'Star Wars' Fan Offers Sad Theory for Chewie's Leia 'Slight'
"Star Wars" fans still aren't ready to move on from Chewbacca's perceived slight to Leia in "The Force Awakens." A fan theory has been proposed in defense of the Wookiee.
The so-called snub took place in a scene that drew fan ire. In it, Chewbacca (Peter Mayhew) walked right past a grieving Leia (Carrie Fisher), leaving her to hug Rey (Daisy Ridley), a total stranger. Since it made sense for Han's two closest companions to comfort one another, it was a strange moment. In the aftermath, director J.J. Abrams even owned up to making a mistake.
It turns out, however, that the scene may have worked after all. Redditor cyborgcommando0 posted a theory explaining that Chewie could have been observing a Wookiee mourning ritual -- one in which Wookiees should grieve privately before touching another. Leia, knowing this, would have turned to Rey instead. You can take a moment to wipe your tears.
Cyborgcommando0 did point out one caveat: Between Han's death (RIP) and the scene in which Chewie grieves, the Wookiee did touch Finn. This was to save the young man's life, though, which presumably would take precedence over the ritual.
Abrams did previously tell Slash Films that Chewbacca was busy getting to Finn when he passed Leia. However, the director also shared that he wanted Leia to turn to Rey for a reason that had nothing to do with Chewie.
"The idea being that both [Leia and Rey] being strong with the Force and never having met, would know about each other ... And that reunion would be a meeting and a reunion all in one, and a sort of commiseration of their mutual loss," he said.
No matter how you wish to interpret it, you can rest easy knowing that Chewbacca did not intentionally snub Leia.
[via: Reddit; Slash Film]