# What was Lucas thinking with the Porkins character in Star Wars? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [September 16, 2009, 7:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-lucas-thinking-with-the-porkins-character-in-star-wars/510349 "2009-09-16T19:10:41Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 7
**Author:** ![TBG](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c89c15/32.png) [@TBG](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TBG)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2016, 11:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-lucas-thinking-with-the-porkins-character-in-star-wars/510349/121 "2016-01-23T23:40:57Z")
> [@MrAtoz](#): > > I like how, in the final scene in that video, Red Leader tells Luke, “I met your father once, when I was just a boy.” > > I wonder if that was before or after his father slaughtered a bunch of innocent children? 🙂 Before, because after would have meant meeting Vader, and he wouldn’t know that Vader was Luke’s father, only Ben, Yoda, and what… Bail Organa, maybe… knew that. Oh and Artoo. Artoo knows all. Including apparently what happens to major characters lightyears away… ---
**Author:** ![Alfishius](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e56c9b/32.png) [@Alfishius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alfishius)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2016, 12:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-lucas-thinking-with-the-porkins-character-in-star-wars/510349/122 "2016-06-23T00:08:02Z")
> [@muldoonthief](#): > > Why wouldn’t he be carrying torpedoes? He’s flying a Y-wing, a fighter-bomber designed to carry torpedoes. And if I was defending my only base from complete destruction, and the only weapon that could take out the attacker was a proton torpedo, I think I’d put them on every ship capable of carrying them. Bingo. ---
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2016, 12:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-lucas-thinking-with-the-porkins-character-in-star-wars/510349/123 "2016-06-23T00:21:15Z")
So, was Porkins buddies with the ice-cream-maker guy from _Empire_? ---
**Author:** ![AncientHumanoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ancienthumanoid/32/278_2.png) [@AncientHumanoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AncientHumanoid)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2016, 12:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-lucas-thinking-with-the-porkins-character-in-star-wars/510349/124 "2016-06-23T00:21:36Z")
> [@Lorne\_Armstrong](#): > > Three things I never understood about the end of Star Wars: > > 1. Why is there a rebel pilot from Texas? Is there a Texas in outer space? > > 2. Who is the Y-Wing pilot who survives the battle? I have never figured that out. > > 3. Why does Luke appear to have an orgasm after the torpedo enters the port? Well… there’s an asteroid the size of Texas that a bunch of oil workers are on. ---
**Author:** ![ExTank](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/35a633/32.png) [@ExTank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ExTank)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2016, 7:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-lucas-thinking-with-the-porkins-character-in-star-wars/510349/125 "2016-06-23T07:46:06Z")
> [@Lorne\_Armstrong](#): > > Three things I never understood about the end of Star Wars: > > 1. Why is there a rebel pilot from Texas? Is there a Texas in outer space? > > 2. Who is the Y-Wing pilot who survives the battle? I have never figured that out. > > 3. Why does Luke appear to have an orgasm after the torpedo enters the port? 1. Texas is everywhere. You cannot escape it. 2. Fanwank/LucasFilm crap aside, there’s strong on-screen evidence that more people/pilots survived the battle; just count the orange flight suited pilot figures after Luke gets back from that mission. 3. _:Sterling Archer:_ “Are we still doing ‘phrasing’?” ---
**Author:** ![Push\_You\_Down](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/push_you_down/32/9095_2.png) [@Push\_You\_Down](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Push_You_Down)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2016, 10:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-lucas-thinking-with-the-porkins-character-in-star-wars/510349/126 "2016-06-23T22:56:45Z")
> [@Lorne\_Armstrong](#): > > 1. Who is the Y-Wing pilot who survives the battle? I have never figured that out. > **[Keyan Farlander](https://starwars.fandom.com/wiki/Keyan_Farlander)** > > Keyan Farlander was a human male who served as a rebel pilot within the Alliance to Restore the Republic.\[1\] Farlander was present at a briefing aboard the Alliance flagship Home One shortly prior to the Battle of Endor. During the briefing he stood... That guy. ---
