“Fly Casual”

Return of the Jedi

For all of the swashbuckling, edge of your seat action, some of my favourite Star Wars moments are smaller details. Innocuous lines of dialogue and witty quips can sometimes be just as memorable, quotable and memeable as the big set pieces. And my 45th favourite moment of the Skywalker saga is one such quip.

The first original trilogy entry to the list comes from Return of the Jedi. General Han Solo is leading the ground assault on the Death Star’s shield generator, located on the forest moon of Endor. In order to reach the surface, the rebels attempt to sneak passed the Imperial fleet using the shuttle Tydirium – a T-4a ship stolen by everyone’s favourite Sullustan Nein Nunb. 

After passing clearance codes to Admiral Piett, Han, Chewie, Luke, Leia, Threepio and R2 nervously await a response – their anxiety heightened by Luke’s “jitters” at sensing Vader’s presence.

Han tells Chewie; “keep your distance, but not too distant.” Chewie groans a response to what is a pretty shoddy instruction. Han responds, “I don’t know, fly casual.”

One of the most quintessentially Han lines. He doesn’t know how to be a rebellion general, he’s improvising, just as he’s done at almost every point so far in this story. But, as always, Han and company just about squeeze through. Their older code checks out and Chewie’s casual flying keeps them concealed to Piett and the rest of the non-force sensitive imperials, even if Vader has spotted the ruse – (bringing Luke along was a terrible idea.)

Han’s winging it again, quipping along the way and we’re all on board.