I have been thinking about why this scene is so powerful and it seems to me a very clever piece of film making.

At the start of ESB, we are presented with our first glimpse of the Imperial fleet, a vast array of giant warships. In the finale, we get our first look at the rebel fleet, a small number of puny freighters and a medical frigate*. This emphasises the gulf between the two adversaries. It adds to our feeling that the rebel cause is hopeless.

Secondly, the scene shows both the audience and our heroes exactly what is at stake: the entire galaxy**. This reminds us that the loss of Han Solo is just a small human tragedy compared to the bigger picture.

At the start of the film we see the Empire focus its considerable power upon a handful of humans hiding out on an inhospitable planet in some galactic backwater. At the end of the movie we see the puny rebel fleet up against the whole galaxy. The comparison could not be starker. This is the cliff hanger taken to a whole new level. Not only are we left wondering how they will rescue Han but how can they possible save the galaxy.

The situation is hopeless; but by some light touches, a smile from leia and by having our heroes stand firm and face the task ahead (literally having them stand at the window and gaze at the galaxy they must save) we are given a glimmer of hope.

The finishing touch is John Williams score. I think he peaked with Empire, the music as the rebel fleet fades out is full of both hope and despair.

What a setup for a finale. If only I had a time machine I would go back and beg Kershner to direct ROTJ.

* Adding the large mon calamari ships here would ruin the comparison of the Empire and the Rebellion. When I was a kid I just assumed the Squids joined the rebellion in between ESB and ROTJ.

** I think the imagery only works if this scene is the galaxy. A star forming region does not have the same impact.