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byronikylo · 6 years

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Han Solo: Smuggler. Hero. Dad.

One of the most highly-anticipated books related to Solo: A Star Wars Story is Daniel José Older’s Last Shot. Coming April 17 and available for pre-order now, the Han-and-Lando novel takes place in three time periods: when Lando owned the Falcon; shortly after Han takes ownership of the hunk of junk; and not long after the Battle of Endor. It also shows us Han Solo as a new father, and all that entails in a galaxy far, far away…

StarWars.com is excited to offer an exclusive excerpt featuring the legendary rebel and his son, Ben, in a different kind of Star Wars struggle — one for sleep. Enjoy, and come back to StarWars.com tomorrow for more on Last Shot.

“… FOR PRINCESS LEIA ORGANA. URGENT MESSAGE. URGENT MESSAGE for Princess Leia Organa. Please respond. Urgent—”

“Hngh …” Han Solo woke with a tiny foot in his face and an irritating droid voice in his ear. “What?” The tiny foot was attached to the tiny body of Ben Solo, mercifully sleeping for what seemed like the first time in days. Han’s eyes went wide. Would the boy wake?

“I will transfer the holo from Chancellor Mon Mothma immediately,” Leia’s protocol droid T-2LC droned.

“What? No!” Han sat up, still trying not to move Ben too much. He was shirtless, and his hair was almost certainly pointing in eight different directions. He probably had crust on his face. He didn’t much want to talk to Mon Mothma under regular circumstances, let alone half naked and bedheaded.

“Leia?” a voice said as the room lit up with the ghostly blue holoprojection.

Ben stirred, kicked Han once in the face.

“Oh,” Mon Mothma said, squinting at the projection that was being transmitted to wherever she was. “Excuse me, General Solo.”

“I’m not a general anymore,” Han growled, still trying to keep his voice down.

Mon Mothma nodded. “I am aware.” She already struck Han as a sort of spectral presence, all those flowy robes and that faraway look of hers. Being a see-through blue holoform only enhanced that. “It is my habit to refer to our veterans by their rank regardless of their status.”

“Right,” Han said.

“Is Leia around?”

“I could retrieve her for you,” T-2LC suggested, turning just enough so the bright hologram Mon Mothma landed on Ben’s sleeping face.

“Elsie!” Han snapped.

Ben’s eyes sprang open to a shining blue form dancing around him. He burst into tears. Han shook his head; couldn’t blame the kid, really—Han probably would’ve done the same thing if he’d suddenly woken to find himself enveloped in a Mon Mothma glow cloud. Which in a way he almost had, now that he thought about it. “Shh, come here, big guy.” He reached his hands under his son’s little arms and pulled him up so Ben was sobbing into Han’s chest. Han felt that tiny heartbeat pitter-pattering away as Ben snorfled and sniffed.

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byronikylo · 6 years

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welcome to capitalism in 2017, where doctors are diagnosing ‘shit life syndrome’

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byronikylo · 6 years

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Stalking For Love is a popular media trope where invasive stalker-like behavior is presented as an endearing or harmless part of romantic courtship. The hero will often go to extraordinary lengths to coerce, trick or otherwise manipulate his way into a woman's life.

#pop culture detective #stalking #stalking for love #Toxic Masculinity

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byronikylo · 6 years

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The first leaks from The Last Jedi novelization are here - including Reylo bits! (Spoilers ahead!)

Part 1

Part 2

Part 3 (forthcoming)

It’s a great novel so far. I really love the portrayal of Ackbar, BB-8, Rose, Rey, Finn, Poe and Hux. Reading their thoughts really adds to the story. Especially with Hux and the old Imperials, you can see how personality affects (or interferes with) military tactics…

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byronikylo · 6 years

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There are many exhausting things about the Trump Era, but few moreso than the idea that hurting people is strong and masculine.

