Page 81 - Star Wars Insider #181

FINN’S CONTINUING JOURNEY

This is true for every character in The In Rose, Finn has found
Last Jedi, who are all in various stages
of post-traumatic stress. Rose is dealing a kindred spirit and
with the loss of her sister Paige when
she realizes that their “hero” Finn is a way that he can
cutting and running. She stops his make a difference.
Refusal of the Call in its tracks, and as
Rose literally drags Finn toward the
brig she drags him back to his heroic
path in the course of talking about the
09
Resistance’s predicament.
Active tracking serves as a MacGuffi n
for the Rose and Finn side adventure.
As a tech-minded person, Rose makes
assumptions about how it works; and
Finn, who has clearly learned a great
deal more during his lifelong military
training than simply how to carry out
janitorial duties, buys into her theory
and reinforces it. In Rose, Finn has
found a kindred spirit and a way that
he can make a difference. He may not
recognize it in himself, but the lonely
and isolated defector has been seeking
connection and a purpose. After a life
of being oppressed, Rose’s initial belief
in “the Finn” helps bolster the former
stormtrooper, giving him something to
aspire to become once more. With Rey
away on her own adventure, Finn is
called to protect the Resistance, a cause right to remove his helmet in The Force for Finn that their plan offers the best
he hasn’t quite embraced. Awakens. Her troopers may be fl esh chance for success. Rose’s willingness
and blood, but actually they possess to forgive his near-defection in favor of
Trust and Temptation less free will than BB-8 or R2-D2. After teamwork to stop the active tracking
In the Hero’s Journey, the traits a he defects, Finn readily accepts the makes her, as with Rey in The Force
character brings with them from leadership of others. Fleeing with Poe, Awakens, a newfound ally in whom
their Ordinary World often shape the experienced pilot explains how to Finn can place his trust. In order to

their reactions to experiences in the fire the TIE fighter’s weapons and Finn undertake the mission, though, Finn
Extraordinary World of adventure. follows his instructions. On the Falcon, must make a sacrifice, which is signifi ed

For Finn, his Ordinary World consists Rey sends Finn to the gunnery position by him handing Rey’s homing beacon
of two decades of living a life devoid and he trusts her word that she can fl y to Poe. It’s symbolic of one man
of choice. The First Order has defi ned them to safety. In the face of the First placing a special trust in the other as
his every waking moment. Captain Order invasion of Takodana, Finn takes he leaves on what could be a suicide
Phasma delineates the terms of this Luke’s lightsaber from Maz when she mission—recalling Star Wars: Return of
life to the point of denying him the urges him to fi ght. the Jedi, when Han Solo entrusts the
Just as Finn’s motivations have had Millennium Falcon to Lando Calrissian
no time to adjust to his experiences, before departing with Leia and Luke for
his core personality has also not yet the forest moon of Endor.
06 Rose, Finn and BB-8’s trip had time to shift. The slow deliberate Once Rose and Finn arrive at Canto
to Canto Bight informs
Finn’s heroic journey. reeling in of the Resistance fl eet creates Bight, the former stormtrooper has
a circumstance where the choice seems fully moved across a Threshold into
07 DJ (Benicio del Torro) clear to Poe: fight, because fl ight isn’t an extraordinary world full of choices

gives Finn a lesson in
galactic affairs. working. Finn and Rose, though, think and, more importantly, temptations,
they have found a vulnerability in the where he will experience Tests on his
08 During the Battle of Crait, First Order’s pursuit. Together the trio journey towards his true self. Money,
Finn is fully committed to
the Resistance cause. decide to implement a plan to thwart opulence, gambling, luxury, beautiful
the enemy rather than trust the chain of clothes—these are things Finn has
09 Finn ponders his best

course of action aboard command to find a way. Poe’s military never known. Everyone is smiling
the Raddus (see right). experience is the implicit confi rmation and enjoying themselves. His fi rst

STAR WARS INSIDER / 81