With Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker released this week, there is a lot of talk in the fandom about many topics. One topic that is always of interest to many fans is shipping. The relationship between Finn and Poe has been one of the most popular and talked about from the new trilogy. While many people were hoping that these two would become a cannon romantic couple, this didn’t turn out to be the case. While all of these shipping conversations might just seem like fun, issues of representation in film and television are important as they impact what is viewed as normal.
While the Finn/Poe ship, often known as Stormpilot, might not be canon, there are many good reasons and arguments as to why it should have been.
THE ACTORS SUPPORT IT AND PLAY IT THAT WAY
As far as the people involved in making the movies are concerned, the actors at least were very much on board with the idea that these two could be boyfriends.
Both John Boyega and Oscar Isaac expressed being here for the idea, but Oscar Isaac especially has talked repeatedly about wanting to see it happen. Because of this, it seems that the actors, especially Isaac, played the relationship in a romantic way as much as possible, so it does come off that way in many scenes.
THEY BICKER LIKE AN OLD MARRIED COUPLE
The relationship between Poe and Finn built up over the trilogy. These two characters started off with a relationship of trust, and they grew to become close friends and allies. In The Rise of Skywalker, it’s clear that Finn and Poe have spent a lot of time together.
They are comfortable hanging out and being around each other often. Also, they are comfortable enough to bicker at times. This is often a trope that is used to indicate a romantic couple that knows each other well, and it’s something that is shown between these two.
THEIR RELATIONSHIP WOULD BE VIEWED ROMANTICALLY IF NOT FOR THEM BEING TWO MEN
One critique that is often made about the lack of LGBT representation in big franchises is that a same-sex friendship would be viewed as romantic if one of them were of the opposite gender. While it seems like in movies that men and women who interact even just a little can be assumed to have a romance with little build-up or explanation, the opposite is true for two people of the same gender.
Finn and Poe have a relationship that is more built up and explored and with a foundation of love and friendship than any other pair in the new trilogy. It seems like these two would have for sure been more than friends if one of them happened to be a woman.
THEIR RELATIONSHIP HAS MANY PARALLELS TO HAN AND LEIA’S
Star Wars is often all about parallels. In many ways, Rey represents Luke while Poe is similar to Leia and Finn is similar to Han. The relationship between Poe and Finn has some similarities to this iconic Star Wars romantic couple.
Poe is a Rebel leader with a temper while Finn is a man whose life has been controlled by The First Order and just wants to escape. Just like how Leia gave Han a new purpose in life, Poe gave a new life to Finn.
FINN RESCUE POE AND THEN POE GIVES FINN HIS NAME
From the very beginning, the relationship between these two is filled with deep moments and things that could easily be considered common romantic tropes in movies. It’s Finn who rescues Poe from The First Order and they escape together.
Then, it’s Poe who gives Finn his name and helps him step into his own personhood and life outside of being controlled as a Stormtrooper. This exchange of saving each other and helping each other is emotional and intense, and it’s a prime set up for a romance.
THEY ARE ALWAYS LOOKING OUT FOR EACH OTHER AND SAVING EACH OTHER
While romantic relationships in movies all look a bit different, in action and fantasy adventures often the two romantic leads have a relationship built on helping and saving each other.
In this way, Finn and Poe totally make sense as boyfriends. They are continually looking out for each other in dangerous situations and deeply concerned about the other’s well-being. They often save each other, and anytime they think the other is injured they act very impacted and worried.
FINN WEARING POE’S JACKET
When Finn thinks that Poe died after the Tie Fighter crashes in The Force Awakens, he takes Poe's signature jacket. After these two reunite at the Rebel base, Finn tries to give the jacket back.
However, Poe tells him that he thinks it suits him and that he’s a good man. This moment is played off as rather flirty, in a way. It’s also a common romantic trope for lovers to share clothes, so this moment is one that many people read as more than just friends.
THERE IS A TON OF NATURAL CHEMISTRY
When it comes to romance in movies, there is more to it than just how things look like based on plot and writing. Part of what makes audiences want two characters to get together in chemistry.
Finn and Poe have a lot of natural chemistry and tension on screen together. This is likely because of the chemistry of the actors combined with their acting choices. These two things combined with the fact that these two characters clearly mean a lot to each other make for a lot of romantic tension in their scenes.
THEY BECOME CO-LEADERS OF THE REBELLION
One of the most important moments of the movie for Poe is when he is made the leader, general, of the Rebellion after Leia dies.
He realizes that he will need support and help from those closest to him, so he basically asks Finn to co-lead with him and be his right hand. This just goes to show how much love and trust exists between these two characters, and it’s definitely easy to see how this love could be romantic.
IT WOULD HAVE BEEN SUPER EASY TO DO WITHOUT CHANGING ANYTHING
One of the best arguments for why these two should have been canon is that making their relationship romantic would have been natural and nothing else would need to be changed. Finn and Poe’s relationship was already built up and established a lot, and their importance to each other was already central.
They already have all the building blocks of a romantic relationship, so nothing would have needed to be explored or changed. All they would have had to do was show them kiss briefly, and it would have fit in well and have been a great example of positive representation.