Woman of the Week #4 - Princess Leia!

[{ Emilia }]

It's Princess Leia!

We all know who she is but let me give you a quick fact check:

Leia...

... is a brave rebel facing evil.

... is a Jedi... just like her awesome brother.

... has got the coolest sister-in-law in the entire universe.

... married this awesome guy... sort of.

... commits hutticide.

... is the only SW-character who knows what the Breen look like.

... sadly isn't half as awesome as Sarah Walker.

I know, I know. Sue me.

 

[CorporalClegg]

Thumbs down.

Carrie Fisher is way hotter, and at least she's funny.

 

[{ Emilia }]

Who else thinks Leia was a much better character in some of the novels?
(Meh, actually I only read Timothy Zahn's. Everybody was a much better character in those.)

And who else thinks she pales in comparison to Mara?

 

[Thestral]

You have to respect a woman that crosses the multiversal boundary to beat up an alien and steal its outfit to sneak into the Godfather of Worms' base to rescue her mostly-dead Cuddly Space Pirate boyfriend!

Sure, it didn't work out quite like she'd hoped, but it was a good plan nonetheless!

Don't have any opinion on her in comparison to Mara since I've never read Zahn's work unfortunately.

 

[Skywalker]

Leia did get better once they finally had her start to explore her own potential with the Force. I agree that Mara's probably better overall, and she and Luke should have tied the knot way sooner than they did, but I think Zahn sometimes utilized her too much at the expense of other characters. She was always better in his hands than others writers', though.

 

[CorporalClegg]

Who else thinks Leia was a much better character in some of the novels?
(Meh, actually I only read Timothy Zahn's. Everybody was a much better character in those.)

And who else thinks she pales in comparison to Mara?

I would agree she was more interesting. Zahn added a lot of much needed depth and color. Aside from a few parts in Empire, she could be kind of cookie-cutter.

Unfortunately, some of the directions writers took her after the Zahn books were kind of embarrassing and silly.

Oh and, while Jade definitely started out as a really awesome character, she became way too popular for her own good.

 

[{ Emilia }]

I agree that Mara's probably better overall, and she and Luke should have tied the knot way sooner than they did

Hell, yes. I was a huge Luke/Mara shipper back when I read Zahn's first trilogy as a teenager in the late 90s. (Yes, I was a bit late to the party.)

Totally lost interest in SW after that because the other novels I tried were terrible.* Only by chance did I find out that Zahn wrote more later. Bought those, and then also the wedding comic.

Unfortunately, some of the directions writers took her after the Zahn books were kind of embarrassing and silly.

None of that exists if you ask me. I refuse to acknowledge anything of what happens after the wedding. In fact I refuse to acknowledge almost every single bit of SW apart from Zahn's work.

Everybody is welcome to discuss Mara instead of Leia by the way.** I just figured Leia is more well-known!


* Actually I thought The Truce at Bakura was mildly entertaining.
** Or Sarah Walker obviously. *ducks*

 

[CorporalClegg]

I think "terrible" is generous.

 

[Locutus of Bored]

I will express my love for Princess Leia through the majesty of a song parody I just wrote for her.
______________________

I met her on a base out near Alderaan
After hitching a ride from Chewbacca and Captain Solo
S-o-l-o Solo
She blew a hole into the garbage chute
I asked her her name and in a haughty voice she said Leia
Le-le-le-le Leia Le-le-le-le Leia

I grabbed for my belt and let my grapnel fly
But when she squeezed me tight I felt a tingle by my inner thigh
Oh my Leia Le-le-le-le Leia
Well I'm not dumb but I can't understand
Why she talked like she's British then talked American
Oh my Leia Le-le-le-le Leia Le-le-le-le Leia

We almost got crushed and had a blaster fight
Then Obi-Wan sacrificed his life
We jumped on the Falcon and we turned to flee
And she said farm boy come to Yavin with me
We still had to fight off a couple of TIEs
Why lead the Imps back home unless you're high, Princess Leia
Le-le-le-le Leia Le-le-le-le Leia
Leia Le-le-le-le Leia Le-le-le-le Leia

Death Star's on the way
Red Five standing by
Obi-Wan said use the Force
I fired down the port
The Death Star blew up all sparkly

