History Heartwarming / TheEmpireStrikesBack

** The smile on Red Two's face when he hears Han's voice over the comlink, as well as him contact Echo Base to report that he had found them.

-->'''Yoda:''' Size matters not. Judge me by my size, do you? And well you should not. [[YouAreNotAlone For my ally is the Force, and a powerful ally it is.]] Life creates it, makes it grow. Its energy surrounds us and binds us. [[You'reBetterThanYouThinkYouAre Luminous beings are we, not this crude matter.]]

** His entire demeanour during his battle with Luke in the carbon freezing chamber. Almost everything he says to Luke is a compliment, the biggest example being his "Impressive. Most impressive" when he's ImmediatelyProvenWrong by Luke escaping the carbon freezing pit after Vader had dubbed catching him "all too easy". Contrast this to how he treats literally anyone else he battles across the franchise.

* Han Solo and Princess Leia.
--> '''Leia''': I love you!
--> '''Han''': I know.
** Han has been upfront about his feelings the whole movie, and he's been pestering Leia to admit she reciprocates, but when she finally does, he isn't exultant or loving. He is serious and sincere, reassuring her that he ''knows.'' She lost everyone she knew and loved in the last movie, and it must be difficult for her to move on and admit she loves other people now. Validating Leia's feelings is more important to Han in his (presumed) last moments than any romantic declaration.
*** It could be taken another way: considering nobody, not even Lando or Vader, knows if Han will survive the carbon-freezing process, it could be seen that Han wants to spare Leia's feelings in case he dies. If he says 'I love you too' and then dies, she'll be left heartbroken. If he smugly says 'Yeah, I know, whatever' and then dies, well who cares? He was a jackass anyway, and Leia can find someone who actually appreciates her instead. He might have been trying to spare her in case he didn't make it out, playing it off as no big deal because he knew he might not survive the process
** Just before he's put into carbon freeze, Han stops Chewbacca from fighting (and dying) in his defense, and orders him [[TakeCareOfTheKids to take care of Leia for him]], giving him a purpose to live for. Had Han really died then and there, he couldn't have planned better LastWords to two of the most important people in his life.

* TheBigDamnKiss. Yes, Leia, you really ''do'' like him because he's a scoundrel.
** Another interpretation is equally heartwarming -- when Han said that line to Leia, she said that she "happen[s] to like nice men." Now Han is growing out of the [[LovableRogue charming but amoral]] guy he was at first, so this could be Leia acknowledging that he ''[[JerkWithAHeartOfGold is]]'' a "nice man."
** Also notice despite calling himself a "scoundrel", he's actually being nice (i.e he notices she's scared and is [[PetTheDog trying to make her feel better.]])
** All of these are made even more heartwarming in the French dub, which has changed Han's "I am a nice man" line into "I am a nice scoundrel".
* This one moment in the Millennium Falcon: 3PO points out the power coupling on the negative axis must be replaced, [[KnewItAllAlong Han]] aggressively retorts, basically, "Duh," but as he goes to Chewie, he whispers 3PO's info; indicating he wasn't wrong. This makes it one of the moments where he's actually useful.
* Vader allows Chewbacca to rebuild C-3PO. It's really HeartwarmingInHindsight considering that he [[Film/ThePhantomMenace built C-3PO in the first place]]. Clearly, Anakin Skywalker isn't as [[ThatManIsDead dead]] as Vader believed.
** Later, when Boba Fett readies his blaster to take a shot at Chewbacca, Vader actually stops the bounty hunter from taking the shot.
** Even more heartwarming when you see [[http://i.stack.imgur.com/R1dGS.jpg this]], even though the comic is possibly no longer canon. Someone please add this scene into the next [[GeorgeLucasAlteredVersion Re-release]].
* When the first transport gets away, all the Rebels in Echo Base cheer. These aren't just RedShirts, the Rebellion cares about each other genuinely and profoundly.
* Again, on Hoth with an AT-AT approaching Luke took a second to check if his copilot Dak was still alive before bailing out to avoid getting crushed. Of course, ideally you want to bring the dead back for burial, but war doesn't always allow for that. Even with a very nasty death on the line, though, Luke did the right thing and made sure that Dak was definitely dead before leaving him behind.

* Seeing Yoda laughing, goofing around, and offering to take Luke in and feed him, even if the foolish persona was only an act to test his patience. [[HeartwarmingInHindsight After you've seen]] how stoic and detached the Jedi could be in the prequels, it's nice to watch the biggest curmudgeon of them all show a little playfulness and simple generosity.
* A retroactive one: Film/RogueOne's sacrifice was not forgotten, as a squadron of elite badasses led by no less than Luke Skywalker and Wedge Antilles themselves are continuing the fight in their name.
** Also noteworthy: even though Luke occupies the first position in the squadron, nobody calls him Rogue One - they call him Rogue Leader. There can only be one Rogue One.
* After they escape from the Star Destroyer's radar when it dumps its trash, Leia remarks: "You have your moments. Not many of them, but you do have them," to Han, and kisses him on the cheek. His tiny smile says it all.

