"I love you!"
"I know."

We see it often - the upper-class and the lower-class, the rugged and the refined, but it is never portrayed so believeably and memorably as with this classic couple. They go through everything from hillarious arguments to heartbreaking moments. How do we love this love story? Let us count the ways.


#1. Their banter.
Han and Leia's back-and-forth conversations are some of the most entertaining dialogue moments in the saga. They offer humor that's so great because it's personality-driven. Their conversations aren't merely written by a screenwriter to be funny - they're written by the characters themselves. Even the five millionth time over, after you know all their conversations by heart, they're still so entertaining to watch and listen to because of their chemestry and nuances.


#2. Their developing relationship.
A far cry from the stereotypical love-at-first-sight romance, Han and Leia' relationship grows over time (over THREE MOVIES, in fact), which makes them much more interesting. We get to observe firsthand the gradual process of their feelings for each other coming out. They may appear to hate each other at first, but even at the beginning, we can see a certain level of interest in each other (the way they hug after the garbage crusher scene - AWWWW!). It's fascinating to watch the tension between them both pull them apart and pull them together. Because we get to see their process, we are able to truly feel for them when they are torn apart and cheer them on when they are finally together.


#3. Their meshing personalities.
Simply put, they were MEANT for each other. They have a lot in common - both being stubborn, fiery, and sharp-tounged, but on a deeper level, they "fit" together in a way that few other movie couples do. Even if Luke and Leia didn't turn out to be siblings, Leia still would have belonged with Han. Han and Leia each provide the other with what they need: humbling, ability to admit that it's okay to be in love, a sense of belonging. If there's such a thing as matches made in heaven, Han and Leia are one of them.


#4. Their sincerity.
Unlike many movie couples that feel the need to babble I-love-yous to each other in order for the audience to buy that they love each other, Han and Leia's relationship is more believable because it's subtle. The audience can feel their tension, their anger, and ultimately their love. Since their romance is a subplot, the filmmakers know that it must be brought out without a zillion lovey-dovey scenes, but rather through the characters themselves, which makes their relationship all the more moving.


#5. The carbon chamber scene.
I know, it seems strange to list one scene as a reason to love a couple, but the carbon chamber scene really defines Han and Leia's relationship. There isn't much dialogue in this scene - only three lines by Han and one by Leia, which makes the scene all that much more powerful. It is a moment where both Han and Leia have to face something unfamiliar to them: true helplessness. Han especially is forced to face that there is a very real possibility that he might die in the freezing and there will be nothing he can do about it, and yet his attention is focused on Leia. It's a moment of true regret for both of them, having realized that they love each other all too late. There are so many little things in that scene that add to its heartbreak. For example, the kiss. It is the most passionate, most bittersweet kiss in the saga. But even more moving is the moment immediately after it, when the kiss is abruptly cut off by the stormtroopers dragging Han away from his love. Watch his lips there - they remain puckered, longing to stay in the kiss. Their facial expressions while Han is being lowered into the freezer are perfect - Leia so regretful and Han so...sad. And who doesn't love the bittersweet ad-libbed goodbye? Han's "I know" may seem to be arrogent, but the way he says it indicates the exact opposite. In his dying moment he will gain comfort from knowing that he is loved. Words aren't needed to express true love.




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