Difference between revisions of "469: Improvised"

Explain xkcd: It's 'cause you're dumb.
Jump to: navigation, search
m (Explanation)
(Fleshed out some explanation for why each line is unexpected and added the original line in a few cases for context. Also included a note about the mis-spelling of wookiee–should that be left out?)
Line 18: Line 18:
  
 
; Well, duh
 
; Well, duh
:Absurd answer to serious a remark
+
:Here, Han ruins the mood [a dramatic confession] with a flippant statement.
 
; Han Solo in the cockpit of the Millennium Falcon.
 
; Han Solo in the cockpit of the Millennium Falcon.
:(explanation needed)
+
:Another example of an out-of-tone ad-lib.  The original line is "never tell me the odds", a nod to Solo's daredevil persona.  In this ad-lib, however, he is hesitant to try anything dangerous.
 
; Oh! Hey, that explains the kissing earlier.
 
; Oh! Hey, that explains the kissing earlier.
:Another absurd answer to a serious remark
+
:Another absurd, out-of-character answer to a serious remark, this time with Solo acting romantically oblivious [rather than forward, as he is usually].
 
; I'm nailing your brother.
 
; I'm nailing your brother.
: So far Leia doesn't know she has a brother. Also, since ''to nail'' means to penetrate, it should be a shock for her to know that Han is either gay or bisexual.
+
: So far Leia doesn't know she has a brother. Also, since ''to nail'' means to penetrate, it should be a shock for her to know that Han is either gay or bisexual.  This panel is referenced in the alt-text.
 
; Hokey religions and ancient weapons are no match for scissors, though they do beat paper and rock.
 
; Hokey religions and ancient weapons are no match for scissors, though they do beat paper and rock.
: He is referring to {{w|Rock-paper-scissors}}
+
: The original line is "Hokey religions and ancient weapons are no match for a good blaster at your side, kid", a reference to Luke's force training and lightsaber use.  In this ad-lib, Han turns a discussion about weapons into a [unusually formal] discussion about the game {{w|Rock-paper-scissors}}.
  
 
;Cool. Listen, this thing is really, REALLY cold.
 
;Cool. Listen, this thing is really, REALLY cold.
:Han is in a freezing chamber.
+
:Han is in a freezing chamber in this scene.  This remark is more of an exaggeration of Han's character than anything–he doesn't care at all about Leia's confession, he's only worried about his own comfort.
 
; Wowzers
 
; Wowzers
:''Wowzers'' is an expression used by {{w|Inspector Gadget}}
+
:''Wowzers'' is an expression used by {{w|Inspector Gadget}}; another amusingly out-of-character ad-lib.
 
; General Solo, is your strike team assembled?
 
; General Solo, is your strike team assembled?
:(explanation needed)
+
:The original response here is "Uh, my team's ready. I don't have a command crew for the shuttle."  In this ad-lib, Han responds to a serious situation [preparations for an important mission to bring down the Galactic Empire] with an unserious response.
;I'd just as soon kiss a wookie.
+
;I'd just as soon kiss a wookiee.
:''Chewwie'' is a nickname for {{w|Chewbacca}}
+
:In the original film, Leia's remark "I'd just as soon kiss a wookiee" is meant as an insult to Han, implying that he's less attractive than a great hairy monster.  In this ad-lib, though, Han takes her statement literally, and suggests that he is also interested in kissing a wookiee.  Chewbacca is Han's wookiee copilot and fellow smuggler.  Han's suggestion that he's interested in kissing Chewbacca is unexpected on many levels: firstly, Han's shown interest in Leia, secondly, Chewbacca is an entirely different species, and thirdly, Chewbacca is also male, and Han Solo is presumed by Leia to be straight.
 +
 
 +
Note: although it's spelled "wookie" in the comic, the canonical spelling of Chewbacca's species is "{{w|Wookiee}}".
  
 
;Title text  
 
;Title text  

Revision as of 17:31, 15 November 2013

Improvised
Oh, your brother is Luke. Sorry, should've mentioned that first.
Title text: Oh, your brother is Luke. Sorry, should've mentioned that first.

Explanation

Ambox notice.png This explanation may be incomplete or incorrect:
Please include the reason why this explanation is incomplete, like this: {{incomplete|reason}}

If you can address this issue, please edit the page! Thanks.

In the film "Star Wars Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back", just before Han Solo, portrayed by Harrison Ford, is frozen in carbonite, the following conversation occurs:

Leia: I love you.
Han: I know.

The original script had Han Solo respond with "I love you, too", but Harrison Ford felt that the character would not give such a cliched response, even in the face of likely death and ad-libbed the "I know" line that was actually used in the finished film. The ad-libbed line is generally thought to be better than the original would have been.

The comic presents several alternative ad-libs that Ford could have made in that conversation as well as at various points throughout the trilogy.

