History Tearjerker / TheForceAwakens

Thought everything was happily ever after when Palpatine was defeated and Anakin was redeemed? [[HappyEndingOverride Think again]]. ''The Force Awakens'' proves there's still a galaxy of tears left to be shed.

*** Especially after Creator/CarrieFisher's death in December 2016.

* [[http://www.themarysue.com/that-kylo-ren-scene-in-the-force-awakens/#comment-2420804585 This quote]] from a fan nails the essence of the scene.
-->Han, the ultimate cynic and loner goes out with an act of pure faith and love. It was perfection.

* Furthermore, when Rey finally finds Luke Skywalker, you see that there appears to be a little memorial in front of Luke. Did he build that himself? And how must he have felt, knowing that because of his failure with Ben, his closest friend was killed? [[spoiler:And then [[Film/TheLastJedi it turns out that, having cut himself off from the Force, he didn't feel Han's death]].]]
* [[https://40.media.tumblr.com/a1aefcbb03608c3380a0e0fec84fad8b/tumblr_o0vd5jyzno1v4w5yvo1_500.jpg Don't worry, Ben. Uncle Chewie won't hurt you...]]
* [[https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CcZHujnUAAAQdtH.jpg In Memoriam of Han Solo]]

* The destruction of the Hosnian System by the Starkiller Base. Picture [[Film/ANewHope Alderaan]]'s destruction, then picture '''FIVE''' Alderaan-sized planets being destroyed simultaneously. It also helps the sadness that this time, we get to see the reactions of the people on the planets as they scream in terror of the impending doom from the sky.

** The looks on Luke and Rey's faces as they stare at each other, and the complete ambiguity of what they mean. Rey could be holding the lightsaber out to Luke like "here, look what I have, am I worthy to learn?" or "here, this burden is yours, take it from me." Likewise, Luke could be looking at Rey thinking "At last, the Force has guided the right apprentice to me," or "I don't know if I have the strength to go through this all again." Rey isn't sure what she wants, Luke isn't sure if he can give it to her, and the doubt and possibility in that one, lingering shot is the most emotionally powerful moment in the film. No wonder fans thought this moment was ruined when Luke threw away the lightsaber in ''Film/TheLastJedi''.

** The looks on Luke and Rey's faces as they stare at each other, and the complete ambiguity of what they mean. Rey could be holding the lightsaber out to Luke like "here, look what I have, am I worthy to learn?" or "here, this burden is yours, take it from me." Likewise, Luke could be looking at Rey thinking "At last, the Force has guided the right apprentice to me," or "I don't know if I have the strength to go through this all again." Rey isn't sure what she wants, Luke isn't sure if he can give it to her, and the doubt and possibility in that one, lingering shot is the most emotionally powerful moment in the film. No wonder fans thought this moment was ruined when Luke threw away the lightsaber in TheLastJedi.

** According to the ''[[AllThereInTheManual Visual Dictionary]]'', not only was he one of Finn's squadmates during training, but he was also [[ButtMonkey so inadequate at being a soldier]] that the rest of his squad (sans Finn) made fun of him on a regular basis. Not only that, it was so bad that Phasma reprimanded Finn for protecting him and ordered Finn to ''just let him die the next time he gets in trouble''.

** According to the ''[[AllThereInTheManual Visual Dictionary]]'', not only was he one of Finn's squadmates during training, but he was also [[ButtMonkey so inadequate at being a soldier]] that the rest of his squad (sans Finn) made fun of him on a regular basis. Phasma even reprimanded Finn for defending him and told Finn to ''just let him die next time''.

** According to the ''[[AllThereInTheManual Visual Dictionary]]'', not only was he one of Finn's squadmates during training, but he was also [[ButtMonkey so inadequate at being a soldier]] that the rest of his squad (sans Finn) made fun of him on a regular basis.

* Furthermore, when Rey finally finds Luke Skywalker, you see that there appears to be a little memorial in front of Luke. Did he build that himself? And how must he have felt, knowing that because of his failure with Ben, his closest friend was killed?

'''Spoilers Are Unmarked'''

* For those that read Expanded Universe, the real tear jerker is that, regardless which universe, Han's son is destined to fall to the Dark Side, the difference being that Ben is an only child while Jacen had a twin sister and a younger brother.

* For those that read Expanded Universe, the real tear jerker is that, regardless which universe, Han's son is destined to fall to the Dark Side.

** Han's death can be likened to the deaths of many other iconic characters, such as ComicBook/{{Superman}}, [[Film/StarTrekIITheWrathOfKhan Spock]], [[AnimatedFilm/TheTransformersTheMovie Optimus Prime]], [[WesternAnimation/SouthPark Kenny]] (when he died for real in the fifth season), [[Film/GodzillaVsDestoroyah Godzilla]], and Col. Henry Blake, just to name a few. Even though Superman, Spock, Optimus, and Kenny came back (Kenny dies as a running gag, and almost every subsequent incarnation of Optimus Prime has died and come back to the point it's practically like a power-nap), Han Solo stands with them.

