Possibly an Unpopular Opinion* #3:
Poe and Finn should have been the main protagonists of the latest trilogy.
The recent Star Wars film installments always attempt to explore the complexity of humanity, especially during times of war:
Gareth Edwards, the director of Rouge One: A Star Wars Story originally aimed to create a war movie that highlighted the complexity of war, and the individuals who endure it (X).
In The Last Jedi, Canto Bight was suppose to represent economic inequality and war profiteering, created by both the good and evil participants of war.
These issues, while intriguing, were not fully fleshed out for audiences to connect with. As a result, they felt extremely out-of-place or pointless. These political issues should feel organic and integral to the overall story, not mere nods to the audience.
Poe and Finn are two soldiers who grew up in polar opposite circumstances. They were raised in environments where the complexity of the previous wars could have been obscured, even oversimplified by propaganda. They were surrounded by colleagues and leaders** who shared a homogenous agenda. They were taught, from the moment they began to serve their respective organizations, that the other is the enemy; plain and simple.
The Force Awakens could have focused on conformity, propaganda, and empathy. The encounter between Finn and Poe could have been a defining moment, for a new generation of Star Wars fans. Finn’s upbringing could have helped Poe realize that stormtroopers (and even clones) have the potential to be more than mindless, expendable slaves to The First Order. Meanwhile, Poe could have served as a window to a bigger, better world for Finn. The Force Awakens could have been about two polar opposite individuals finding commonality and respect by looking beyond the propaganda, disclosures, status quo, and established agendas they were engulfed in throughout their lives.
The Last Jedi could have been a turning point for their relationship. These characters are not only opposites in regards to their upbringing: they are also opposites as characters. Poe is a brave but reckless pilot who throws himself into all sorts of trouble, all in the name of a cause. Meanwhile, Finn is a kind-hearted but “cowardly”*** child soldier who simply does not want to relive the pain he endured under The First Order. The Last Jedi could have focused on these two characters finding a balance and learning to embrace the other’s “flaws.” It is through trial and error, through successes and failures, Finn learns about the importance of initiative and valor during times of conflict, while Poe discovers the significance of stepping back and acknowledging the consequences of recklessness (and even arrogance). It is by embracing each other’s strengths and weaknesses that both characters discover the flaws in their own philosophies and grow even further as characters.
*shrugs shoulders* In short: Poe and Finn had SO much potential! These characters could have represented the importance of questioning the status quo, as well as your own morals. They could have examined the process of pushing aside biases, stereotypes, and assumptions in order to serve a greater cause. They could have served as a link between two opposing worlds and organizations with completely contrasting agendas. They could have organically taught audience members to empathize with (and even embrace) the stories, cultures, values, and overall complexity of individuals.
I’m curious to hear about what you all think about Finn and Poe :) What do you think about them as characters? Is there something you wish would happen to (or between) them, in the last movie? Thank you all (once again) for coming to my TEDTalk! Here’s a gif of Oscar Isaac and John Boyega being hot dorks:
*Opinion - a view or judgment formed about something, not necessarily based on fact or knowledge. I figured I’d leave this here in case hardcorestans or antis begin to make claims.
** Poe is the child of Shara Bey and Kes Dameron, two veterans of The Battle of Endor. I figured that he would fully embrace all of the stories they told him about their adventures and battles.
***I don’t think that Finn is a coward. Instead, I feel that his reluctance to kill his former colleagues, as well as his refusal to fully invest in The Resistance, could have been seen by many (including Poe) as cowardly.
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