**Author:** ![Biffster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/biffster/32/339_2.png) [@Biffster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biffster)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2016, 11:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-lucas-thinking-with-the-porkins-character-in-star-wars/510349/127 "2016-06-23T23:00:42Z")
How is it that Luke knew exactly how to fly an Xwing fighter when he’d never had any training pin his life? And why would the rebel forces have trusted him to fly one? Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk ---
**Author:** ![Sweetums](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/5f8ce5/32.png) [@Sweetums](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sweetums)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2016, 11:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-lucas-thinking-with-the-porkins-character-in-star-wars/510349/128 "2016-06-23T23:16:29Z")
> [@Biffster](#): > > How is it that Luke knew exactly how to fly an Xwing fighter when he’d never had any training pin his life? And why would the rebel forces have trusted him to fly one? > Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk The typical explanation is that Luke grew up flying a plane called a “Skyhopper” that was manufactured by the same company, and had very similar controls. ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2016, 11:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-lucas-thinking-with-the-porkins-character-in-star-wars/510349/129 "2016-06-23T23:25:45Z")
> [@Biffster](#): > > How is it that Luke knew exactly how to fly an Xwing fighter when he’d never had any training pin his life? And why would the rebel forces have trusted him to fly one? > Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk > [@Sweetums](#): > > The typical explanation is that Luke grew up flying a plane called a “Skyhopper” that was manufactured by the same company, and had very similar controls. He used to target womp rats. That’s saying something. ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2016, 11:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-lucas-thinking-with-the-porkins-character-in-star-wars/510349/130 "2016-06-23T23:52:32Z")
> [@Lemur866](#): > > Here you go. Weird. [This](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f00IkrWvur4&t=0m28s) is markedly different from what I saw at a drive-in in '77. It was night on Tatooine when Luke saw the battle, for one. ---
**Author:** ![dropzone](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dropzone/32/7515_2.png) [@dropzone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dropzone)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2016, 1:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-lucas-thinking-with-the-porkins-character-in-star-wars/510349/131 "2016-06-24T01:06:50Z")
> [@Declan](#): > > In otherwords he was an experienced pro and bugged out when the situation called for it. Isn’t that what the AF teaches you, that they spent more teaching you than the aircraft cost? > [@Pine\_Fresh\_Scent](#): > > A friend of mine was refueling his F-15 over Afghanistan, but didn’t know there was an AF General watching from the observation window of the tanker. My friend’s commander later got a call from the general’s staff about my friend not wearing his flight gloves, having his sleeves rolled up, oxygen mask down and his chin strap undone. I guess it’s good no one knew about the MP3 player spliced into the comm system. > > My point is some aircrew button every button and truly “dress for egress”, while other are more willing to risk burns and other ejection injuries in the name of comfort. So the undone straps in SW don’t bother me. I think it has more to do with wardrobe issues than real world precedent, though. The general suspected because he had had his Walkman plugged in. AFs are notoriously slack. > [@terentii](#): > > If you were in college back in the '70s, you obviously hung out with the wrong crowd… :dubious: Indeed. We SF fans were of a type. ---
**Author:** ![ExTank](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/35a633/32.png) [@ExTank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ExTank)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2016, 1:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-lucas-thinking-with-the-porkins-character-in-star-wars/510349/132 "2016-06-24T01:46:49Z")
> [@Push\_You\_Down](#): > > [Keyan Farlander | Wookieepedia | Fandom](http://starwars.wikia.com/wiki/Keyan_Farlander) > > That guy. That bio is a perfect example of why I hate the EU. ---
**Author:** ![Acsenray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/acsenray/32/4519_2.png) [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2016, 2:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-lucas-thinking-with-the-porkins-character-in-star-wars/510349/133 "2016-06-24T02:15:04Z")
> [@ExTank](#): > > That bio is a perfect example of why I hate the EU. I have no idea. ---
