Literally my favourite thing about Rogue One is that it makes the opening of New Hope so funny. Like, Vader has followed Leia from a planet he just blew up seconds ago and pursued her across the galaxy and then she’s just like: ‘I’m on a diplomatic mission to Alderaan’
Vader: You’re a rebel. I just had a fight with your entire rebel fleet and followed you here. Straight from the rebels. Of which you are a part
Leia: *dramatic gasp* rebel? Me??? I was just passing through. Diplomatically. Thought it was a five-space-ship pile-up or something going on there…
death star plans? on my alderaanian diplomatic mission? it’s more likely than you think
ok but this is like legitimate Canon Improvement because I’d always wondered why Vader was so wildly furious at the start of the movie like “rahhhhh bring me the passengers I WANT THEM ALIVE!!!!” and now I’m like
ohh yeah okay they literally JUST blew up Vader’s base, stole his sh!t, and took off while giving him the finger from the window
while giving him the finger from the window
IT GOT BETTER
The other thing is, Leia has been strong with the Force her whole life without really knowing it. Luke is an insanely good shot, an ace pilot, quick with machines. These are the skill he learned growing up. Imagine Darth Vader’s and Padme Amidala’s ACTUAL DAUGHTER being raised as a diplomat and princess. Imagine Bail Organa introducing her to the Rebellion. Imagine the MASSIVE FUCKING LIES she’s told, and how they probably went something like an accidental Jedi Mind Trick for most of her life. And now here’s (secret) Dad, and he ain’t buying it honey.
That^^ addition. I like it.
Ooooh, that’s a great addition to my “stormtroopers can’t hit Luke, Leia, or their companions because they’re unconsciously using the Force to protect themselves” headcanon. (Nothing fancy, just enough to make shots go an inch or two wide. But you gotta figure the Empire has all kinds of numbers on their troopers’ accuracy, with specific tech to track performance. I bet the after-action reports on engagements with these two are really interesting.)
For my money Leia’s best moment is when she lies about the location of the rebel base and Tarkin believes her. Doesn’t stop him blowing up Alderaan, but he is so mad when he finds out there’s nothing on Dantooine. You gotta figure Tarkin’s good at seeing through deceptions, or he wouldn’t be where he is… but it’s already pretty much canon that Leia’s Force sensitivity helped her resist torture and mind probing, so I don’t think it’s a stretch to suggest that she gave Tarkin just the slightest nudge toward “she’s telling me the truth.”
edit: I can hear @mackensen quoting Obi-Wan’s line on “the Force can have a strong influence on the weak-minded” at me and I am not saying Tarkin has a weak mind, but a) I didn’t say it was a strong influence either, just a nudge, and b) Tarkin does not expect a teenage girl to lie to his face with the fate of her home planet on the line. He expects her to just tell him where the fucking base is already. That’s not even an unreasonable expectation, but in this case it’s a weak point for her to exploit.
