Would Finn and Poe’s Relationship in 'The Last Jedi' Have Been Plausible?

The discussion around potential romantic relationships between beloved Star Wars characters is ever popular among fans, often sparking heated debates. One such scenario that frequently comes up is the hypothetical relationship between Finn and Poe, a pairing that gets discussed in the context of The Last Jedi.

Why the Reaction Is Nonchalant

My reaction to such a hypothetical scenario would be nonchalant, to say the least. In fact, I may wonder where fan shippers get their ideas from, noting that fandoms often harbor a wide variety of fans who ship anything and anyone. Fans may ship characters in countless ways that have little to no basis in the original material.

For instance, imagine a scenario where Chewbacca is pregnant with Luke's child, but wants Lando to be the father. This is just an example, but if one digs deep enough, one can find similar hypothetical scenarios coming from Star Wars fandom. However, the formation of suchships, according to my experience, is often disconnected from actual story development and character arcs. We must remember that artistic works, like The Last Jedi, are crafted with specific goals in mind, and adding in such interpretations without supporting evidence could detract from the integrity of the story.

Character Development and Plausibility

The characters of Finn and Poe, while not without depth, do not support the assumption that they would naturally evolve into a romantic relationship. In the context of the films, the interactions between these characters do not suggest anything remotely homosexual. Finn interactions with Rey, such as asking if she has a boyfriend, clearly indicate his sexual interest in her, through a non-subtle come-on. This interaction, according to my interpretation of the film, further confirms that Finn is not gay. While Finn could be bisexual, this is not explicitly depicted in the The Force Awakens.

The question, then, is not whether contemporary characters can or should be gay; it is whether such a relationship would have been plausibly set up within the narrative of The Last Jedi. If one does forgo plausibility and injects gay relationships as a way to cater to certain fan demographics, it could be seen as a form of pandering. This approach doesn't always align with the original storytelling and can be seen as a way to exploit fans' emotional investment in the narratives.

Consequences of Inconsistent Character Development

However, if such a relationship were to exist and not be supported by the character's previous actions and relationships, it could be perceived as a continuity error. This is one reason why I was irritated by the Poe-Rey relationship in the Colin Trevorrow screenplay. Without proper setup, these relationships can leave fans questioning the creative team's understanding of the characters and the movies' broader narrative.

Rian Johnson's approach in The Last Jedi seems to have aimed at reimagining the story while maintaining a connection to the established lore. Any significant character development would need to align with the storyline and existing character traits to maintain coherence and believability.

Conclusion

Instead of questioning why certain characters do not have gay relationships, we should consider whether they need to. If there is no compelling reason to create a new relationship, then it is perfectly acceptable to leave the characters as they , the rest of us hope for consistency and believability in storytelling, rather than shoehorning in new relationships without proper justification. Fans may imagine these relationships in their head canons, but it remains the job of the creative teams to ensure that any new story elements align with the established narrative and character arcs.