* Not believing Lando's HeelFaceTurn, Chewie proceeds to strangle him, with Leia's approval; C3-PO is the one to shout, "Trust him! Trust him!"
** When Chewbacca attacked Lando, had he wanted to, he could've broken his neck with considerable ease. He was angry and hurt at the betrayal, but had no intention of actually killing his old friend over it.
* After the release of ''Film/{{Solo}}'', Lando encountering the Millennium Falcon again after so many years is given new levels of heartwarming context. His comments to Han of "What have you done to my ship?", followed up by "That ship's saved my life quite a few times! She's the fastest hunk of junk in the galaxy!" are especially poignant, when you consider that the consciousness of his trusted first mate, L3-37, had been integrated into the Falcon's systems after her destruction. And at the end, when the Rebels escape, Lando, despite the dire circumstances, has to feel elated to finally be reunited with his beloved ship and, by extension, L3.
* The scene where Leia is briefing some RedShirts at the beginning of the Battle Of Hoth. Even when one of them expresses doubt she doesn't get mad or tell him to shut up, but instead reassures him it will work. Which just shows [[AMotherToHerMen how much she cares about even the low-ranking people]].
* Lando didn't hold it against Han even when he punched him, understanding what Han's feeling, so he let it slide. He even stopped his guards from retaliating.
** What gets Han so riled up to the point of attacking Lando was the revelation that his and Leia's capture was all just a set-up to lure Luke into a trap. Never mind the torture and the seeming betrayal that he was just put through, Han's biggest concern and cause of anger is the fact that he and Leia are being used as bait by the bad guys to hurt Luke.
* Dak asking Luke "Feeling alright, sir?" before they both take off for the battle on Hoth. It's a short, but sweet moment to see them bond like this, especially considering that Luke has just recently recovered from his Wampa attack.

* Captain Needa volunteering to take the blame for their failure, so his men may live. Even an organization as sinister as [[EvilEmpire The Galactic Empire]] was not without at least one stand-up guy.

** Also notice despite calling himself a "scoundrel" hes actually being nice (i.e he notices she's scared and is [[PetTheDog trying to make her feel better.]])

* This one moment in the Millennium Falcon: 3PO points out the power coupling on the negative axis must be replaced, [[KnewItAllAlong Han]] aggressively retorts his advise, but as he goes to Chewie, he whispers 3PO's info; indicating he wasn't wrong. This makes it one of the moments where he's actually useful.

* Again, on Hoth with an AT-AT approaching Luke took a second to check if his copilot Dak was still alive before bailing out to avoid getting crushed. Of course, ideally you want to bring the dead back for burial, but war doesn't always allow for that. Even with a very nasty death on the line though Luke did the right thing and made sure that Dak was definitely dead before leaving him behind.

* The BitterSweetEnding: After the heroes have been put through the ringer and Han has been taken, we see that our heroes are not beaten yet. Luke has been given a new prosthetic hand, Lando and Chewie set off to find Han, and we see that the Rebels were successful in escaping and regrouping, with Luke, Leia, C-3PO, and R2-D2 looking out a viewport at the massed Rebel Fleet, the biggest force of good guys we've seen in the franchise up to this point.
** From his hospital bed, Luke tells Lando, "I'll meet you on Tatooine." It's very clear that, even after getting beaten, Luke will not turn away from his friends. As soon as he's recovered from his injuries, rescuing Han is Priority One. (Reportedly, the original script had Luke decide to let others save Han, while he went back to his Jedi training. Director Irvin Kershner, however, felt audiences would hate Luke for not going to Han's aid, so the script was changed so Luke would go to Han's rescue first.)

** When Chewbacca attacked Lando, had he wanted to he could've broken his neck with considerable ease. He was angry and hurt at the betrayal, but had no intentions of actually killing his old friend over it.
* After the release of ''Film/{{Solo}}'', Lando encountering the Millennium Falcon again after so many years is given new levels of heartwarming context. His comments to Han of "What have you done to my ship?", followed up by "That ship's saved my life quite a few times! She's the fastest hunk of junk in the galaxy!" are especially poignant, when you consider that the consciousness of his trusted first mate, L3-37, was been integrated into the Falcon's systems after her destruction. And at the end, when the Rebels escape, Lando, despite the dire circumstances, has to feel elated to finally be reunited with his beloved ship and, by extension, L3.
* The scene where Leia is briefing some RedShirts at the beginning of the Battle Of Hoth. Even when one of them expresses doubt she doesn't get mad or tell him to shut up, but instead reassures him it will work. Which just shows [[AMotherToHerMen how much she cares about even the low ranking people]].
* Lando didn't hold it against Han even when he punched him, understanding what Han's feeling so he let it slide. He even stopped his guards from restraining Han.

