Photo Credit: Lucasfilm
5. Navigating the Asteroid Field, The Empire Strikes Back
"Never tell me the odds"
We begin our list with a feat of daring, high-speed, space flight in The Empire Strikes Back. After barely escaping the Empire’s clutches on Hoth, Han Solo, Princess Leia, and company find themselves up against Imperial Star Destroyers. Their only escape? A nearby asteroid field. The chances of successfully navigating that asteroid field? Never tell me the odds (but if you must know, they’re 3,720 to 1).
It’s a good thing Han is one of the best (or at least the most daring) pilots in the galaxy. He laughs in the face of adversity and beckons the Millennium Falcon into the heart of the asteroid field. Even while the smaller, more nimble Tie Fighters get pummeled by space rocks, Han flicks the Falcon around asteroids as if it were an extension of himself. He successfully evades the Empire, saving his own skin, but also those of Leia, Chewie, and C-3PO.
Han’s willingness to challenge the asteroid field showcases his character well. He’s a daring showoff, for sure, who loves a good obstacle course.
However, he flies into the field to help his friends avoid capture by the Empire. By this time, Han has been cemented as a full-fledged and committed member of the Rebel Alliance, and the Rebellion definitely isn’t letting go of a pilot of his skill level.