Well, duh
Here, Han ruins the mood [a dramatic confession] with a flippant statement.
Han Solo in the cockpit of the Millennium Falcon.
Another example of an out-of-tone ad-lib. The original line is "never tell me the odds", a nod to Solo's daredevil persona. In this ad-lib, however, he is hesitant to try anything dangerous.
Oh! Hey, that explains the kissing earlier.
Another absurd, out-of-character answer to a serious remark, this time with Solo acting romantically oblivious [rather than forward, as he is usually].
I'm nailing your brother.
So far Leia doesn't know she has a brother. Also, since to nail means to penetrate, it should be a shock for her to know that Han is either gay or bisexual. This panel is referenced in the alt-text.
Hokey religions and ancient weapons are no match for scissors, though they do beat paper and rock.
The original line is "Hokey religions and ancient weapons are no match for a good blaster at your side, kid", a reference to Luke's force training and lightsaber use. In this ad-lib, Han turns a discussion about weapons into a [unusually formal] discussion about the game Rock-paper-scissors.
Cool. Listen, this thing is really, REALLY cold.
Han is in a freezing chamber in this scene. This remark is more of an exaggeration of Han's character than anything–he doesn't care at all about Leia's confession, he's only worried about his own comfort.
Wowzers
Wowzers is an expression used by Inspector Gadget; another amusingly out-of-character ad-lib.
General Solo, is your strike team assembled?
The original response here is "Uh, my team's ready. I don't have a command crew for the shuttle." In this ad-lib, Han responds to a serious situation [preparations for an important mission to bring down the Galactic Empire] with an unserious response.
I'd just as soon kiss a wookiee.
In the original film, Leia's remark "I'd just as soon kiss a wookiee" is meant as an insult to Han, implying that he's less attractive than a great hairy monster. In this ad-lib, though, Han takes her statement literally, and suggests that he is also interested in kissing a wookiee. Chewbacca is Han's wookiee copilot and fellow smuggler. Han's suggestion that he's interested in kissing Chewbacca is unexpected on many levels: firstly, Han's shown interest in Leia, secondly, Chewbacca is an entirely different species, and thirdly, Chewbacca is also male, and Han Solo is presumed by Leia to be straight.

Note: although it's spelled "wookie" in the comic, the canonical spelling of Chewbacca's species is "Wookiee".

Title text

It refers to the plot twist that Luke Skywalker is princess Leia's brother, which would not be revealed until the next film in the series. How Han Solo knows this twist at this point in the story is unknown, but he must at least know that Leia has a brother in the center left panel.

Transcript

Harrison Ford Famously Improvised His "I know" Line in E.S.B. (The Empire Strikes Back). Here are a few of his less-successful ad-libs:
[Han Solo stands in front of Princess Leia on the Cloud City Carbon Freezing Chamber.]
Leia: I Love You.
Han: Well, Duh
[Han Solo in the cockpit of the Millennium Falcon.]
C-3P0: Sir, the possibility of successfully navigating an asteroid field is approximately 3720 to 1!
Han: Seriously? ...Christ
[Han Solo stands in front of Princess Leia on the Cloud City Carbon Freezing Chamber.]
Leia: I Love You.
Han: Oh! Hey, that explains the kissing earlier.
[Han Solo stands in front of Princess Leia on the Cloud City Carbon Freezing Chamber.]
Leia: I Love You.
Han: I'm Nailing Your Brother.
[Han Solo standing in front of Luke Skywalker, who is holding the blast shield helmet. The training droid hovers between them.]
Han: Hokey Religions and ancient weapons are no match for scissors, though they do beat paper and rock.
[Han Solo stands in front of Princess Leia on the Cloud City Carbon Freezing Chamber.]
Leia: I Love You.
Han: Cool. Listen, this thing is really, REALLY cold.
[Han Solo stands in front of Princess Leia on the Cloud City Carbon Freezing Chamber.]
Leia: I Love You.
Han: Wowzers.
[Han Solo sits with two others. General Madine approaches.]
Madine: General Solo, is your strike team assembled?
Han: Barely.
Han: They're pretty drunk.
[Han Solo and Princess Leia stand in an Ice Tunnel of Hoth.]
Leia: I'd just as soon kiss a wookie.
Han: Man, me too, but chewie never seems interested.
Han: Maybe I should Grow My hair out.


comment.png add a comment! ⋅ comment.png add a topic (use sparingly)! ⋅ Icons-mini-action refresh blue.gif refresh comments!

Discussion

Suggestion: add pansexual to the list of possible sexualities of Han when he ad-libs the line "I'm nailing your brother." This is also a valid sexuality, in which the gender and/or sex of the potential partner is considered unimportant. Therefore, Han having sex with Luke (a male) and seemingly being casual about the idea could make him pansexual. 141.101.70.43 19:47, 10 March 2015 (UTC) Am I Signing Right?

Good call, I changed it to "not heterosexual." Also, you sign by adding four tildes to the end of your comment. Bbruzzo (talk) 16:13, 22 January 2016 (UTC)