* Dak asking Luke "Feeling alright sir?" before they both take off for the battle on Hoth. It's a short, but sweet moment to see them bond like this, especially considering that Luke has just recently recovered from his Wampa attack.

* Vader allows Chewbacca to rebuild C-3PO. It's really HeartwarmingInHindsight considering that he built C-3PO in the first place. Clearly, Anakin Skywalker isn't as [[ThatManIsDead dead]] as Vader believed.

* Again on Hoth with an AT-AT approaching Luke took a second to check if his copilot was still alive before bailing out to avoid getting crushed. Of course ideally you want to bring the dead back for burial but war doesn't always allow for that. Even with a very nasty death on the line though Luke did the right thing and made sure that the other person in that Snow Speeder was definitely dead before leaving him behind.

* Lando didn't hold against Han even when he punched him, understanding what Han's feeling so he let it slide. He even stopped his guards from restraining Han.

** All of these are made even more heartwarming in the French dub]], which has changed Han's "I am a nice man" line into "I am a nice scoundrel".

** When Chewbacca attacked Lando, had he wanted to he could've broken his neck with considerable ease. He was angry and hurt at the betrayal, but had no intentions of actually killing him over it.

* Dak asking Luke "Feeling alright sir?" before they both takeoff for battle on Hoth. It's a short, but sweet moment to see them bond like this, especially considering that Luke has just recently recovered from his Wampa attack.

*** FridgeBrilliance kicks in when you realise, of course Vader has some measure of regret for the cost of war. [[spoiler: It's his second one, after all. And how many friends and brothers and fellow soldiers did Anakin see die during the Clone Wars? He doesn't just know of the cost of war, he's LIVED it. It's buried deep, but he's still in there, somewhere.]]

* Vader allows Chewbacca to rebuild C-3PO. It's really HeartwarmingInHindsight considering that [[spoiler: he built C-3PO in the first place.]] Clearly, [[spoiler: Anakin Skywalker]] isn't as [[ThatManIsDead dead]] as Vader believed.

* A retroactive one: [[spoiler: Rogue 1's sacrifice was not forgotten, as a squadron of elite badasses led by no less than Luke Skywalker and Wedge Antilles themselves are continuing the fight in their name.]]
** Also noteworthy: [[spoiler: even though Luke occupies the first position in the squadron, nobody calls him Rogue One - they call him Rogue Leader. There can only be one Rogue One.]]

* Not believing [[spoiler: Lando]]'s HeelFaceTurn, Chewie proceeds to strangle him, with Leia's approval; C3-PO is the one to shout, "Trust him! Trust him!"
* After the release of ''Film/{{Solo}}'', Lando encountering the Millennium Falcon again after so many years is given new levels of heartwarming context. His comments to Han of "What have you done to my ship?", followed up by "That ship's saved my life quite a few times! She's the fastest hunk of junk in the galaxy!" are especially poignant, when you consider that [[spoiler: the consciousness of his trusted first mate, L3-37, was been integrated into the Falcon's systems after her destruction.]] And at the end, when the Rebels escape, Lando, despite the dire circumstances, has to feel elated to finally be reunited with his beloved ship [[spoiler: and, by extension, L3]].

** Also a funny moment. Han can't just say "I love you, too." (Even if the script said he should.)
** Plus, just before he's put into the Carbon Freezing chamber, the last thing Han says to Chewie is [[TakeCareOfTheKids to take care of Leia for him.]]

* Small but sweet moment at the beginning of the Battle of Hoth when all of the Rebels still in the base cheer when the first transport gets away. It shows the sense of camaraderie on the side of the Rebellion is genuine and profound.

* The scene where the rebel pilots briefly cheer as the first transport flies to safety, showing them to be more than just RedShirts.

* Dak asking Luke "Feeling alright sir?" before they both takeoff for battle on Hoth. It's a short, but sweet moment to see them bond like tis, especially considering that Luke has just recently recovered from his Wampa attack.

* Vader allows Chewbacca to rebuild C-3PO. It's really [[HeartwarmingInHindsight Heartwarming in Hindsight]] considering that [[spoiler: he built C-3PO in the first place.]] Clearly, [[spoiler: Anakin Skywalker]] isn't as [[ThatManIsDead dead]] as Vader believed.

* Lando didn't hold against Han when when he punched him, understanding what Han's feeling so he let it slide. He even stopped his guards from restraining Han.

* Lando didn't hold Han against when when he punched him, understanding what Han's feeling so he let it slide. He even stopped his guards from restraining Han for striking him.