50 most shocking moments in Star Wars history

General Leia Organa (Carrie Fisher) and Rey (Daisy Ridley) in STAR WARS: EPISDOE IX
General Leia Organa (Carrie Fisher) and Rey (Daisy Ridley) in STAR WARS: EPISDOE IX
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Star Wars
LAKE BUENA VISTA, FL – DECEMBER 05: In this handout photo provided by Disney Parks, to celebrate the upcoming release of “Rogue One: A Star Wars Story,” the iconic Spaceship Earth at Walt Disney World Resort transforms into the dreaded Death Star from Star Wars on December 5, 2016 in Lake Buena Vista, Florida. The spectacular moment included the announcement of new Star Wars experiences coming to Walt Disney World this month and throughout 2017. Mads Mikkelsen, who plays Galen Erso in “Rogue One,” made a jump to hyperspace, arriving just in time for the special event. (Photo by Kent Phillips/Walt Disney Co. via Getty Images)

4. Luke Skywalker actually destroying a Death Star (Star Wars: A New Hope)

When I first watched Star Wars, there was no doubt that Luke Skywalker would ultimately end up being a hero. It was just a matter of how he would become that hero. We learn early on that he loves flying, but as the story unravels, we learn that flying isn’t his only ability.

Luke is charismatic, but not quite as much as Han Solo is. However, his eagerness is what led to him being the one in the pilot’s seat as the Rebellion wanted to take down a Death Star. Han only ever reluctantly helped out, so there was no way he was going to take the risk that Luke took, but he does help out by getting Darth Vader off of Luke’s tail and get excited when Luke succeeds.

Precision was key at this moment. If Luke didn’t hit the right spot at the exact moment he needed to, they would have lost a lot of lives and had nothing to show for it. However, Luke does get a nudge from the force as he hears Obi-Wan tell him to use it.

Luke destroying the Death Star is one of the biggest moments in Star Wars history, but the odds are what makes his success so shocking. Han even notes that it was a one-in-a-million shot.