Hurting people is the easiest thing ever. Proposing to solve all your problems with “we should hurt the other people involved this problem” is super obvious and not at all clever. Insulting people and destroying things are so easy most preschoolers have mastered it.

I could insult everyone in the world right now and I wouldn’t even have to study for it.

It’s like answering every question on a math test with “who cares, numbers are for losers,” then thinking you won something because the teacher got upset. It’s not just wrong, it’s lazy.

Making people happy, making their lives better, now that’s hard. That’s something that requires actual toughness and courage. It’s an uncertain, often unrewarding task, and will bring you face-to-face with the limitations of your resources and abilities. Helping people is never a guaranteed thing, and to keep trying despite that requires real strength of character.

Maybe we could glamorize that kind of strength for once.

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byronikylo · 6 years

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If I was an actor I would prefer to play "evil" or morally ambiguous people - just as I enjoy them more consuming fiction -, and be it only because it provides a greater challenge. Also, a character who is always being pure and good isn't that interesting for me. Where else can we explore humanity's (and our own) darker sides without harm if not in art?

That doesn't mean I would like to be friends with our even remotely like these people in real life. Hell, I would never ever have coffee with Snape, even though I love him as a character...

I will never understand how people confuse being able to convincingly play (or gasp! empathise with!) someone whose actions you disagree with as BEING like that.

Adam's first stage play after graduating from Juilliard was Slipping, in which he played a closeted and abusive jock boyfriend of the lead. Then in 2011 he replaced Zachary Quinto in Angels In America. There aren't kissing photos to be found, but you can find others of him from that play online. His character abandons his lover dying of AIDS and gets involved with another man, so the promo photos taken aren't exactly romantic.

I’m not saying the premise of these plays is ideal and “lovely romantic.”

I’m saying he’s not the pure embodiment of “toxic straight culture” that anon was saying. He’s not out there perpetuating some anti-LGBTQ agenda, or even promoting “straight culture.” He’s just… a fucking actor. What the fuck is wrong with people.

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byronikylo · 6 years

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I officially literally have no idea what the fuck is happening in this fandom, and I am officially fucking done with even caring about the drama at this point.

This is my last post regarding this kinda bullshit, and it’s not so much a “drama post” as it is an anti-drama, “think about things from a human perspective” post

What I will say is

(1) stop assuming everyone is aware of every nuance and every minute detail of history between people on this hellsite, and stop assuming we all know the intricacies of the drama that is happening. a lot of us weren’t here when bullshit in the fandom happened, but then it gets dragged up again anyway like we all need to take sides and fully understand the situation

(2) please don’t assume the worst of people just bc they disagree with you on something or you feel they don’t know the full picture… chances are… they’re making whatever mistake you’re perceiving out of good intentions in these drama situations… like… give people a break damn

(3) none of this drama bullshit is ever black and white anyway, so I’m tired of people telling me I need to “take a stand” in my inbox, or people telling me how I need to think on particular matters. Leave me out of it, I guess, bc I’m so ready to just have this fandom be something fun and positive.

The truth is, this part of fandom is often hardly less toxic and judgy than antis themselves, and if you haven’t noticed, I’ve stepped down a lot of my salt since TLJ bc I realized it wasn’t just the antis that was the problem.

@ the people who make this fandom worth sticking around for, thank you. I’m gonna be over here creating like I have been. I don’t have the time or energy in my daily life to keep up with drama from strangers. Can we please just treat each other like fucking human beings? Because we all are human beings?

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byronikylo · 6 years

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Kylo to Rey: Your parents threw you away like garbage! You came from nothing. You’re nothing. But not to me.

Me:

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byronikylo · 6 years

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You won't regret it :)

Both the movie and the book are awesome! The pace of the editing is of course a bit slower than what we are used to these days, but it is heartwarming, honest, human, full of imagination and suspense and really funny!

Reylo in the forest

I recently rewatched my all time favourite movie as a child, Ronja Rövardotter (for the english speakers: Ronia, the Robber’s Daughter), and noticed some parallels that can be drawn to Reylo.

