you guys wanna hear a sad story called ‘finn rescuing poe was a much bigger deal to poe emotionally than the movie let on’?
listen. i know that poe being the resistance golden boy is a really popular headcanon, but in ‘before the awakening’ we learn two things about him:
he hasn’t been with the resistance that long before the events in tfa. his mission to jakku is only the second mission he flies for leia
poe is a spy. a good one. sure, he’s also an amazing fighter pilot, but 90% of what he does in the book consists of retrieving items/intel from the first order while mostly using his piloting skills to get away before being caught.
so here’s the thing now. the political landscape around the time poe joins the resistance looks like this: the republic and the first order are engaged in a ‘don’t bomb us and we won’t bomb you’ sort of deal, with a neutral zone between their respective territories. for some incomprehensible reason the republic doesn’t think the first order is a big deal. the resistance, which the republic sooort of supports on the down low, thinks the first order is an enormously big deal and wants to stop them. the problem? they can’t do it by engaging the first order directly because it would violate the agreement with the new republic and potentially start a war.
enter poe dameron, disillusioned republic officer, who wants to do something about this. so when leia recruits him for the rebellion he’s 100% on board. but before leia sends him on his first mission she tells poe, with exactly zero sugar coating, that he can back down, but if he accepts and later gets caught he’s on his own. the republic, and by extension the resistance, must deny all involvement in whatever he was doing or risk open war with the first order.
on jakku, like on his first mission for the resistance, poe goes undercover, out of uniform and with a stripped x-wing
and he gets caught and tortured and has his secrets, including his ties with the rebellion, found out
all his snarking and posturing happens to the background of poe being acutely aware that no one is coming for him
if hux decided to livestream his torture directly to leia, she’d have to stand there and say she has no idea who poe is
the resistance isn’t going to rescue him, ransom him, or admit to having any connections with him.
poe is probably very aware that he’s going to die soon, alone and without having done much for the cause he believes in.
and then finn comes and saves him, knight-in-shining-armor style
I’m reading the novelization, and there’s a whole chunk about Poe reminding himself that no ‘ordinary person’ can resist Ren’s torture/ interrogation and he shouldn’t feel bad about failing, that he tried. And it goes on to talk about how he made himself expendable, “less than that.” and he knows that it’s the end, soon enough he’ll be dead and he thinks outright that he doesn’t care what happens to himself, and when Finn takes him away? he’s 100% sure it’s to his execution and he’s just. ok with that. it means everything will be over. By the time Finn explains he’s rescuing him, Poe has “ long since surrendered anything resembling hope.”
Rey – Frangipani / In different cultures, the frangipani, or plumeria, carries the meaning of the strength to withstand tough challenges, connecting with the spiritual world,intense love and devotion. Aside from a natural toughness, the delicate look of the flower makes it a symbol of grace, wealth, and perfection.The Frangipani flower’s message is being delicate and beautiful doesn’t mean you are weak or incapable of rising to meet a challenge.
Kylo Ren – Belladonna / The belladonna, or deadly nightshade is a highly poisonous plant, that grows best in the shade;, the more sun and light a plant is exposed to the more poisonous it becomes. The belladonna flower symbolizes ancient magical lore, bewitching, the power of attraction and mystical lure.
Finn – Lotus / The lotus flower rises from the depths of a muddy river, blooms and thrives. This symbolizes the human who rises from the darkness of the world into a new way of thinking and living. It is a symbol of rebirth, growth and purification of spirit. The lotus flower also represents faith.
Poe – Black-eyed Susan / The black-eyed susan traditionally symbolizes justice, but it’s also associated with fun and happiness. This wildflower represents having a flirty and charming attitude, as well as a heart full of smiles. Because it grows even in harsh conditions, it carries the meaning of resilience, bravery and openness.
Individual posts: Rey [x] Kylo Ren [x] Finn [x] Poe [x]
Prints and other fun stuff available in my shops here and here
Honestly I don’t even care if Finn and Poe end up together or if Finn’s even gay or bi because if just Poe, JUST Poe is not heterosexual and they admit it, that changes EVERYTHING.
How many kids out there will see a badass, resourceful, handsome motherfucker who gets to be on the spectrum without being the comic relief, or a stereotype-laden shell of what the lgbt community actually is?
How many bigoted parents will see this and writhe in their seats because they have to accept the fact that the most successful franchise ever contains a queer poc who kicks ass and takes names, and their children are inevitably going to look up to him?
How many people will see these movies and see someone up there like them, someone who gets to be one of the stars without hiding or downplaying their sexuality?
How many people will talk about the lgbt community as a result of this decision?
How many people will have to face their homophobia when they trie to argue that a gay space pilot from a different galaxy is implausible because it doesn’t mesh well with their beliefs?
A ton of people.
Disney has a huge opportunity to do something good with these movies, and with Poe Dameron in particular. Representation is incredibly important, and the groundwork is already there. Sure, they’ll piss off some people if they follow through, but is Star Wars made for the homophobic assholes, or is it made for the children who would get to grow up seeing people who share their race, gender, and sexuality represented in a series that takes place across an entire galaxy?
You know, I’ve been thinking about the fact that Captain Phasma only ended up being a character because the fans demanded it, and that more Rey toys started turning up because the fans demanded it, and then I look at the amount of Stormpilot on my dash and the articles on mainstream news websites singing the praises of that ship and of the idea that there might be even one explicitly gay Star Wars character…
……well, I think, basically, everything in this post suddenly seems so much more plausible than it did even a couple of years ago, and I’m pretty pleased about that.
Poe is just so nice to BB-8 that I imagine he’s like that to all droids. And you know BB-8 always talks him up to the other droids too, like “I have the best Master! He is good and kind and mine!”
Imagine the droids deciding to investigate and finding that they like this human, that he is Good and he is Friend. And eventually, Poe has this huge line of droids following him around like a mother duckling. You never have to look for Poe anymore; you just have to follow the beeping and chirping of a tiny army of droids, and there he is.
