the gang is taken to a platform where, unbeknownst to him, Han would be frozen in carbonite as a test dummy for Vader’s plans. Not knowing if he would survive the freezing or not, Han is slowly lowered into the hole (queue the emotional music), as Leia utters the words “I love you” to him. Our hero, Han, hears this and replies with only two words; two words that are solidified in Star Wars fandom forever: “I know”.
The Death of Duchess Satine – Star Wars: Clone Wars (Series)
Not only is this a story of tragedy and heartbreak, but also one of minor hypocrisy. Obi-Wan has always had an unspoken love for Satine Kryze, the duchess of Mandalore. We follow these subtleties throughout the course of the Clone Wars, but in Season 5, we see Obi-Wan’s world shatter in front of him. After seizing control of Mandalore and luring Obi-Wan into a trap, the resurrected Darth Maul finally exacts his revenge on him by killing the person that he seems to have an emotional attachment to the most. Maul plunges his lightsaber through the Duchess as he makes Obi-Wan watch. She falls into Obi-Wan’s arms uttering “I’ve always loved you Obi” and takes her final breath.
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Han & Ben Solo – Episode IX: The Rise of Skywalker
Kylo Ren a.k.a. Ben Solo has always been in the middle of a fight for his soul. From the rough exterior we see in The Force Awakens to the layers of a sensitive child we see in The Rise of Skywalker, Kylo Ren is one of the most emotional characters that the saga has given us. We bear witness to the loss of Han Solo at the hand of his own son, Kylo Ren, at the beginning of the trilogy; but a resolution is much needed by the end of it. After battling with the decision of whether or not he should remain with the First Order, Han’s ghost appears to him in an act of reconciliation. Turns out, all little Ben Solo needed was his father’s forgiveness and the words “come home”. He then tosses his lightsaber into a sea of forgetfulness and joins Rey in her quest to defeat the Emperor.
Grogu’s Departure – The Mandalorian
From the moment Grogu popped into our lives in Season 1 of The Mandalorian, he’s stolen our hearts. The journey that him and Din Djarin, a.k.a. The Mandalorian, have endured has been one for the books. Mando has fought to keep Grogu out of the hands of Moff Gideon, who is an Imperial Warlord that leads a last remnant of the Empire and seems to know the true potential of Grogu’s power. Season 2 of The Mandalorian wraps up with Mando seeming to be cornered by Gideon and his army of Dark Troopers when Luke Skywalker makes a guest appearance to save the day. After defeating the Troopers and accidentally allowing Gideon to escape, Luke tells Mando that he’s come for Grogu and to train him until he is able to master his powers on his own. Before doing this, Luke tells Mando that since the bond between him and Grogu is so strong, Grogu needs his permission to depart. Mando holds Grogu for the last time as he says his goodbyes, promising to see Grogu again. Luke then takes the child away, ending a bond that we watched grow between Grogu and Mando.
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