We marched down the hall and stood up on the stage
I have to keep that scoundrel Solo away from my Leia
Le-le-le-le Leia
No awards for Chewbacca and the droids are denied
It's messed up Nazi propaganda on this jungle world except for Leia
Le-le-le-le Leia

Well I left home just a day before
And I'd never ever kissed a woman before
But Leia smiled and took me by the hand
She said farm boy I hope we don't have the same dad

I hope in two films we don't have to do the same thing again
But I know who I am and I'm from the Skywalker clan
But so is Leia
Le-le-le-le Leia Le-le-le-le Leia
Le-le-le-le Leia Le-le-le-le Leia
Le-le-le-le Leia Le-le-le-le Leia

 

[M'Sharak]

It's Princess Leia!

We all know who she is but...

Interesting that Leia should have come up in this series now, as I just the other day read an article which... well, isn't entirely serious, but does still manage to do a pretty good job of examining the question:

Can We Talk About Why We Really Love Princess Leia?

When citing a slew of strong and/or important female characters in genre (or anywhere in pop culture), Princess Leia usually makes the list. It seems almost lazy, the easiest road to legitimacy because people love Star Wars, and Leia’s not perfect but without her you would’ve probably never gotten Korra or Xena or Ripley, and, you know… she’s got that doughnut hair! And carries a blaster! Right?

On the other hand, what we don’t discuss often enough is exactly why Princess Leia belongs on those lists. And she does, make no mistake — we just like to leave it at that. Maybe make a comment about how spunky she is. Or the fact that she happens to see good in everyone’s favorite smuggling rogue.

You know why we have such a hard time defining why Princess Leia is awesome? Because she was first introduced to us by her regal title: a princess.

Of course, being a princess in and of itself isn’t a problem, but... (article continues)

 

[TEACAKE'S PLEATHER DOME]

 

[YellowSubmarine]

I'd pick Ripley over Leia any day.

Yes, in-universe Leia is an amazing and powerful individual kicking some major ass, and in-universe her qualities ultimately render her gender irrelevant, defying the anti-woman attitudes that she was subjected to. Had she'd been a real person, I'd bow to her with deep admiration.

On the other hand, what is she on-screen, to the audience? She's a princess, a beautiful princess, marketed as a nice hottie in metal bikini, who appears cute when holding a blaster or when defying Han Solo's apparent sexism. And it's only the exceptionality that writing put into her that somehow spared her the status of a slave girl, worthy of Han's disrespect. While that doesn't diminish her strength, to a lot of people she would come as this exceptional woman that doesn't exist in real life that defied all odds in her life.

And who is Ripley? She's just a regular, down to earth woman, who happens to be an officer on a towing ship, with nothing exceptional about her except for being slightly more educated than some of the workers. She's your average nobody, there's not even an attempt to assert her as attractive, even though Sigourney Weaver is beautiful. She is probably a woman you know, and then in Aliens she came even closer by becoming an average motherly figure, torn by personal grief and motivated by affection that everyone can empathize.

Then she steals the day by proving herself to be the toughest resilient individual in the most insane situation imaginable. And she does so convincingly in both Alien and Aliens, painting herself as one of the strongest and most powerful women characters I've seen, and one that everyone can connect with, yet feel ashamed by. You can't watch her and not think, “Damn, I could never be a match for her.” Oh, and she's not relying on men for everything.

That's how you do it.

 

[trekkiebaggio]

Leia is awesome. If Star Wars is ever remade, it might be interesting to kill off Luke and have Leia turn Vader back from the dark side.

 

[{ Emilia }]

I'd pick Ripley over Leia any day.

That's fair enough but that's a point you'll be able to make every week. You could've told me to pick Maggie Thatcher over Hillary Clinton in week 1, Toni Morrison over J.K. Rowling in week 2, Charlize Theron over Angelina Jolie in week 3.
I can't say I disagree with picking Ripley. She's on my list, too.

Yes, in-universe Leia is an amazing and powerful individual kicking some major ass, and in-universe her qualities ultimately render her gender irrelevant, defying the anti-woman attitudes that she was subjected to. Had she'd been a real person, I'd bow to her with deep admiration.

And that is exactly the point.

On the other hand, what is she on-screen, to the audience? She's a princess, a beautiful princess, marketed as a nice hottie in metal bikini, who appears cute when holding a blaster or when defying Han Solo's apparent sexism.

