Maybe because the first was more lovingly evoking of Raymond and Williamson and the second was not the same kind of serial escapist fun ?
The not enough heart in the story would make more sense than people.
Since empire is a character piece and more balanced between the 3 main characters, instead of a Luke Centric piece like Star Wars and Jedi.
Han and Leia are still in those other 2 films but in empire they feel more like real people and are more fleshed out.