For those who haven’t watched the film or read the book by (awesome!) Astrid Lindgren:

Ronja is the daughter of Mattis, chief of a robbers clan, and his wife Lovis. She grows up in her parents’ castle in the woods with the robbers as her only company, until a rival robber group (led by their chief Borka) moves into the other half of the castle, exacerbating the longstanding rivalry between the two bands. When she meets Birk Borkason, the only son of Borka, the two start out as enemies, but once they get to know each other they become very close friends - but know that they cannot tell their families. When Birk is captured by Ronja’s father, she gives herself to the Borkas so she must be exchanged, but as a result her father disowns her and refuses to acknowledge her as his daughter. Birk and Ronja run away to the woods, where they live in a cave and experience several adventures. Ultimately their families repent of their feuding, and everyone is reunited, but the story concludes with both Ronia and Birk deciding that the robber’s life is not for them.

Character parallels

Both Ronja and Birk grow up quite lonely, as the only children among adults and find themselves on opposing sides of rivalling forces, namely their opposing clans of robbers.

After being abandoned by her parents, Rey grows up alone on Jakku amongst other scavengers. While Ben is surrounded by other children, he is singled out and different from a very young age, due to both his bloodline as well as his unique powers, and also ultimately alone. They also find themselves on opposing sides of a war, in their case the Resistance and the First Order respectively.

Ronja & Rey

There are obvious parallels between scavenger Rey and Ronja: She, as well as Rey, is self-reliant, spirited, kind, but a fighter who stands her ground and is not afraid to speak her mind and question authority. She cusses and insults Birk a lot. She also is very impulsive and often lashes out before thinking, she even bites him in the cheek at one point by mistake (but refuses to apologise).

Birk & Kylo Ren

Birk is born into (robbers’) royalty and very aware of that. When he is first introduced he comes off as a little arrogant and smug. He insults Ronja and mocks both her origin and her abilities. (To be fair, she does as well)

The First meeting

The first time Ronja and Birk meet is at the rift that separates both halves of the castle (fittingly called “the gorge of hell”). They immediately start to throw insults at each other. Birk jumps over the rift after Ronja tells him to “come over if you dare, I will punch you in the face so hard your nose falls off!”. To keep face she starts jumping as well. Birk is quite impressed. They then both start competitively leaping back and forth across the abyss. Finally, Birk slips and almost falls to his death, but is ultimately saved by Ronja, who pulls him back over the edge. When Birk tries to thank her and suggest that maybe now they belong together, she slaps him and tells him to go to hell.

Now, where might we have seen two antagonists insulting each other, then fighting on the edge of a cliff before… followed by an impressed boy offering a union and the girl rejecting him…

(I realise this post might be interesting only to a niche readership - assuming that most of your aren’t Swedish or German, where I know this book/movie is most popular - and this is pretty long already, so I’m putting the rest under a cut.)

Continua a leggere

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byronikylo · 6 years

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I am going to call antis Dolores from now on

I have a friend who is really into whump. The majority of her fanfics contain torture, rape, suffering. But then you show her pictures of kittens and she melts and gushes about them. And when you have a problem or just want to talk randomly, she's always there, always listens. I've seen other people who love really dark stuff in fiction be real sweethearts as well. My point is, people aren't the fictional content they like. In my experience people into the most fucked up things are the kindest.

It’s a commonly shared experience that fans of very dark stuff are way more tolerant and accepting and just good people to have around than Dolores Umbridge.

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byronikylo · 6 years

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someone wake me up when december ‘19 is finally here

I was never big on the theory that it’s Kylo who will tell Rey “I’ll come back for you, sweetheart. I promise.” But now that we know what shitheads her parents were, I can’t imagine her father saying that to her (we know from Pablo it was a man’s voice she heard). The only person I can imagine saying it to Rey is Ben Solo. Especially given that “sweetheart” was a term Han used for Leia.

