Of hugs and misses: JJ Abrams explains why Leia hugging Rey in 'Force Awakens' was a mistake

The fandom is strong with Star Wars. So strong that no matter how much effort is put into the writing and production of a movie, fans are bound pick on sequences and even take offence. One such (major spoilers ahead!) instance from the latest, Star Wars: Force Awakens, was when following Han Solo’s death, when Rey, Chewbacca and and Finn return to the rebel base, Leia Organa hugs Rey, whom she has never met before, while Chewie walks right past her. via GIPHY Why Chewie get no hugs? via GIPHY The concern raised was, why would Leia choose to embrace a complete stranger, Rey and ignore Chewbacca — Han’s best friend and someone she’s known for years? Well, no one to better to quench the burning thirst of the raging fans than director JJ Abrams himself. In an interview with Slash Film, Abrams offered a clarification regarding the scene.

That was probably one of the mistakes I made in that. My thinking at the time was that Chewbacca, despite the pain he was feeling, was focused on trying to save Finn and getting him taken care of. So I tried to have Chewbacca go off with him and focus on Rey, and then have Rey find Leia and Leia find Rey. The idea being that both of them being strong with the Force and never having met, would know about each other — that Leia would have been told about her beyond what we saw onscreen and Rey of course would have learned about Leia. And that reunion would be a meeting and a reunion all in one, and a sort of commiseration of their mutual loss.

He also added that if Chewbacca wasn’t present in the scene, perhaps it wouldn’t have irked the fans so much. You never know, JJ. So there you have it. The man is sorry and we can move on. Meanwhile, here is another awesome hug from the franchise: via GIPHY