Watching
Han get murdered by his son changes the direction of Finn’s life as
radically as his decision not to shoot at Tuanul did. It is in that
instance he goes from “I’ll help get the shields down because it’s
the right thing to do, but mainly I’m here for Rey and when we’re
done I’m outta here” to “Okay, I’m done. I’m fighting back!”
You
see the change written clear as daylight on his face on his face
after Han’s murder.
From
shock and horror.
Into grief and angry determination.
When
Kylo flings Rey into a tree and yells “traitor!” at Finn it
further cements his decision to fight. But the choice itself was
already made before that moment.
That
Han’s death has this tremendous impact on Finn should not come as a
surprise.
Overall
Solo treats him and Rey kindly – thanks Finn for helping Chewie,
offers Rey a job, and after Finn makes it clear that he’s leaving
Solo doesn’t judge him and tells to keep the rifle – which I doubt
is something that Finn is used to.
Clearly Solo is a man he knows about and has admired. When they’re “introduced”, Finn speaks of him as the “Rebellion General” in a tone that is entirely favorable.
But still Han is a man who isn’t perfect, he too is running away, but after Takodana Solo rallies and tries to do the right thing.
So
I think in Han, Finn sees both something of a farther figure, as well
as a man not unlike himself.
But
this alone is not the entire reason why Finn reacts so strongly to
Han being murdered that it changes his path, the context of how the man is killed is equally
important.
Finn
is not a man to bemoan his fate or part, or wish for things to be
different than they are, but you can’t tell me that somewhere deep
down Finn isn’t wishing that someone – anyone – had come along
and offered him a way out of the First Order. Instead he had to rely
on luck and the kindness and understanding of strangers when he
escaped. He was lucky with the people he met and he knows that.
And
here is Kylo, being offered this exact thing. Han says to his
son “come home, we miss you” and for that Kylo murders him.
From
that moment on there is no option but war between the two of them as far
as Finn is concerned. Finn might have been able to accept Kylo
refusing the offer – even if he would never understand why – but when
Kylo kills Han, Finn forever becomes his enemy.
So
when Kylo Ren confronts Finn out in the forest and arrogantly tries
to claim part of his heritage after murderously having rejected
another part, Finn has only one answer for him. An angry and defiant
