It's also important to remember that among Wookiees kinslayers are not just considered foul, but less than a beast. They are to be hunted and destroyed at any opportunity, as the bond of kinship and clan is of utmost importance. Kylo didn't just kill Chewie's friend, or just make himself "just another skywalker." He committed the Wookiee equivalent of an unforgivable cardinal sin. In that moment he ceased being a rational, sapient being for Chewbacca and lowered himself to the level of a mad animal that must be put down for the good of everyone. The fact the shot didn't kill him was probably because Chewie was beside himself with grief and rage in that moment and probably literally could not see straight.

I mean I'm not shocked he didn't hesitate, he just saw Kylo gut the one man who was the first friend/brother he ever had.

He and Han were brothers and good. Something that transcends even the life debt. I wasn't surprised at all that he didn't hesitate. I mean he saw someone he cared about and respect get gutted. That triggered pure raw emotion. Love Chewie, man. Criminally underused char to say the least.

Things that bother me with throwing Chewie all over the place in lore. Chewie personally knew and interacted with Grandmaster Yoda. There is a pretty good chance that he heard the name "Master Obi Wan Kenobi" who was on an important mission at the exact same time as the droid invasion of Kashyyk which was being overseen by Yoda. He observed the betrayal of Order 66 both against the Jedi and shortly after against his own people, so he would know for a fact that he could still trust the Jedi. So when he's on the Falcon headed for Alderaan watching the Jedi train a new Jedi- I see no good reason at all that Chewie wouldn't have been actively speaking to the first Jedi he'd seen in nearly 20 years about the events of Kashyyk and Master Yoda. And the only way he wouldn't likely have pieced together Skywalker and Skywalker is if for some reason he never learned Luke's last name until after Empire Strikes Back. Its not like his last name was Smith. A Jedi named Skywalker, and a kid learning to be a Jedi named Skywalker- Wookies ARE supposed to be intelligent. So unless Kenobi off screen talked to Chewie about it and convinced him not to say anything, we're staring at another glaring plot hole created by fan service. And THEN lets talk about how Ahsoka was an active memeber of the Rebellion that Chewie joined alongside Han. I find it pretty improbable that those two never reunited. Which then leads to the larger question of why Ahsoka didn't get involved in the Battle of Endor. Even if they couldn't retcon her into the assault team like they did with Rex- she could have been an incredibly helpful pilot commander or higher ranked officer with her experience in the Clone Wars.

I imagine that Chewbacca was thinking about what he might have to do ever since finding out what Ben had become.

Your theory makes a lot of sense. I also like this perspective of Chewbacca's view of the Skywalker family.

I reckon you're right on this . Chewbacca's Loyalty was to Han . The Skywalkers were incidental .

Chewie is one manly bastard. Now if we, the audience can understand him (like through the subtitles) we could sympathize with him more. It’s like the actor behind the suit memorized a spoken script.

It's pretty interesting how Kylo Ren’s introduction contrasted to what happened after Han died: 1. Old man was killed 2. Enemy fires at Kylo Ren Both scenarios ended very differently. And after that wookie bowcaster was able to yeet Stormtroopers off their feet, Kylo was still standing fighting off Finn. Once he lost so much blood, then he fought Rey. Rey in TFA won only because of Kylo's fatigue and exhaustion. Then TLJ turned her into a Mary Sue 😑

You have to wonder what the conversations were like between Luke and Chewie; “I’m being trained by yoda…” “The little green Jedi?!? I know him, he’s pretty bad ass! How is he doing these days?!” (Roarrr roar roar- rrrroooasarr!)

Good theory. I dig it. As well, the theory is in line with something I felt when watching the tragic scene for the first time, that being the light side of the Force, at that moment, flowing intensely through Chewbacca, (although not traditionally very Force sensitive but very Force aware, wookies have a balanced symbiotic relationship with the natural living world so by default the light side of the Force,) this moment of concentrated light-Force giving the distraught wookie the ability to penetrate the dark-side Force user's normally blaster-proof defense. Remember, Kylo was able to stop and hold a blaster bolt shot at him from a much closer range by Poe Dameron. Of course, one may argue that in that moment was the only time that the rage Chewie felt allowed the power of the dark-side of the Force to deliver the nearly fatal shot to Kylo-Ren.

