# So Leia just happened to be around the corner from Tattooine? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Tags:** movies\ **Created:** [September 17, 2020, 3:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-leia-just-happened-to-be-around-the-corner-from-tattooine/920841 "2020-09-17T15:21:35Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2020, 6:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-leia-just-happened-to-be-around-the-corner-from-tattooine/920841/21 "2020-09-17T18:52:01Z")
> [@LSLGuy](#): > > With a man like our **kenobi** all he has to do is mutter under his breath “Judges: these _are_ the answers you’re looking for.” Next thing you know, he’s the trivia champ! _waves hand_ The name of the cell _is_ 3263827. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2020, 6:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-leia-just-happened-to-be-around-the-corner-from-tattooine/920841/22 "2020-09-17T18:53:57Z")
> [@iamthewalrus\_3](#): > > Despite Luke’s claim that Tatooine is the farthest planet from the bright center of the universe, it sure seems to be central to everything all the time throughout various generations of Star Wars. I was surprised that the Sequel Trilogy didn’t go there, until the final scene of the final film. When I’d seen the trailers for _The Force Awakens_, and shots of a desert world, I assumed it was Tatooine, only to be (somewhat pleasantly) surprised that it wasn’t. ---
**Author:** ![Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba9def/32.png) [@Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Just_Asking_Questions)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2020, 7:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-leia-just-happened-to-be-around-the-corner-from-tattooine/920841/23 "2020-09-17T19:58:42Z")
> [@kenobi\_65](#): > > _waves hand_ The name of the cell _is_ 3263827. 😃 [Lucas does the hand-wavy thingy] The cell was in detention block THX and fhe cell number is 1138. The trash masher was THX1138. The Guard standing outside the Millenium Falcon with the “bad transmitter” was TK 1138. The blockade runner was Tantive 1138. As they have ALWAYS been. ---
**Author:** ![Asuka](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/dec6dc/32.png) [@Asuka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Asuka)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2020, 10:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-leia-just-happened-to-be-around-the-corner-from-tattooine/920841/24 "2020-09-17T22:06:15Z")
Here’s A New Hope thing that always bugged me, if the entire point of the Trench Run was to avoid the surface fire from the AA guns, how is Han able to swoop in and save the day in a glorified freighter without being shot down immediately? ---
**Author:** ![The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_other_waldo_pepper/32/12370_2.png) [@The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Other_Waldo_Pepper)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2020, 10:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-leia-just-happened-to-be-around-the-corner-from-tattooine/920841/25 "2020-09-17T22:16:22Z")
Wouldn’t they switch off the AA guns to avoid hitting Vader? ---
**Author:** ![gnoitall](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/bb73d2/32.png) [@gnoitall](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gnoitall)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2020, 10:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-leia-just-happened-to-be-around-the-corner-from-tattooine/920841/26 "2020-09-17T22:31:59Z")
If I recall, that’s the moment the Gold squadron’s first attack element realized they’d be facing fighter attack: when turbolaser batteries ceased fire. [![]( " - YouTube") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AA_D__HMuFw) ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_Q](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/898d66/32.png) [@Johnny\_Q](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_Q)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2020, 5:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-leia-just-happened-to-be-around-the-corner-from-tattooine/920841/27 "2020-09-18T05:46:47Z")
wasn’t 3263827 actually Mark Hamill’s phone number at the time? ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2020, 5:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-leia-just-happened-to-be-around-the-corner-from-tattooine/920841/28 "2020-09-18T17:57:19Z")
> [@muldoonthief](#): > > … the ship that received the plans was currently being boarded by the most terrifying person in the Empire… Boy, I’ll say. Vader scared me exactly _once_ in all the _SW_ movies, and that was it: [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wxL8bVJhXCM](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wxL8bVJhXCM) ---
**Author:** ![muldoonthief](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/muldoonthief/32/3188_2.png) [@muldoonthief](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/muldoonthief)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2020, 6:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-leia-just-happened-to-be-around-the-corner-from-tattooine/920841/29 "2020-09-18T18:02:47Z")
Once? How about this scene? [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/m0XuKORufGk/maxresdefault.jpg "I find your lack of faith disturbing") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m0XuKORufGk) Scared the crap out of me when I was 9. ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2020, 6:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-leia-just-happened-to-be-around-the-corner-from-tattooine/920841/30 "2020-09-18T18:29:03Z")
I was 12, and nah. Impressive, but not scary. ---
**Author:** ![KneadToKnow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kneadtoknow/32/3999_2.png) [@KneadToKnow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KneadToKnow)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2020, 3:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-leia-just-happened-to-be-around-the-corner-from-tattooine/920841/31 "2020-10-28T15:25:46Z")
My favorite part of that scene has always been how Tarkin watches like he’s tasting a fine wine, just sort of savoring the moment, then realizes he has to get the meeting back on track. ---
