7 Ways In Which The Force Awakens Has Changed The Star Wars Universe Forever

1) Chewbacca Goes Solo

Kids may have been a little sad to see that wise-cracking old guy die at the end of The Force Awakens, but for those of us old enough to legally enjoy Tarantino movies, the death of Han Solo was traumatizing. Devastating. Soul-destroying, if you will. There’s no other way to put it.

The impact of Solo’s demise will be felt throughout the rest of the Star Wars universe in the sequels and beyond, but what are the ramifications of his murder?

Obviously, Solo’s best friend Chewbacca will feel the pain of this loss for the rest of his days, driven to seek revenge against the man responsible. Rey proved herself adept at piloting the Millennium Falcon, so it’s likely that her and Chewie may team up to fly the ship together while fighting for the Resistance.

The other person most obviously affected by Solo’s death will be Leia, his former lover and the mother of his child. Before the climactic battle in The Force Awakens, Leia believed that there was still some good in their son, asking Solo to bring Kylo back to her, but in the light of this tragedy, Leia may have lost her child for good.

Leia will be both enraged and devastated by the death of Solo, naturally seeking retribution against the First Order, but the conflict of interests make it difficult to predict how this will all turn out. Whether General Leia confronts Kylo Ren head on or asks for the help of her allies, one thing we do know is that by the end of it, the Star Wars universe will never be the same again.

Tell us, did Star Wars: The Force Awakens live up to your expectations? What do you think will happen in the next movie? Is BB-8 the most adorable thing the world has ever seen? Let us know your thoughts in the comments section below.