luke’s devotion to han is absolutely undoubtable and without a doubt subtly romantic. vader chose to use him as bait and torture him instead of leia, even though he knew luke and leia were close. he also had no reservations with hurting leia as he had already done it in the past. so he chose han explicitly because he knew without a shadow of a doubt that HIS pain would make luke drop everything and throw himself foolishly into a trap to protect him. luke has shown his devotion and attraction to han time and time again, from the subtle glances to his chest and lips during their first encounter, to their deleted encounter in the sand, where they both resisted to drop one another’s hand. luke has ALWAYS believed in him and ALWAYS wanted to be near to him and to see him be the best man he can be.
his adoration for han is undeniable, but let’s not act like this dedication is one sided because it’s not! han is absolutely just as devoted to, and besotted with, luke as luke is to, and with, him. many fans make the mistake of thinking that this adoration is entirely one sided, when it is, in fact, equal. in episode iv, han knew he was going to leave the rebellion to continue doing work on his own because he’s not a people person, and he doesn’t like having too many people depending on him. he treated having luke and obi wan, and later leia, on the falcon with him as a nuisance and a chore. you’d think that he’d be perfectly content to leave them all behind and continue his life, but he doesn’t. he asks luke to come with him, and only luke. he doesn’t even bother to ask anyone else because no one else matters. his offer isn’t just a proposition for spending the rest of their lives together, but it’s also a show of han’s attachment and vulnerability. han leaves everyone he loves before he can get hurt, but now he’s opening himself to the possibility of attachment, new companionship, and, yes, pain. he never shows this same vulnerability to anyone else.
luke is hurt because he believes that han is abandoning him, but he’s actually trying to do the opposite: he’s trying to bring luke closer to him and protect him and stay with him. and even though he leaves, he still comes back, for luke. nobody would expect anything to mean more to han solo than his own survival, but suddenly he’s putting his neck out for something, for someone, that means more to him than his own life. and that running into each other’s arms reunion at the end of the film?? it’s NOT between han and his eventual love interest, it’s between him and luke. one of THE biggest romantic tropes is two people running into each other’s arms, it’s right up there with kissing in the rain!
and it doesn’t stop there. han threatens to leave the rebellion AGAIN, and just like clockwork, decides to stay and risk his life because luke needs him. when luke needs him, no matter the danger, han will ALWAYS come running. his declaration, “i’ll see you in hell”, speaks to the fact that he is absolutely ready and willing to give up his own life for luke to get home safe, and if he can’t save him, he can at least be there for him so luke won’t have to die alone. he knows his chances are slim, but he doesn’t care. whenever he tries to leave, to try to free himself of this attachment and undying devotion, luke needs him, and he gets reeled back in willingly. and when he finds him, he cradles luke with the utmost care and gentleness, even as he frantically searches for his breath, and his pulse, for any sign that he’s still with him.
and then once luke is tended to health and it’s confirmed that he’s okay, han has the golden opportunity to leave the rebellion and forget about this whole mess, but he doesn’t. he stays and waits until luke is awake, and watches him floating in the bacta tank. the sight of him, all bruised and injured, is sometimes too much for han to look at, and throughout the scene he covers his mouth or paces around, thoroughly shook by the thought of him being hurt, and the thought of losing him. then, when luke awakes, han wants to make sure he’s one of the first things he sees, and sits as close to him as he can. they both look at each other with an unspoken, pure adoration that has unparalleled throughout all the romantic elements in this franchise.
even after luke vanishes, han’s devotion to him remains undying, since he’s been spending the past twenty years searching for him high and low. and when he finds the falcon, and the two kids with luke’s youthful, high strung hope, his own hope of finding luke and bringing him home again is rekindled. he says that he knew him with nothing but sadness and love in his voice and on his face. he knew luke once, but he hasn’t known him in a very long time, and he will do anything to know him again. and now he never will.
tldr; han adored luke just as much as luke loved him, and their subtle romance is actually the most tragic and iconic love story in the history of the franchise thank you for coming to my ted talk.
