I’m all about the OG when it comes to Star Wars. I could rewatch the original trilogy all day long. And have. During lockdown, I watched Star Wars movies 100 times. After that, I stopped counting.
No matter how many times I watch, I always see something new. Something in a new light.
I was walking on my treadmill one morning, watching Empire Strikes Back, when I noticed interesting pairings of the characters. Foils – opposites – that were used to push a key character forward in their development. Moving someone closer to their eventual style of leadership.
We can all benefit from a foil to help us achieve our potential. To push us forward. At any time we might be a Luke, Han, or C3PO. Then the question becomes, how do we find our foil?
The doubter needs a challenger
Let’s start with Luke Skywalker. The first movie is filled with his dismay at not going after his dreams. And then reluctance to follow them when given the chance.
He’s whiny (“But I wanted to go into Toshe Station to pick up some power converters!”) and a little grating on the nerves. Obi-Wan is probably the best suited to guide him at that point, because he offers encouragement.
By the second movie, however, Luke needs a different approach. To elevate to Jedi (or leader) he needs to be pushed to leave his doubter behind. This is where Yoda comes in.
Yoda is an absolute foil to Luke. He’s not particularly supportive, but bossy and direct. (“I don’t believe it.” Luke said. “And that is why you fail.” Replies the no-nonsense Yoda.
The doubter needs a challenger to move them forward. To get them out of “should I or shouldn’t I” thinking and limiting beliefs (“you want the impossible”).
Arrogance meets humility
When we meet Han, he’s a big boaster. Can’t talk enough about his ship and his skills as a pilot (and smuggler).
Leia is less than impressed (“Sometimes I amaze even myself.” Says Han. Leia responds with “That doesn’t sound too hard.”) and makes sure he knows there is likely more than his skill at play (“They let us go. It’s the only explanation for the ease of our escape.”).
Han’s arrogance and recklessness can get the group into trouble. He’s got courage to spare, but goes in guns blazing without a plan more often than not.
Leia on the other hand, won’t be led by Han. She represents humility to him, as she calls him and the situation like she sees it. She is also a leader herself and adept at keeping her head in challenging situations.
By the third movie, Han’s relationship with Leia has helped him evolve into a leader of the group. Taking chances? Yes. But with more humility and thinking ahead than he had previously.
Confidence and bravery, balanced with humility and planning, can be a powerful leadership combination.
Conflict avoidance needs a bit of a push
C3PO avoids danger and conflict, yet finds himself right in the middle of it from the get go. If he has the chance to run the opposite way from anything that looks remotely challenging, he will. No one wants him watching their back, as he’s just as likely to leave it unattended as not.
R2D2, on the other hand, is an adventurer. He may be small but he’s mighty, and uses what he has available to him to help others. When given an assignment, he will risk getting shot at, stolen, and more to do his part.
They are an unlikely pairing, but best friends throughout the stories. Every time R2 is ready to take off on an adventure, it’s 3PO that’s trying to get him to do the safer thing.
Eventually, however, adventure starts to grow on C3PO. He’s still hesitant in the face of imminent demise. Yet when he has the chance to be seen as a deity to the ewoks, he ends up embracing the role.
The one who eschews adventure, and finds himself in them regularly, finally embraces one.
We may not always feel comfortable jumping into conflict and change. Having the support and modeling of someone more adventurous can have us leaning into disruption.
Find the foil
Star Wars may be a story, but it has persisted for a reason. We can all see ourselves in the characters, whether it be a Luke, Leia, Han or – my personal favorite – Darth Vader.
They are archetypes. Reflections of human nature. Which is why they reasonate with us as an audience. We can find our own behaviors and personality quirks in how they react to each other, pursue adventures, and address (or avoid) challenges.
Humans (the real-life variety) tend to be more multi-dimensional than fictional characters. And yet, like those characters, we may have over-developed parts of our personalities. Maybe a healthy dose of self-doubt, arrogance, or conflict avoidance.
If we find ourselves in that situation, it might be time to seek out a foil. Someone that can help balance the areas where we over do it. Are direct with us, give us a dose of humility, or push us right into a challenge we would otherwise avoid.
One of the wonderful things about having a foil is that we offer our own gifts as well. In the case of Han and Leia, she provides levity he tends to avoid. But he helps her loosen up and become more vulnerable.
Foils help each other grow and evolve. They complement each others’ gifts.
The next time we find ourselves repeating a pattern, it might be worth considering who we know that models an opposing pattern. One that can help us learn how to disrupt, learn, and modify our approach.
We don’t have to be a jedi to master the force within us.