** The looks on Luke and Rey's faces as they stare at each other, and the complete ambiguity of what they mean. Rey could be holding the lightsaber out to Luke like "here, look what I have, am I worthy to learn?" or "here, this burden is yours, take it from me." Likewise, Luke could be looking at Rey thinking "At last, the Force has guided the right apprentice to me," or "I don't know if I have the strength to go through this all again." Rey isn't sure what she wants, Luke isn't sure if he can give it to her, and the doubt and possibility in that one, lingering shot is the most emotionally powerful moment in the film.
*** Oh, and Rian Johnson, the director of ''Film/TheLastJedi'', has confirmed that the movie is going to be an ImmediateSequel. That's right -- ''we're going to SEE their conversation immediately following that scene''. Whatever they have to say to one another, it'll be emotional.

For details regarding the major spoiler and major twist of this movie, check the folder at the bottom of the page.

[[foldercontrol]]

[[folder:The Film]]

** ''Entertainment Weekly'' describes that Han actually settled down and helped raise a family of his own during the TimeSkip... only for some tragedy to cause a rift between them. By the beginning of ''The Force Awakens'', he doesn't even have his prized ''Millennium Falcon'', and Chewbacca is the only one keeping him company. Said tragedy turns out to be [[spoiler:his son]] was Force-sensitive and went to be trained by Luke but something happened because of Snoke, and [[spoiler:Ben Solo]] is now Kylo Ren.

* On Takodana when Han sees [[spoiler:his son]] from a distance, there is so much sorrow and pain his eyes. It's probably the first time he's seen him in years.
* While Han and Leia discuss [[spoiler:their son]], Han states his belief that what caused [[spoiler:Ben's]] fall to the Dark Side is that he had "too much Vader in him", and Leia agrees. She doesn't refer to him as her father or even "Anakin". Even 30 years after his redemption, Leia still sees Anakin as Darth Vader first. Not her father, not even a Jedi, but as the ruthless Sith Lord who served the Empire. Despite Anakin's redemption and his dying wish that Luke tell Leia that Luke was right about there being good in him, his time on the Dark Side is an irrevocable stain on his reputation with his daughter.

*** When Leia tells Han that he can bring [[spoiler: their son]] back from the Dark Side, Han says "If [[AllLovingHero Luke]] couldn't reach him, how could I?"

* When Snoke reveals Han has BB-8, there's just enough of a pause before Kylo Ren claims that [[spoiler:his father means nothing to him to question his sincerity]].
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Click here for '''Major''' Unmarked Spoilers]]
[[quoteright:252:http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/untitled_761.png]]
[[caption-width-right:252:'''''No...''''']]

Quite possibly the saddest scene in the entire ''Star Wars'' franchise: '''''the death of Han Solo.'''''
* While preparing to blow up the Starkiller base, Han spots his son Kylo on the bridge over Starkiller’s main shaft. He almost walks away… then goes to the bridge, calling Kylo by his real name...

* Han walks out on the bridge, asking Ben to take off his mask so he can see his face again. Kylo, taking it off, claims that [[ThatManIsDead Ben is gone,]] but Han insists that [[IKnowYouAreInThereSomewhereFight he’s still in there somewhere.]] What makes it worse is that the script describes Han as taken aback despite himself at seeing his son as a grown man for the first time. Kylo Ren was so young when he fell to the Dark Side...
* The following conversation ensues:

* Ben almost hands Han his lightsaber… only to grip it, refusing to let go, then turn it on and stab him through the chest. As he crumples, Han reaches out and cups Kylo’s face, expression sorrowful yet understanding. It’s as if he knew this was going to happen, and has already forgiven Kylo for it. His body then falls silently into the void below.

* Chewie, watching from a distance, roars in anguish before going berserk on the stormtroopers and even manages to wound Kylo in anger before triggering the bombs that light the whole place on fire. Fridge Sadness sets in when you realize that Chewbacca failed to honor his life debt.

* Rey and Finn's reaction to Han's death -- the former is ''sobbing'' and the latter is wide-eyed and gasping with horror. Han had become a surrogate father figure to them both especially since neither grew up with parents and not only are they horrified and filled with grief, but they start firing on Ren shortly after Chewie. Also in the forest scene, as scared as they are of Kylo, both of them overcome their fear to try and earn payback for Han.
* Leia’s reaction back at the base. No tears, no wailing, just being quietly overcome with despair as she feels her husband's death through the Force. Her reaction to this one death is similar to what Obi-Wan had in reaction to an entire planet dying. She ''feels'' her husband die and ''has the stuffing knocked out of her'' so badly that she has to physically sit down because she just ''cannot'' stay standing up anymore.

