Star Wars: The best moments from The Empire Strikes Back

The Empire Strikes Back best moments:  I Love You, I Know

In a movie that is filled with great moments, this one takes the cake for me. It just shows so much about Han Solo’s character and proves how much of a badass he truly is.

When things go south in Cloud City and Lando is forced to strike a deal with Darth Vader and the Empire, Han, Leia, and Chewie get captured. Vader promises Solo to Boba Fett and wants to have him carbon frozen as that is his plan on how to deliver Luke to the Emperor.

It’s unclear whether or not Han will survive the carbon freezing process, and Leia, Chewie, and Lando are forced to watch their friend go through this process which could lead to his death. Before Han is put on the freezing chamber he tells Chewie to watch over Leia and gives her a passionate kiss before being forced into position. Before he’s lowered to what could be he is death, Leia tells Han she loves him, and in a legendary retort that only a true scoundrel could deliver, Han says “I know.”

It’s so completely in character for Han Solo to reply this way. He is cocky and sure of himself and this was a much truer line for him than “I love you too” would’ve been. Leia, knowing Han, also realizes this is his way of telling her he loves her too.

Supposedly, this line was improved by Harrison Ford on set, but there have been conflicting stories about that. However this line came to be doesn’t matter, it’s in the movie and it is one of the most iconic moments in all of Star Wars.