This is definitely the weirdest topic I am posting and there is probably nothing behind a simple 3-word phrase uttered by Han and Lando, but of all the movies in the original trilogy, The Empire Strikes Back is chalked full of symbolism and foreshadowing as well as the “Luke, I am your Father” surprise ending, which is why ESB is my favorite one of the three.
As far as symbolism, what is most notable is:
When Luke is on Dagobah training with Yoda, he takes his weapons into the “dark side of the force” cave after Yoda tells him not to. In this scene, he fights a simulated Vader and decapitates him. When his mask hits the ground, it explodes and Luke’s face is inside. This is GREAT symbolism and foreshadowing combined! The symbolism is: if Luke turns to the dark side, this could be him, and the foreshadowing is the fact that an actual Skywalker is indeed behind the mask as revealed at the end of the film.
Another piece of symbolism which leads to the revelation of Princess Leia as Luke’s twin sister separated from him at birth is the scene where they are leaving Cloud City and Leia can sense Luke through the force even though she doesn’t have any Jedi powers. She therefore orders Lando to turn the Falcon back and go rescue him as he hangs half dead from the bar now handless.
Which leads me to one more piece of symbolism I question. Even though Han and Lando have no connection to the force or Jedi ways, is there any symbolism in the “It’s Not My Fault” line? If you don’t know what I am talking about: after Han, Leia, Chewey, and Threepio blast off from Hoth, they are forced to enter an asteroid field because the Falcon’s hyperdrive isn’t working. He annoyingly announces to Leia, “It’s Not My Fault!” Later, when Lando, Leia, Chewey, Threepio, and Artoo blast off from Bespin, Lando utters the same line. I may be thinking too much into it but is there meaning behind that as well? Are those 2 lines a coincidence? Or is there some symbolic connection between Han and Lando that I missed? I know that’s a weird question but I am curious. Any opinions or thoughts?