Star Wars ABC's - The Letter I

Let's kick off week 2 of my Star Wars ABC's with the letter "I."

I is for "I know."

This is one of the most powerful lines in all the Star Wars, ranking up there with "I am your father" in terms of impact.

It was such a Han Solo Thing to say; such a definitive Han Solo Moment. The line was pitch-perfect in every way.

Except it almost never came to pass.

The story is legendary. George Lucas had originally scripted Han to say, "I love you, too" after Leia professed her love for him. Harrison Ford felt the line was out of character; that a rogue like Han Solo would not simply blubber "I love you, too."

He and Lucas haggled about it. When it came time to shoot the scene, Empire director Irvin Kershner told Ford to improvise.

Thus, "I know" became a part of Star Wars lore.

Can you imagine it any other way?

TOMORROW: He doesn't doesn't just hang smugglers; he hangs them on his wall!

H is for Hoth
G is for Galactic Empire
F is for Falcon
E is for Emperor
D is for Death Star
C is for Chewie
B is for Bespin
A is for Ackbar

Star Wars ABC's - The Letter F

In this installment of Star Wars ABC's: the letter "F."

F is for Falcon. As in the Millennium Falcon.

"What a piece of junk!"

"She may not look like much, but she's got it where it counts."

With that exchange, you learned everything you needed to know about the Millennium Falcon.

Fast and maneuverable, but not necessarily sleek. Able to spin around and avoid annoying blasts from pursuing TIE Fighters. Capable of getting through an asteroid field despite the odds (3,720 to 1--I know, I know, "Never tell me the odds!). The Falcon is like your first car. It's ugly, clunky, but comes through in the clutch*. You keep it ugly because making it pretty wouldn't suit it.

The ship has a long history (there's actually a book about this), but we all know it's Han Solo's ship. Han with Chewie as the co-pilot.

The Falcon basically destroyed not one, but TWO Death Stars, carried the heroes of Yavin away from the Death Star with Princess Leia on board, rescued Luke Skywalker from Cloud City, tracked down Han after he was frozen in carbonite, dumped a huge load of spice that greatly displeased Jabba the Hutt.

It is the signature ship of the Star Wars universe.

*Unless the "clutch" is defined as jumping into hyperspace while being pursued by Imperial Star Destroyers in The Empire Strikes Back

TOMORROW: The letter "G." It's big. It's evil.

E is for Emperor
D is for Death Star
C is for Chewie
B is for Bespin
A is for Ackbar