Here's the thing, Chewie's home world was *extremely* important from a strategic standpoint, and the resources of the planet could more than pay for any loss of funds. The reason the NR didn't help is because they didn't care. The NR was led by Core Worlders and Republic loyalists, who are some of the worst people in the galaxy aside from the corporates (although by this point the corporations left were run by core worlders), and they only wanted the power that they had lost with the formation of the empire back. The Empire had kept them rich, but they didn't have 100% control over the decision making anymore. Many people from the Rim started to garner important positions, and even some Outer Rim worlds would become better under the Empire. The loyalists weren't happy, even though the 65th CG had reformed and the police given slightly more control, allowing the Core to become much safer. They earnt money from crime and corruption, and with major crime syndicates being literally obliterated and Jabba being essentially given the monopoly on what scraps were left, that money wasn't easy to find unless you were down at their level.

Comic displayed arround beginning shows how chewie targets Ben's face, then remembers all memories of him as a child and lowers weapon to fire at chest instead of a headshot.

I seem to recall hearing something about Wookie psychology once. Maybe it was attached to why they would never even _consider_ using their massive, retractable claws on another sentient creature unless they were certifiably psychotic. The bit of lore I seem to recall is that their culture sees betrayal and murder, especially of family or clan, as entirely insane and completely unforgivable. If that's the case, Ben committed the most unforgivable sin right in front of Chewbacca. Killing Ben would be considered the mercy of putting down a rabid animal. I wish I could remember where I heard this stuff, but memory fails me. On the other hand, I simply can't give that much credit to the writers of the last trilogy to have thought that deeply. I'm pretty sure they had Chewie shoot Ben because they never thought of him as being a massive impact on his rearing.

Another reason that the Clones turned on the Wookies so fast was not only because Kashyyk was at a hyperspace route intersection, but they also had a guild that discovered new and secret hyperspace routes. So for heckin sure ol' Palppy wanted those routes

I believe chewy really took the shot because he could see just how powerful the Skywalkers really were not that they were psychotic or unpredictable necessarily it's the fact that when they were in the light they were strongly in the light and would double down and that their point of view was more for general galactic prosperity and then on their other half was Lord Vader who has a reputation of being a bloodthirsty genocidal killing machine when they fall they fall hard and that power in the wrong person with the wrong points of view can undo years of effort to save not only is home planet but the rest of the Galaxy and once he killed his father he saw Ben likely becoming another galactic Skywalker threat maybe not quite Vader but chaotic and dangerous all the same

Kylo killed Chewbacca's best friend and his own father, that's all the validation Chewie needed. Chewie and those with him, would be next.

I think Chewbacca had seen a few too many Sith especially Skywalker Sith, and tried to end before it got worse. But he was a Sith, and couldn't be killed until he became a Jedi.

Can we agree that it made no sense for Leia to hug Rey and not Chewie after Hans death?

Chewbacca is a real one .

Chewie and the droids are my favorite star wars characters, and they're all still alive in continuity. Just make a trilogy about them. I think Star Wars works best when it's just aliens and robots doing stuff. The first act of A New Hope is still the best thing in the series.

Everyone's opinions of everything evolves with time an situation. Someone old as Chewie an with his experience knows all issue are complex an according to specific situations and individuals. An everything will require different actions and strategy to handle.

chewbacca watching han die: my pet human nooooooooo

Great video! I love the depth you bring to Starwars and keep it interesting!

That old man’s mad

fascinating idea and very well explained. I just wished Chewie had aimed for the head. Then the trainwrecks that were Episode 8 and 9 would have never happened.

Excellent job!

Rock solid insight, my dude. Keep this up an you'll get that pay raise

Chewbacca is one of the most under used characters of the saga...

3:53 Predator reference 😂

Who would have a more better emotional reaction to han dying, the people who've known him for a few decades or those who have known him for a few days

Thanks for a video on Chewie.

Interesting theory, and you're right about one thing. Chewbacca was friends with Luke and Leia, but his loyalty (and life debt) was to Han Solo specifically. Han was his best friend, so when Chewie shot Kylo Ren, he reacted based purely on emotion.

Excellent analysis.

Chewbacca is hilarious and you will quote everything he says.

Thank you so fucking much for what y’all do❤️

There was logic in Chewy's anger though. The life debt is a bond he never wanted to break.

For a guy who is a stickler for alien species name, the predators are the Yautja.

Outstanding answer

8:17 exactly I can’t prove it but I’m like 99% sure it was chewie who convinced Han to go back and attack the Death Star which saved Luke

nice video!

Good TAKE!

Also the makers of the film forgot the sheer destructive power of chewie’s bowcaster

It's weird that han solo doesn't believe in the force or the jedi but his best friend served along side the jedi and even met grand master yoda

Wow, Han was Chewie's pet dog.

I would love to see a video about the variation of the Star Wars economy throughout the course of the series. I think that it’s certainly a topic that with your analytical style, could be a really cool video. I think there would be a huge difference in value of the credit when palpatine nationalized the banking clan, as well as the transition into the empire. I wish we got more on this topic as it is a very important part of any functioning government.