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byronikylo · 6 years

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Reylo in the forest

I recently rewatched my all time favourite movie as a child, Ronja Rövardotter (for the english speakers: Ronia, the Robber's Daughter), and noticed some parallels that can be drawn to Reylo.

For those who haven’t watched the film or read the book by (awesome!) Astrid Lindgren:

Ronja is the daughter of Mattis, chief of a robbers clan, and his wife Lovis. She grows up in her parents’ castle in the woods with the robbers as her only company, until a rival robber group (led by their chief Borka) moves into the other half of the castle, exacerbating the longstanding rivalry between the two bands. When she meets Birk Borkason, the only son of Borka, the two start out as enemies, but once they get to know each other they become very close friends - but know that they cannot tell their families. When Birk is captured by Ronja's father, she gives herself to the Borkas so she must be exchanged, but as a result her father disowns her and refuses to acknowledge her as his daughter. Birk and Ronja run away to the woods, where they live in a cave and experience several adventures. Ultimately their families repent of their feuding, and everyone is reunited, but the story concludes with both Ronia and Birk deciding that the robber's life is not for them.

Character parallels

Both Ronja and Birk grow up quite lonely, as the only children among adults and find themselves on opposing sides of rivalling forces, namely their opposing clans of robbers.

Ronja & Rey

Birk & Kylo Ren

The First meeting

Now, where might we have seen two antagonists insulting each other, then fighting on the edge of a cliff before... followed by an impressed boy offering a union and the girl rejecting him...

First intimacy

Ronja is attacked by a Harpyie and gets her foot stuck in a hole while skiing. She cries and thinks she is going to die alone, when Birk shows up and frees her. She forgets to be mean to him and hugs him and Birk has to promise Ronja to never leave her again. They decide to be each other’s “brother and sister” from now on. This is also the first time they call each other by their names instead of “robbers’ daughter” or insults.

Remind us of something? From this first intimate touch on, after Kylo is there for her when Rey feels desperately alone, she calls him Ben Solo and wants to be by his side.

A girl gives her all (literally)

Later in the story, when Mattis captures Birk, Ronja gives herself over to Borka (by jumping over the cliff to the other side of the castle), so he can pressure Mattis to let Birk go.

Meanwhile, over in the Star Wars universe, Rey goes against Luke and ships herself to Snoke in order to help Kylo.

Fighting for each other

Ronja and Birk not only question their parents’ authority by publicly declaring their friendship and refusal to be complicit in their parents’ conflict, but actively defy them by running away to the forest together.

Rey fights her mentor Luke for Kylo and he overcomes his groomer Snoke for her.

While we’re at it, let’s talk about parental figures...

Her parents

The father: Mattis & Luke

Ronja and Rey both have a conflict with their father figure that is central to their story. Ronja struggles with her father Mattis and Rey with Luke, who she wants to be her mentor.

While Mattis is Ronja’s biological father, he still has to grow a lot until he also can be a father figure to her.

At the beginning of the movie, he hesitantly allows her to go out into the woods by herself, something he forbade up until now, because it is supposedly too dangerous for her. She is very confident in her abilities though and rebuffs his worries.

They have a very close and loving relationship and Ronja trusts her father blindly, but they get into a conflict after she finds out what being a robber actually entails - and how that hurts other people. It becomes obvious very early in the story that she thinks his way of living isn’t the right one.

Rey wants Luke to be her father figure/mentor, but he refuses at first. She has to persist to convince him to give her some basic lessons and even that he does reluctantly. When the extent of her power is revealed to him he reacts incredulous and is even more suspicious and wary of her.

While she does crave for his wisdom, she ignores a good part of his instructions: She is drawn right to the dark and doesn’t fight back, she lies about the Force Bond with Kylo (”I was cleaning my blaster and it went of”) and goes into the dark cave, when Luke explicitly warned her about it. She also (literally...) reaches out to Kylo Ren, something Luke does not want to happen.