**Author:** ![Hoops](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hoops/32/6408_2.png) [@Hoops](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hoops)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2016, 2:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-lucas-thinking-with-the-porkins-character-in-star-wars/510349/134 "2016-06-24T02:19:08Z")
> [@running\_coach](#): > > He used to target womp rats. > That’s saying something. As womp rats to wanton boys are we to th’ gods; They bullseye us in T-16s for their sport. ---
**Author:** ![Alfishius](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e56c9b/32.png) [@Alfishius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alfishius)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2016, 2:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-lucas-thinking-with-the-porkins-character-in-star-wars/510349/135 "2016-11-24T02:53:12Z")
> [@ExTank](#): > > That bio is a perfect example of why I hate the EU. Yeh the EU is crap. Including the Thrawn stuff. Hope none of that EVER sees the screen. ---
**Author:** ![TBG](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c89c15/32.png) [@TBG](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TBG)\ **Post date:** [November 26, 2016, 3:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-lucas-thinking-with-the-porkins-character-in-star-wars/510349/136 "2016-11-26T03:19:26Z")
> [@Alfishius](#): > > Yeh the EU is crap. Including the Thrawn stuff. Hope none of that EVER sees the screen. Thrawn is on the screen (canonically) in the current season of Rebels. ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [November 26, 2016, 3:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-lucas-thinking-with-the-porkins-character-in-star-wars/510349/137 "2016-11-26T03:28:44Z")
Ha-ha! ---
**Author:** ![Half\_Mile\_Ride](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/7993a0/32.png) [@Half\_Mile\_Ride](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Half_Mile_Ride)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2016, 6:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-lucas-thinking-with-the-porkins-character-in-star-wars/510349/138 "2016-12-22T06:45:05Z")
Porkins was just made to be the comical-relief character in the movie, what a shame the actor died so soon after doing the movie. ---
**Author:** ![Intergalactic\_Gladiator](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/intergalactic_gladiator/32/112_2.png) [@Intergalactic\_Gladiator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Intergalactic_Gladiator)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2016, 3:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-lucas-thinking-with-the-porkins-character-in-star-wars/510349/139 "2016-12-22T15:31:35Z")
> [@Half\_Mile\_Ride](#): > > Porkins was just made to be the comical-relief character in the movie, what a shame the actor died so soon after doing the movie. William Hootkins had steady work until he died in 2005: > **[William Hootkins](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_Hootkins)** > > William Michael "Hoot" Hootkins (July 5, 1948 – October 23, 2005) was an American actor, best known for supporting roles in Hollywood blockbusters such as Star Wars, Raiders of the Lost Ark, and Batman. > Hootkins was born in Dallas, Texas. He attended St. Mark's School of Texas from grade 1 through 12. At age 15, Hootkins found himself caught up in the FBI's investigation into the assassination of President John F. Kennedy when he was interviewed about Ruth Paine, his Russian teacher. Marina O... It would have been neat if they could have added him in the battle at the end of Rogue One and given him a badass moment in it. Gareth Edwards inserted unused pilot footage that he found at Lucasfilm, I wonder if there was any more of Porkins filmed. ---
**Author:** ![TBG](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c89c15/32.png) [@TBG](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TBG)\ **Post date:** [December 24, 2016, 11:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-lucas-thinking-with-the-porkins-character-in-star-wars/510349/140 "2016-12-24T23:08:37Z")
> [@Intergalactic\_Gladiator](#): > > William Hootkins had steady work until he died in 2005: > > [William Hootkins - Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_Hootkins) William Hootkins? That’s only marginally an improvement on Jek Porkins. Though knowing Lucas, he’d be some sort of owl creature. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-lucas-thinking-with-the-porkins-character-in-star-wars/510349.md?page=6) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-lucas-thinking-with-the-porkins-character-in-star-wars/510349.md?page=8)