Fandom Deathmatch #6: Han Solo (Star Wars) vs Malcolm Reynolds (Firefly)
Two wisecracking, smuggling space pirates go head to head in this installment of Fandom Deathmatch.
Contestant #1: Han Solo (Star Wars)
Attributes: Multi-lingual, expert mechanic, knowledge of various navigator systems, expert pilot
Contestant #2: Malcolm Reynolds (Firefly)
Attributes: Experience in warfare, able to take a beating (in part due to extreme amounts of scar tissue), companionship to crew, determination, strategist.
The Battle
It’s easy to point out the similarities between these two gents. Both live their lives a certain way because they have to, not because they want to. Both exist in a universe controlled by a dictatorship-like government, and prefer to exist outside its bounds. They rely on their crews (or partner-in-crime) for support, and give it back unconditionally. Both can be described as scoundrels. Oh, and they have great wits to go with their freelance attitudes, too.
These two also have an affinity for spaceships that few would ever want. Han has his love of the Millennium Falcon (won from his friend Lando), while Mal saw Serenity in a junkyard, and it was love at first sight. While Malcolm does love Serenity, his connection to the ship is slightly below that of the pilot, Wash. If Serenity is damaged, she’s merely fixed and goes on. Mal loves his ‘boat,’ but also knows it’s just a ship as well. Han is his own man, and not only pilots the Millennium Falcon, but builds upon her as well. She is his baby, and always will be. One can only wonder, too, how angry Han got when Lando brought her back with the satellite dish missing after the second Death Star attack.
While Han has Chewy, who would intimidate most men, at his side, Malcolm surrounds himself with eclectic crew, ranging from a prior comrade in arms to a guy who thinks trading his gun for a woman is the right thing to do. Props goes to Han, however, who is able to run a ship with only one other individual, who doesn’t even speak the same language. It’s interesting to point out how Chewy and Han can carry on conversations, yet never once actually SPEAK each other’s language. Kudos to Han for being multi-lingual in extra-species dialect.
On the subject of crew, one can also point out that while Chewy is only ever a positive influence on Han (never causing problems, never bringing his own drama to the table… at least we assume), while Mal’s crew is nothing BUT drama. Whether smuggling in their frozen sisters, having bad choices in the past haunt them, turning each other in for money, or typical marriage drama, it’s a wonder the ship is run so well at all. Mal’s attitude towards his crew (more like a father/brother), is the only way this rag-tag group is able to stick together. And even then, members do eventually choose to leave.
When it comes to survival, the ball falls into Mal’s court. While Han survives a painful torture session on Cloud City, it’s nothing compared to the amount of terrors Malcolm faces, and with a smile. From having his ear cut off to electrical shock to a frightening apparatus designed to create only pain, you have to wonder how Mal survives. Even his pilot Wash is scared by how much Malcolm is able to take. While Han screams in pain during torture, Mal merely laughs — likely because he’s had worse.
In the grand scheme, it’s also fair to point out that Han exists in a much more turbulent world than Malcolm. Sure, Mal is a rebel who was branded by the brown coat he wore, and now works on the outer rim to avoid running into the Alliance. Though the Alliance isn’t 100% evil, they’re not saints either. This isn’t the case for Han, who has to fight off the fascist ways of the Galactic Empire, multiple (and often talented) bounty hunters, and the gambling desires of the Hutts. If you’re near civilization, you’re an automatic target, if you aren’t… you’re an even bigger target.
While these men have similar existences, their futures are completely opposite. Han eventually becomes a rebel hero, marries Leia, has three children, and has a future within the New Republic. His days as a smuggler, merely surviving, are effectively over. Mal, on the other hand, remains true to who he is. After exposing dark secrets of the Alliance, he gets back into Serenity and flies off — chances are, continuing what he does best… or adequate.. and that is being free to live his life as he chooses.
The Winner
And in this epic battle of two guys who are just trying to get by in an imperfect universe, the winner is…
Malcolm Reynolds of Firefly
And the reason is quite simple. Malcolm will never be questioned if he shot first or not.
April 27th, 2009 at 2:37 pm
No way! Han has always and will always have shot first, no matter what doctoring was done. There will never be any doubt of that! I’ll give you that Mal is a badass, but Han is too. To be honest, this pair are so similar that if put in a head to head battle, they would end up working together to steal the wagered money before jetting off into the triple sunset.
Of course, then the similarities would start to get on their nerves and separation would be required before one shot the other over an argument about who had the better ship
April 27th, 2009 at 3:11 pm
I agree Han shot first, but figured to make a stab at that old wound, as no one ever had to put that question up on Mal.
They truly are two of the same mold, with Mal only stepping up just slightly (in my opinion) due to the fact he can take one serious beating…and also has suffered losses to his crew while having to keep his level head.
April 28th, 2009 at 12:07 am
I disagree… to backup team or ship in the Whedonverse is any match for a man with a Wookie.
Just sayin’.
April 28th, 2009 at 2:54 am
Sorry but doctored or no, han wasted time bantering with Greedo while Mal never breaks his stride as he buries a cap into Dobson’s dome. Major points to the guy who doesn’t waste time on BS
April 30th, 2009 at 3:47 pm
Chewie. Not Chewy. And the Wookiee always wins. I love Firefly as much as the next Whedon fanboy but I give the fight to Han. The Falcon could fly circles around Serenity.
April 30th, 2009 at 8:18 pm
I agree the Wookie always wins, but this deathmatch is for Han, not Chewie. (Pardon the miss spelling of his nickname). Though I’d love to see Han and Wash (considering he’s the true pilot of Serenity, as noted already) race the ships to see who is the better pilot, that may be a secondary deathmatch for another day.
July 25th, 2009 at 2:31 pm
No way, indeed. You forgot that Mal is nothing but a copy, a cheap imitation, a knockoff, one might say of Han Solo. Anyone who thinks that the similarities between the two is a coincidence needs to put the crack pipe down. From being overtly cynical space pirates with, deep down, a strong sense of duty to those with whom they travel–to their BOTH being involved in simmering romances with woman who are well above their social station and with whom their love is expressed in the form of bickering and traded insults–these are barely even two separate characters. (Granted that Han Solo himself is an archetype stolen from the longstanding picaresque tradition, nut Han was a new character who fit the picaro archetype, unlike Mal who directly fits the “I’m Han Solo under a different name” archetpye).
Take a look at Han’s clothing in the original film and you will even see that he’s dressed as an old west gunfighter, another theme carried over into Mal’s world.
Also, you forget that one difference between them is that Mal is reluctant to arm Serenity. He does it in the movie, but mostly to disguise the ship from the Reavers. Han never had such qualms, and helce the Falcon had two sets of guns. If this combat were fought ship to ship, Mal could only have run away (and at sublight speeds at that).
September 20th, 2010 at 12:00 pm
The Falcon made the Kessel Run in less than 12 parsecs (yeah, I know there’s something wrong with that term of measurement).
Han’s also the first human to be frozen in carbonite.
He infiltrated the Death Star and rescued a Princess and later made out with her.
He flew through an asteroid field
HE KILLED BOBA FETT (accidentally, but w/e)
He disabled the second Death Star’s shield generator
Just sayin’ don’t judge the man solely on his furry friend.
January 15th, 2011 at 11:33 pm
I am somewhat torn , I have been a huge star wars geek for a very long time , and while I love Han , hands down Mal is the winner simply due to style , yeah they are very similar characters but when you really look to it Mal has always stuck to his guns and been the same man , there was no change in him he was always the same man he is now .