The fathers and the boy

The fathers are both huge cockblocks (after all, girls need to be saved from boys, right?) and also become violent against the boys, enforcing their own agenda:

Mattis is very much against fraternising with anybody from the Borka clan and even violently captures Birk at one point to have leverage against Borka to drive him and his clan out of the castle.

Luke’s and Ben’s relationship seems to never have been really close. Luke is more protective of his other relatives and friends then he ever seems to have been of his nephew (to paraphrase: he “wanted to protect those he loved from the dark inside Ben” - didn’t he love his own nephew?). He has been suspicious of Ben since he was a child and started his training.

When Luke sneaks up on him in his sleep, Ben is still an innocent boy (yes, I know Ben is supposed to be 23, but even Luke refers to him as „frightened boy“ and he is presented as much younger than is biological age).

After the fathers’ failure (Ronja allegedly chosing Birk over her clan and Kylo’s subsequent downfall after his uncle’s assault), both of them fall into depression for seeming eternities, Mattis is not eating and speaking anymore and Luke goes off to live a hermit’s life on Ahch-To, cut off from the force.

But both come around in the end: Mattis let’s go of his prejudices eventually and welcomes Birk into his clan. Luke finally admits his wrongdoings to Rey and later faces Kylo again to be a real teacher this time.

The mother: Lovis & Leia

Lovis is Ronja’s mother and the voice of reason in the story. She persuades Mattis to let Ronja explore the forest on her own, calms him when he throws a temper tantrum and manages the whole clan of robbers, who can be a giant bunch of hotheaded manchildren. She basically does the footwork for Mattis who is too busy moping or fighting Borka. She is loyal to her clan but regards all of this fighting the men do childish and unnecessary and tries to clean Birk’s wound when he is captured, against Mattis’ protest.

Leia becomes a mother figure to Rey and also represents the voice of reason in the Resistance. She reprimands and reigns in Poe Dameron, the poster child of the trigger happy flyboy. While Luke is moping on Ahch-To and feeling sorry for himself instead of helping, she runs the fight against the FO. But she is no fanatic and very willing to build bridges to the enemy by welcoming defectors like Finn and not giving up hope for her son.

His parents

Borka/Undis & Han/Leia (...and Snoke, ugh)

Borka and Undis, Birk’s mother, are described as somewhat distanced parents. After the incident on the gorge of hell where his parents found out about his friendship with Ronja, the fighting and hostility get so bad that Birk decides to leave them altogether and live alone in the woods (until he is joined by Ronja). By rejecting his parents he chooses autonomy and independence.

Kylo Ren has a similar relationship with his parents. Both are always very busy (Han running a prospering business and Leia in politics) and neither are physically nor emotionally there for their son. He finally emancipates himself from them, admittedly going a more drastic route and disposing of his estranged father Han Solo altogether (I still might have to spell it out: this is hyperbolic and not meant to be taken literally, it’s symbolic for a teenager emancipating from his parents).

Both Birk and Kylo are mocked by a parent(-al figure) for having feelings for Ronja/Rey.

A New Order

Ronja and Birk both denounce the way of the robbers and plan on starting something new, that is productive instead of destructive. Over the union of their children the adults are able to overcome their rivalry. The joint clan that comes out of it is much stronger than the parties were before when they were separate.

Kylo has already denounced Snoke and the First Order and Rey has already begun to reject the Jedi teachings (...seen the girl fight? That is not how emotion control looks like). They will finish episode IX by establishing a new order in the galaxy.

Just like Star Wars, Ronja Rövardotter is ultimately a film about family, freedom, emancipation, loyalty, respect, love and friendship, but also prejudices, competitiveness violence and death.

#reylo #reylo meta #this got way too long #nobody's going to read this #sorry not sorry #Ronja rövardotter #ronja räubertochter #ronia the robber's daughter

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