Chewbacca is basically a space Sasquatch.

Plus he had just seen his best friend get murdered and was extremely angry at the person who took Han from him.

I have always been (I'm talking even before the prequels) under the impression that Obi Wan and Chewy knew each other when we first see them together at the Cantina. After all, it is Chewbacca who introduces him to Han Solo....Wich mean that at the very least, Obi Wan could understand Wookies lol.

Center mass at “over 100 meters” is actually a very easy shot. It’s considered a point blank range shot for most rifles.

Incredible

Interesting perspective. I like it very much. It really puts these characters into a different light. Han Solo is a man of the people. 👍

I love it!

Good vid

C3P-O: "But sir, no one is worried about upsetting a Droid." Han Solo: "Because Droids don't pull people's arms out of their sockets when they lose. Wookies are known to do that."

We saw him merc HOW many stormtroopers, direct shots to the chest or the face…? And he shot for the gut. Yeah, his emotions around Ben still had a vote.

Leia clearly didn't care much for Wookies. She not only snubbed the mighty Chewbacca after the battle of Yavin, but after Han was killed she gave her emotional support to a girl she didn't know instead of the best friend her late husband ever had.

Bro Kylo not dying after being hit with a bow caster is pure shit since the ultimate guide to warfare (Star Wars) describes the bow caster as firing unstable plasma bolts that explode on impact and is powerful enough to punch through armour on many armoured vehicles so him surviving is beyond belief

Meanwhile in legends Chewie literally sacrificed his life for Han’s kid, definitely like that version a lot more

I always thought it was crappy that Leia didn't give Chewie a medal after Yavin.

If you ever have heard the voice of George Washington Carver you might think twice about silly voices.

Having a dislike or at least distrust of the Skywalkers? Maybe. I mean, look at what happened after the galaxy learned Leia was the daughter of Vader. I wonder what the survivors of Alderaan thought that Leia, the woman who saved their people after the destruction of their homeworld was the descendant of the Empire’s most brutal enforcer? I can easily guess that the further you went from the Core, the more negative these feelings would be. People would probably see Leia as the true face of the Core Rim, maybe even humanity. Nice on the surface but evil at heart. Like the senators and military officers who took advantage of the Clone Wars militarization to turn the Republic into the Empire. I mean, what kind of perception do people have of Naboo after the Galactic Civil War? Many probably would be angry at them since it was not only Palpatine’s homeworld, but a representative from it gave Palpatine his emergency powers. Sure Palpatine could have been stopped afterwards by so many other people, but it was a major first step. Sometimes it makes me think the galaxy is actually in a worst place than it was before. Sure, the megacorporations are no longer powerful and only small remnants of the First Order may survive, but people looked up to the New Republic and the Core Rim, along with other prominent planets across the galaxy. And they’ve all been torn from the high pedestal they were on. Does that mean planets will work together to build a better galaxy? I’m doubtful. Criminal organization and pirates have still survived despite all of these wars. In fact they’ve even been supported by the Resistance and the First Order at times. Crime even took over Coruscant, though it already had a grip on the lower levels for years. Not to mention all these planets have issues with each other that have been buried for years. Centuries ago the Republic stopped wars left and right without even addressing the issues behind these wars. They put governments in place that led to either groups wanting to launch coups to return to power or placing unpopular leaders the people grew to hate. The Clone Wars allowed these issues to be brought up, but the Empire squashed them. Now that there is no galactic government, this seems like a recipe for disaster. What’s stopping a war between the Wookies and the Trandoshans now? Will criminals rise further in power by promising protection from enemies in exchange for money? Nobody is going to want to set up a galactic government after the last few times. Now given there is no longer anyone setting up a galactic standard, that does mean each world will choose its own path so not all of them are going to pick the road to war and conquest, taking full advantage of the lack of galactic governance. Many worlds no longer bound by larger factions will probably prosper. Alliances will be made between worlds to protect and better each other. Still, it looks like the galaxy is going to look a lot like Earth, divided by multiple different planets and nations. Except there is nothing like the UN, WHO, or even Interpol. No galaxy level alliance. The Resistance at least will help planets rebuild and probably will throw their weight behind a remnant of the New Republic and try to change things so it can better help the galaxy instead of being corrupt and ineffective. But it may take generations until it becomes popular again or some type of galaxy UN is formed. It may even take a galaxy level threat that is unable to be stopped by a disorganized response to bring back a galactic government.

There, is, a, nother, Skyyy walkerrr!

It had to be hard to shoot at ben. But he wasn't ben , he was kylo .