I don't think that's an accurate description of what we see on-screen. I just don't agree with it. Leia in the metal bikini is one scene in the 3rd movie she's in. Her "sexiness" wasn't a point at all in episode 4 and 5. She never wore any skimpy outfits before ROTJ and I think Lucas portrayed her as a very strong person not dependent on her looks.

The article M'Sharak linked makes some much more convincing points. Let me give you some of my favourite quotes from it:

Leia doesn’t introduce herself to Darth Vader as a Princess of Alderaan when they first meet on the Rebel Blockade Runner, she identifies as “a member of the Imperial Senate.” She’s a politician, and an important one at that.
We learn, of course, that Leia is also one of the key members of the Rebel Alliance, a leading voice at the core of the insurrection. Knowing that the Empire has been in place her entire life, and that Bail Organa was fighting it from the beginning, one can easily infer that Leia’s life has been anything but balls and servants and tiara-wearing. She was raised in a household of politicians who were working to overthrow an imposed dictatorship. I doubt she had classes in curtsying, but she definitely had to be taught how to hold up under interrogation, conduct her affairs in secret, and keep her cover stories in check.

She is a strong woman who makes her own choices. Yes, she also falls in love with Han Solo. You say he's a sexist but to me it just looks like he's teasing her, making fun of the "princess" who actually never acts like a princess.
We could also start the "extended universe" discussion that shows Leia as a very independent woman who even while pregnant conducts important diplomatic missions that put her life under risk. But hey, even the movies don't completely support your "chain-mail bikini"-Leia narrative.

Leia is also this:

She's a fighting warrior princess. And she spends more time shooting, discussing and risking her life than she spends sitting around in a chain-mail bikini.
She's a courageous woman in a men's world of fighting battles. Even the whole old "damsel in distress"-theme that is used in Episode 4 is broken as soon as she grabs Luke's blaster to shoot the grate leading to the waste containers.

And who is Ripley? She's just a regular, down to earth woman, who happens to be an officer on a towing ship, with nothing exceptional about her except for being slightly more educated than some of the workers.

You know what Ripley is, too? She's also the main character in a film series I have absolutely no love for. There, I said it.

 

[YellowSubmarine]

You say he's a sexist but to me it just looks like he's teasing her, making fun of the "princess" who actually never acts like a princess.

Oh, he is by far one of the least sexist people in that galaxy, and he certainly takes a great pleasure when Leia defies his initial expectations, but they weren't exactly fair. Now, whether he does it to tease her, or because he was meant to be sexist, I have no idea and it wasn't my point.

Leia appeared as that one and only exceptional woman who challenges the preconceptions that were otherwise permeating the universe. She is one of the few women we see who aren't slaves. Her image and position were supported by royal ancestry. She was no regular child, she was Darth Vader's daughter. She had to prove herself to space cowboy for the basic respect. She had to endure being treated like the girl who needs protection from her boys, and now they added this scene to make it even more obvious. To add insult to injury, all the women in the prequels are terrible, though that's hardly a big surprise.

On a second thought, some of that makes Leia an even stronger character, but that doesn't change the fact that the originals were so written than no ordinary woman could shine there. And the oppression is portrayed like it's a walk in the park. That's not such a nice message to send.

And I prefer ordinary people. Princesses don't return my calls.

 

[lurok]

I love this scene. And beautifully shot too.

 

[JarodRussell]

If the next woman of the week is another fictional character, then I guess the purpose of these threads went out of the window for good.

 

[sidious618]

I saw the original Star Wars films when I was in the 2nd grade so Princess Leia was a pretty influencing figure in terms of what type of fictional women I liked. She was definitely my first crush although I don't think I understood that at the time.

She's really good in some of the books, yes. I've not read any over the past few years so perhaps there's been one, but I always thought there should be a Princess Leia book.

If the next woman of the week is another fictional character, then I guess the purpose of these threads went out of the window for good.

Feel free not to participate.

 

[{ Emilia }]

If the next woman of the week is another fictional character, then I guess the purpose of these threads went out of the window for good.

The next Woman of the Week will be a real woman again. Also I don't care for your lack of humour.

I never promised this thread would be a dead serious thing. This week it was either Princess Leia or Simone de Beauvoir.

It's fun so far.

 

[YellowSubmarine]

I can feel her pain. I usually reach out for a hammer if a hourglass pops up.