As Han Solo and the Rebels flee from Darth Vader’s Imperial forces in the second act of The Empire Strikes Back, he decides to call upon an old frenemy for help: Lando Calrissian. Although Lando initially betrays Han, he later joins the Rebels in freeing him and defeating the Empire in Return of the Jedi.
Although Lando was late to the party and enjoyed half as much screentime as the other heroes, he quickly became a beloved character among the Star Wars fan base. Throughout the original trilogy and the “Anthology” spin-off Solo: A Star Wars Story, Han and Lando shared a handful of iconic scenes.
Their First Meeting
Donald Glover nailed his performance as a young Lando Calrissian in Solo: A Star Wars Story, bringing just as much charm and humor to the role as Billy Dee Williams did in the original trilogy.
This is established right off the bat when Han first meets him. Han challenges him to a game of Sabacc for the Millennium Falcon, but Lando cheats to win.
The Kessel Run
In the original trilogy, Han bragged about making the Kessel Run in less than twelve parsecs. The scientifically savvy were quick to point out that a parsec is a unit of distance, not a unit of time.
This was cleared up in Solo: A Star Wars Story, in which Han made a dangerous detour in the Kessel Run, explaining why doing it in a shorter distance than usual was impressive. Another revelation in the prequel was that Lando was aboard the Falcon at the time.
Han Wins The Falcon From Lando
At the end of Solo: A Star Wars Story, viewers see how Han won the Millennium Falcon from Lando. He challenged him to a game of Sabacc, this time knowing the trick he has up his sleeve.
By using Lando’s own trick to beat him and take his ship, Han sets into motion the frenemy relationship that permeated throughout the original trilogy when they got back in touch.
Lando Greets Han On Bespin
On the run from the Empire, Han decides to stop off at Cloud City to see if Lando can help them out. He’s worried about what Lando’s reaction will be because they didn’t leave things on great terms the last time they were together.
As the Falcon lands and Han steps off to meet Lando, Lando cocks his fist, causing Han to jump, then reveals that it was a playful prank and he gives his old friend a hug.
Lando Betrays Han
When Han, Leia, Chewie, and C-3PO arrive in Cloud City, Lando invites them to dinner. They head down there, thinking it’s a perfectly friendly invitation, but then when the door slides open, Darth Vader is standing at the dinner table, ready to ambush them.
Han is devastated by Lando’s betrayal. In true Solo fashion, he whips out his blaster and fires at Vader. He knows he’s outmatched, but does what he can.
Han Punches Lando
Upon arrival in Cloud City, Lando seems to be perfectly friendly to Han, so it appears as though their previous problems are just water under the bridge. However, after accepting a dinner invitation, it becomes clear that Lando has sold Han out to the Empire.
Darth Vader tortures Han for a while, and when he’s taken back to his holding cell, Lando stops by to try to explain his choices. But before he can do any explaining, Han punches him in the face.
Han Is Frozen In Carbonite
The most iconic moment from the scene in which Han is frozen in carbonite is when Leia says, “I love you,” and Han replies, “I know.” But there’s a great Lando moment, too.
After Han comes out, frozen in carbonite, and he’s slammed down on the ground, Lando looks down at him and reflects on his mistakes. This inspires him to join Leia and Chewie and help them escape.
Lando Breaks Into Jabba’s Palace To Save Han
In the opening act of Return of the Jedi, all the Rebels infiltrate Jabba the Hutt’s palace with a plan to spring Han from his carbonite freezing. Luke sends in his droids with a message, while Leia disguises herself as a bounty hunter and gets turned into a sex slave.
Lando is revealed to have already infiltrated the palace, wearing a helmet to masquerade as one of the guards on Jabba’s skiff. This is the same helmet worn by Beckett in Solo: A Star Wars Story.
Han Saves Lando From The Sarlacc Pit
During the battle over the Sarlacc Pit on Jabba’s barge, Lando takes a tumble into the sand and almost falls into the dreaded pit. However, Han reaches a pole down for him to grab onto. Lando grabs it, but one of the Sarlacc Pit’s tentacles gets wrapped around his ankle and starts pulling him back the other way.
Han takes out a blaster to shoot the tentacle. This terrifies Lando, because Han’s sight hasn’t fully returned after escaping from his carbonite freezing. Fortunately, Han’s aim is as great as it always was.
Partying On Endor
At the end of Return of the Jedi, Han and Lando both played integral roles in the Battle of Endor, which brought the Galactic Civil War to a close and concluded the Empire’s reign. Han destroyed the shield generator down on the forest moon, allowing Lando to infiltrate the new Death Star in the Millennium Falcon and blow it up.
After the Rebellion’s victory, Han and Lando reunite down on Endor’s surface for a party with the Ewoks and the other Rebels.