48 years after the release of A New Hope, the Star Wars franchise has finally made it clear that Han Solo was a perfect fit for the Rebel Alliance all along. Star Wars’ Rebel Alliance has received a great deal of development since 1977, be it through other Star Wars movies or the many TV shows released in the franchise. Most recently, the project that many dub the best Star Wars TV show ever made, Andor, outlined the true origins of the Rebellion, leading right into Rogue One and the first victory against the Empire.

Due to stories like Andor, Rogue One, and even the likes of Star Wars Rebels, the perception of the Rebel Alliance has somewhat shifted over the decades. The fleshing out of the section of the Star Wars timeline under the Empire’s reign has only allowed audiences to see the Rebels in a new light, one that makes the original trilogy all the more compelling. When linking this new perception to one of Star Wars‘ best characters, Han Solo, it becomes clear that he was always a perfect fit for the Rebellion from the beginning.

Han Solo Was Originally A “Bad Fit” For The Rebels

Due To His Past Before The Galactic Civil War

Firstly, it is worth exploring how the original trilogy painted Han Solo as somewhat of a wildcard in the Rebellion’s ranks. In A New Hope, Han is introduced as a scoundrel who cares only about saving his own skin, paying off his debts, and earning more money. Han embodied the underworld of Star Wars in a way many other characters of the original trilogy did not, allowing him to stand out against the morally unshakable characters like Luke Skywalker and Leia Organa.

This is not to say that Han was ever depicted as a bad guy, however, as Star Wars always made it clear he had a heart of gold beneath the uncaring exterior. Nonetheless, Han was certainly an outsider among the Rebels. He was the smuggler who had done bad things in his past, with Han even playfully telling Leia that his hands are dirty in The Empire Strikes Back. He even had a bounty on his head from a notorious criminal, Jabba the Hutt, with the original trilogy depicting him as the outlier among the righteous, good-natured rebels.

Star Wars Has Shown The Darker Side Of The Rebel Alliance Since The Original Trilogy

The Rebels Were Not All Saints

What makes this depiction of Han and the Rebels from the original trilogy much more interesting today, though, is how it has changed. Since 1977, Star Wars has delved much deeper into the Rebel Alliance than the original trilogy ever did. Shows like Star Wars Rebels and Andor showed its foundation, with the latter proving to depict the darker side of Star Wars‘ iconic good guys. As with Han, however, Andor never lost sight of who was a true good guy and who was not, with the Imperials falling firmly into the latter category.

That said, Andor and its tie-in movie, Rogue One, showed that the Rebels were not afraid to get their hands dirty; Foundational members of the Alliance, like Luthen Rael, were unafraid to sanction the death of innocents if it meant brewing rebellion against the Empire. Andor highlighted this more than anything, yet Rogue One also included morally questionable scenes from Rebellion members. Cᴀssian’s first appearance in that film sees him shooting an injured Rebel informant in the back, while General Draven later orders him to kill Galen Erso. Since 1977, the dark choices needed in war have been highlighted.

Almost 5 Decades Later, Han Solo Is Now Perfect For The Rebellion

Han Becomes A Perfect Piece Of The Puzzle

Thanks to Star Wars‘ more mature depiction of the Rebel Alliance in recent years, Han Solo has now become a perfect fit for the group almost five decades later. Where Han was once an outcast among the seemingly squeaky-clean Rebels, he is now someone who aligns with them. Han has done bad things in the past, mostly out of circumstance and necessity, just as Rebel soldiers like Cᴀssian Andor did, or even leaders like Mon Mothma and General Draven.

Almost everyone in the Rebellion has done something they are not proud of to further their standing in the war against the Empire. Han is no different, explaining why he fits so well among them and changing the perception of the original trilogy. This also explains why the likes of Leia, who was a more recent addition to the Rebellion, disapprove of Han’s “scoundrel” methods, while older heads know it may be what is needed to beat the Empire. In this way, Star Wars has changed how we see the original trilogy, the Alliance, and Han’s involvement, all for the better.