* When the ''Millennium Falcon'' comes back to pick up Rey and Finn from the destruction of Starkiller Base, it isn't Han in the pilot's seat, it's Chewie. He just looks absolutely heartbroken while flying the legendary ship without the old captain.
* The sadness lingers on after the battle ends. While the whole base is cheering for their victory over the First Order, Leia silently walks toward the ''Millennium Falcon'' before embracing Rey, who had come to see Han as a father figure herself, while Chewbacca just retires into a corner, mourning his fallen friend. All while a DarkReprise of "Han Solo and the Princess" plays.
* Shortly after Han dies, Starkiller Base is promptly destroyed by the Resistance. [[NeverFoundTheBody Even on the off chance he survived the fatal wound and the fall that followed]], it's highly unlikely that he could get off the planet in time before the whole thing exploded; a dark CallBack to the line Han said to Leia regarding Luke's fate on Death Star II. This time, Han ''was'' on that thing when it blew up...
* It's made ''even worse'' when you realized that Han isn't a Jedi. That means he won't come back as a Force Ghost like Obi-Wan, Yoda and Anakin. The legendary smuggler is dead, pure and simple. [[AllDeathsFinal He's gone forever.]]
* It's especially heartbreaking on a meta level as well: Han Solo is one of the most iconic and beloved film characters of all time. Generations of fans have grown up with him, and now he's dead. Some have commented on Website/YouTube that it feels like losing a friend or a family member.

[[/folder]]

[[caption-width-right:252:'''''NNNNNNNNNOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!''''']]

[[caption-width-right:252:'''''NO!!''''']]

** Also, according to the ''[[AllThereInTheManual Visual Dictionary]]'', not only was he one of Finn's squadmates during training, but he was also [[ButtMonkey so inadequate at being a soldier]] that the rest of his squad (sans Finn) made fun of him.

** Consider the following. Luke has probably felt everything that's happened in the movie through the Force and is under a considerable amount of emotional distress already. When the Death Star destroyed Alderaan, Obi-Wan had to sit down because the feedback through the force was so intense. Now imagine having to go through that times five with Starkiller Base destroying multiple planets at once. Add onto it the fact that if Leia felt Han's passing through the Force, then Luke most ''certainly'' did. So he has felt the destruction of multiple planets, and his former apprentice, Kylo Ren, has murdered [[spoiler:Han]]. Han was not only Luke's best friend but he was Kylo's father, and by failing to protect Kylo from the Dark Side, Luke may very well be inadvertently blaming himself for the events leading to [[spoiler:Han's death]]. [[TraumaCongaLine That is a lot for one Jedi to deal with over the course of a few days.]]

** Upon reaching the peak of the mountain on Luke's island, Luke is seen standing before a freshly erected memorial. Luke ''did'' know [[spoiler:Han]] died, which adds to his disbelief at seeing Rey standing before him. He is so grief-stricken, he doesn't even notice Rey until she's right behind him.

** Artoo's AngstComa gets even harsher after Kenny Baker's death in 13 August 2016.

** Also, according to WordOfGod, Harrison Ford wanted Han to be killed off as early as ''Return of the Jedi'', so if Han did die back in 1983 then it wouldn't have made nearly as much of an impact as it did in 2015.

* Rey's response to learning that it was Finn's idea to rescue her. She's trapped on Starkiller Base with a Sith Lord that attempts to MindRape her while she's strapped to a chair. Even though she overcomes his infiltration with sheer willpower and manages to do the JediMindTrick on a Stormtrooper to undo her restraints she's also stuck without a ship in a hostile base. Also, she thinks that no one would come back for her, just like they didn't come back for her on Jakku. But Finn came back for her. He risked his life the the mission to destroy Starkiller base to save Rey. She then hugs him with a tearful expression and utter gratitude when Chewbacca tells her.

* Rey's response to learning that it was Finn's idea to rescue her. She's trapped on Starkiller Base with a Sith Lord that attempts to MindRape her while she's strapped to a chair. Even though sheovercomes his infiltration with sheer willpower and manages to do the JediMindTrick on a Stormtrooper to undo her restraints she's also stuck without a ship in a hostile base. Also, she thinks that no one would come back for her, just like they didn't come back for her on Jakku. But Finn came back for her. He risked his life the the mission to destroy Starkiller base to save Rey. She then hugs him with a tearful expression and utter gratitude when Chewbacca tells her.

** It gets worse when you realize, that [[HistoryRepeats this is the same kind of thing as what happened to Anakin.]] Snoke, like Palpatine before him, had made his protege dependent on him, molding them with their shame.

** There's a painful ambiguity about Ben's dialogue - it's possible that it filled Han with the AdultFear that Ben is very close to suicide, and Han takes the risk of getting close just to stop that happening. Worse, it's possible that Ben was doing this deliberately as a trap.

* The death of the stormtrooper who leaves BloodyHandprint to Finn. Sure, he works for the First Order, but you can tell even without Finn removing his mask that Finn was horrified by his death. Also, according to the ''[[AllThereInTheManual Visual Dictionary]]'', not only he is Finn's squadmate during their training, but he's also so inadequate at being a soldier and the rest of his squad sans Finn made fun of him.