Well, think of storytelling like a bell curve. The story should build to a peak, at which point the tension is released, and then we have a denouement. For this Lando scene, what’s the peak? What’s the moment at which the tension (i.e. the uncertainty of who this person is) is resolved? Is it when they walk into Lando’s cabin? Or is when they actually reveal that it’s Lando?
So yes, honestly, those few seconds make a hell of a lot of difference when trying to tell a story. With that line, the tension is released as soon as he tells us that he’s Leia’s friend. Oh, and by the way, it’s Lando. You cut the tension during the buildup of the tension. It’s just blatantly bad storytelling. It trips over itself and manages to undercut both the reveal that this person is trustworthy, and that it’s Lando.
Imagine if Obi-Wan appeared to Luke in Empire as he’s making his way through Cloud City, and tells Luke, “By the way, you’re related to Darth Vader.” Only a few seconds, but it would destroy the reveal, wouldn’t it?
Who cares that he killed a stormtrooper? DJ helped them escape prison in the last movie; did that make him trustworthy?
Again, it’s great that you’re trying to track the past twenty years of these character’s lives; but I personally think we should be trying to tell a good story here, not just string together a bunch of Star Wars imagery.
To respond to below:
I guess I dont really care about the specifics of filmmaking. All I care about is having the characters and lore make sense.
I would argue the tension is released when the stormtrooper is killed. Who the guy is after that shouldn’t keep the audience concerned.
The problem is, this is, first and foremost, a film. If we sacrifice basic storytelling constructs for the sake of Wookieepedia facts, then this turns into a dull, lifeless excuse for Star Wars fan service. But it’s not; it’s a story. Let’s treat it as such.
And if you honestly don’t think the film is “trying” to build to the Lando reveal, then I really don’t know what to tell you, bud.