winterbythesea:

One thing I love about Star Wars is how physically affectionate everyone is. You’d expect it from Luke, maybe, but you wouldn’t expect it from Han, nor Leia, and yet. Most of what comes out
of Han’s mouth is sarcastic comments or flirty remarks or complaints, but then you see him hug Leia or Luke or casually pat Chewie on the head or lean into him, and that’s far more genuine. Same goes for Leia, really.

It’s such a trope-defying thing, too, if you think about it. Snarky mercenary who only cares about himself… likes to hug people he’s only just met when he’s happy because he just can’t help himself. Snarky, haughty princess who is absolutely in charge… will absolutely hug the insufferable smuggler, and his giant furry sidekick, even though she’s pretty much done nothing but insult them both since she met them. Two guys who just blew up the Death Star and saved the day… hugs all around, nary a manly nod in sight.

And that’s not even mentioning the giant fluff ball of affection that Han turns into once he knows Leia is actually into him.

No one holds grudges about any of what’s been said because that’s just words. They all know they care about each other and no one’s scared to show some affection.

AND also, by the way – never once is it used against anyone, or interpreted as something it isn’t. It doesn’t come up when Han is trying to goad Leia into admitting that she likes him. Nor when Leia wants Han to admit that he cares. The fact that Leia hugged Han doesn’t mean she can’t yell at him two minutes later when he does something stupid again, and it doesn’t mean she likes him, and it doesn’t occur to Han (nor Leia, nor anyone else) to even try to interpret it that way.

Just… hugs. Wholesome and awesome. I love it.