In a recent issue of Insider (the one with the different clone trooper covers, i forget the number) Mary Franklin had a fine editorial in the Bantha Tracks section that explored a recent favorite character poll among fans. Franklin was somewhat surprised to see that even in original trilogy films, the characters that did most well were those from the prequels, The Emperor, Vader, Yoda, etc. But she found that some classic characters did not fare so well, even Han Solo.

She then went on to describe her love for Han Solo and how she would not abandon him as one of her favorite characters, and rightly so. Yet, I think this deserves some exploration. There seems to be a fundamental and increasing lack of appreciation for characters exclusive to the classic trilogy. But why is this?

Could it be that a majority, or at least a vocal and active minority of today's fans are young, and were brought into Star Wars during the prequels or just before them? Or could it be older fans seeing the prequels cast a new and fascinating light on OT characters and events, so that they have new appreciation for cross-trilogy characters? Or perhaps a mix of both?

But first let me clarify that this is not an anti-prequel tirade, in fact I love the prequels and am counted in the minority that not only enjoyed TPM, but had no problems with Jar Jar or the generally light tone of the film. That being said, not even ROTS can match the OT, and I will always love it greater than the prequels.

Perhaps my love for the OT stems from the fact that for many years, those three films were Star Wars, and that's all we had. Maybe that's how the younger generations feel about the prequels: the memory of seeing your first Star Wars film on the big screen be it TPM or AOTC, is a far more powerful memory than watching ANH on a TV screen, even with an impressive home theatre.

Yet, being of the "between" generation, the only medium through which Star Wars was available was on VHS in the late 80s to early 90s, before DVD or the home theatre setups of today. Yet so powerful was the saga that this hooked me! (though the EU explosion in 1991 didn't hurt either)

So perhaps that argument is void. A newer fan's appreciation for the OT should not be lessened just because it's available on the home media only. So what does it come down to? Why are many newbies (and some oldbies) diminishing and even ignoring Han Solo?

He's no Jedi. His impact on the Clone Wars and the rise of the Empire is nonexistent. The OT is not about him centrally at all. He has nothing to do with the Force dynamic of Jedi vs. Sith that is the underlying battle within the Rebels vs. the Empire. But just look at him at face value:

Harrison Ford's performance is undenaibly genius, and if it weren't for his great role as Indy or his general brilliance in all his films, I'd say that Han was his finest hour. He was a scene stealer from the get-go, a personality unlike any we'd been exposed to in the prequels or ANH up to the point where he appears. Yet look at his character, look at his evolution!

Han's journey is perhaps the most dramatic of any Star Wars character save Anakin. He goes from a selfish smuggler to a true friend, and reveals his character and loyalty. He romances the princess and in the end becomes a self-sacrificing hero, suffering more than any other hero just to save his companions and be at their side. He could've left with his money on Yavin, he could've fled the Rebels after the battle, he could've departed Hoth long before the battle.

Han stayed loyal, and proved to be one of the most complex characters in all of Star Wars. Without Han, Star Wars would not be Star Wars.

I agree that the prequels give new appreciation to characters in both trilogies, but doubters take note: they may seem nice, new, and shiny, but Han has endured for 25 years. So let's see if this new appreciation is a fad or a genuine trend. I'm not bashing the prequels or their characters, and even I agree they lend new light on them (at this writing, even I am part of it with my Palpatine avatar).

But new things that are good deserve a place alongside old things that are also good; they should not replace or overshadow them. So to all who lack appreciation of Han, go home I beg you, and pop in the OT, and watch it straight through, taking specific notice of Han's scenes. Then come back and tell me he is not one of the finest and most important characters of the saga that touches our dreams.