**Author:** ![JohnT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnt/32/15048_2.png) [@JohnT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnT)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2020, 4:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-leia-just-happened-to-be-around-the-corner-from-tattooine/920841/32 "2020-10-28T16:52:51Z")
THX1138, of course. (Now let me check your spoiler.) ETA: lol, I suck. ---
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2020, 8:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-leia-just-happened-to-be-around-the-corner-from-tattooine/920841/33 "2020-10-28T20:04:18Z")
> [@iamthewalrus\_3](#): > > Despite Luke’s claim that Tatooine is the farthest planet from the bright center of the universe, it sure seems to be central to everything all the time throughout various generations of Star Wars. Not an issue. Simple hyperbole. It may be a backwater planet, but that doesn’t mean it’s far away from the population center. Give what we see of it, it seems dry and inhospitable, with not big cities. ---
**Author:** ![johnspartan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/a183cd/32.png) [@johnspartan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/johnspartan)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2020, 7:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-leia-just-happened-to-be-around-the-corner-from-tattooine/920841/34 "2020-10-29T19:29:10Z")
Does all the hamhanded backstory-ing of the prequels move Vader down a bit on the list of “all-time movie villains”? ---
**Author:** ![Andy\_L](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/c67d28/32.png) [@Andy\_L](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Andy_L)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2020, 7:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-leia-just-happened-to-be-around-the-corner-from-tattooine/920841/35 "2020-10-29T19:37:03Z")
Yeah, this is Luke’s point of view, and he doesn’t know much about the bigger world. It’s like a kid in Yonkers talking about how isolated he feels (sorry Yonkers); he’s not really isolated because he’s far from the bright lights - he’s isolated because he’s a kid and can’t get anywhere else, just like Luke can’t. ---
**Author:** ![Hampshire](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hampshire/32/4887_2.png) [@Hampshire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hampshire)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2020, 7:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-leia-just-happened-to-be-around-the-corner-from-tattooine/920841/36 "2020-10-29T19:55:30Z")
And in a universe where droids have been around for generations, walking talking thinking droids, how inept a couple of imperial gun men had to be to let a pod be ejected from a ship they were pursuing carrying a rather small “death star plans” storage device with a simple “no life forms aboard, let it go”. Not even gonna follow that thing down with a tie fighter? Not gonna mention it to another employee? No one else saw this pod fleeing the scene? Hmmm ---
**Author:** ![zimaane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/a3d4f5/32.png) [@zimaane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zimaane)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2020, 8:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-leia-just-happened-to-be-around-the-corner-from-tattooine/920841/37 "2020-10-29T20:08:14Z")
The general incompetence of the Imperial soldiers has been widely commented on. I get the sense that the average soldier of the Empire is a draftee who is just doing the minimum to get by. The Empire has numbers and technology on its side, against the passion of Rebellion. ---
**Author:** ![Ludovic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ab992/32.png) [@Ludovic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ludovic)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2020, 8:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-leia-just-happened-to-be-around-the-corner-from-tattooine/920841/38 "2020-10-29T20:52:31Z")
Yeah, I didn’t catch onto this until I saw Solo, where he goes up to a recruiting station and is obviously hiding something about his past but the recruiting officer is so desperate for pilots he doesn’t care as long as he gives him a last name, any last name. ---
**Author:** ![muldoonthief](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/muldoonthief/32/3188_2.png) [@muldoonthief](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/muldoonthief)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2020, 9:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-leia-just-happened-to-be-around-the-corner-from-tattooine/920841/39 "2020-10-29T21:58:14Z")
He _thought_ he was signing up to be a pilot, but as the next scene showed, the Empire was just looking for warm bodies to throw into battle as infantry. He didn’t even get stormtrooper armor. ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2020, 10:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-leia-just-happened-to-be-around-the-corner-from-tattooine/920841/40 "2020-10-30T22:28:27Z")
> [@muldoonthief](#): > > He _thought_ he was signing up to be a pilot, but as the next scene showed, the Empire was just looking for warm bodies to throw into battle as infantry. There’s a line of dialog in the script, when Han first hooks up with Beckett and crew, which indicates that he did, in fact, start out at the Academy (presumably to train as a pilot), but got kicked out, which is why he ended up as a grunt. > [@](#): > > I got kicked out of the Imperial Academy for having a mind of my own. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-leia-just-happened-to-be-around-the-corner-from-tattooine/920841.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-leia-just-happened-to-be-around-the-corner-from-tattooine/920841.md?page=3)