I don’t know… I don’t think it was because Chewbacca thought of Ben/Kylo as a Skywalker, but just no longer a Solo. Perhaps since Ben fell to the Dark Side, but definitely when he killed Han. Chewbacca may have felt guilt for failing his life/debt to Han, failing to protect his friend. Perhaps guilt for his part in raising the child who would kill Han. I can’t imagine the grief Chewie felt in that moment, I felt like I had lost a lifelong friend when I first saw that scene. BUT, this is all a moot point, as none of this actually happened. The sequels are merely glorified (non)fan fiction, and should not be considered canonical.

The mighty Wookie present he was during ORDER-66 ✨ 🎯 - great scene between Solo & The Wookie-.. …. Why would Chewbacca hesitate? To bad he didn’t accidentally knock Finn over… ending the constant screaming of Rey !!!

10:45 it’s been said that Kashyyyk is a very strategically important world before, also the imperials being defeating in only a year doesn’t make sense

Don't blame him. Would have done the same in his exact situation.

Based on the whole humans are dogs to Wookiees thing, and that sometimes force-sensitives can go bad on a dime, I thought you were going to say that he was just trying to put down a dog gone mad. …It’s kind of true though.

Uncle Chewie

The way Yoda says he'll miss Chewbacca makes it sound as if they had a closer relationship than just officers strategizing defense against the empire.

He didn't hesitate because, well, he was fucking PISSED. When Kylo killed Han, he was a traitor to his family, which meant that he no longer got any consideration. Also I liked how Legends went for Chewie. Yes he died, and the author that was told he had to kill Chewie didn't like it, but he figured if he was gonna do it he may as well make it great. And so Chewie does saving a kid to then get crushed by a moon. Yes, it took a fucking moon to kill him

Can you please continue the separatist alliance vs earth series please

What if 626 aka stich was made with wookle DNA?

OMFG you made a whole video talking about aliens without bringing talking about how to kill or eat them

it could be that his best friend, the person that he pledged a life pact to and stayed by his side helping his people, was just murdered in front of him. though if i were him and had seen my only real friend get his free trial of life expired i wouldn't have stopped shooting until i knew he wasn't going to get back up.

Without even watching this I can tell you Chewie didn’t hesitate because Kylo murdered his best friend

You know this video is good if it makes me want to watch solo

I think its all that and the fact that Chewie probably didn't want to see the little boy he helped raised, become another Vader, better dead then be that, once he saw how far gone Ben was, how much the Dark Side consumed him, he shot the boy he knew to protect him and Han, one last time

Kylo: *Kills Han* Chewie: "You killed my pet human! He was the goodist boi!"*shoots Kylo* Han was basically Chewie's dog. Super short life span in comparison, loyal, smart, helpful, and the goodist boi.

"You should have aimed for the head..."

Han Solo is essentially Chewbacca's pet dog. If you watch someone kill your dog, you'd probably freak out and want to shoot them too.

Playing kotor was awesome loved Big Z wookies are just big sentimental bigfoots

the more important question is why Kylo Ren was able to withstand this hit wearing nothing but a piece of cloth and was not blasted into the air and into the chasm below, in keeping with the weapon's obvious power

Did Chewie try to murder Ben? After all, he's a marksman with the bowcaster. Lightly wounding Ben seems more like a planned shot then an accidental one.

Anyone know the name of that ship at 4:16 ?

Han Solo used Chewi's life debt to pawn the raising of his child off on him

Because Chewbacca saw Kylo and recognized that 'This is no longer the Ben that I knew and loved. This is a monster.'

Wookiees live way longer than 400 years chewbacca is 1500 years old

Right after Endor the first thing would have been the Wookie home world. You want a reason? Resources. If you don't want to liberate the Wookies because of location you have 3 or 4 other good reasons to do it.

Han would have lived longer if Chewbacca had gotten him neutered.

Never really gave it that much thought, but sure!

i can’t shit rn

It's Han Solo's entire life, not Chewbacca's.....makes Han the dog!

I think he would have clawed him if he was close enough.

What about the Droid attack on the Wookies?

If wookies were really sentient they would wear pants. No pants = no brains.

I think another factor is how kylo basicaly betrayed his own family and given how much wookies love their family stabbing one of them in cold blood with a lightsaber will get you more then just not beeing invited to chrismas anymore

I would have loved to see more depth from Kylo about Chewbacca. Like Kylo actually caring about the big wookie rather then the conflicted feeling he had about his father. Like if Kylo was more broken up about thinking Chewbacca died in Rise of Skywalker then Ray, since he knew him since birth. But the whole sequel series is a heap of mistakes and missed chances.

It's always sad when your beloved pet dies...