Solo: A Star Wars Story was a unique and unexpected look at the early history of Star Wars' most iconic scoundrel, Han Solo. It explored how he first met Chewbacca and Lando Calrissian and how his love for the Millennium Falcon was born and grew over time. But most importantly, fans got to see how his affinity for the Falcon was born and how he ultimately won the ship from Lando in a fateful game of Sabacc.
The Millennium Falcon has often been praised as the fastest ship in the galaxy and one of the most reliable, so long as no one sabotaged it. But more than that, it's always been known as the ship that was tied to Han Solo and the many battles it survived such as the Battle of Yavin and the Battle of Endor. While Han clearly showed a deep affection for the ship, it could be argued that he never deserved it in the first place, thanks to the events of Solo.
Lando Cared More For the Millennium Falcon Than Han Ever Did
When Han first saw the Falcon, it was under the ownership of Lando Calrissian. While Lando was a scoundrel in his own way, he was also a man who wanted the best of everything. As a result, the Falcon was sleek, well polished, and even had an escape pod. It was also incredibly fast and had nothing out of place. It was clear that Lando respected the ship for both its capabilities and its beauty. While it could be argued that he never let the ship be pushed in the way Han had, Lando only did so to maintain its integrity and looks. It may not have been the most exciting life for the ship, but it was safe.
Han, on the other hand, may have let the ship be pushed to new limits and prove itself both in speed and strength. He also could've done the same with any highly capable ship. Plus, in an aesthetic sense, he let it go in a way that could appear selfish and careless. In the time he had it, Han got rid of Lando's escape pod to survive the Kessel Run and also inflicted serious damage to the ship's outer shell. Even when he got ownership of it, he never got it fixed, leading many to think it was a pile of junk. Whether this was a way to trick people into underestimating the ship was unknown. As the years progressed, however, Han continued to prove how little he began to care for the Millennium Falcon.
The Millennium Falcon Wasn't Always Han's Priority
Following the Galactic Civil War, Han and Chewie flew the Falcon for many more missions as they started to snuff out any Imperial remnants that remained. However, as the dust began to settle, Han found himself in a situation where -- alongside a man named Gennis Ducain -- they had to perform a job. But unknown to Han, Ducain had his own plans and stole the ship. From there, it was stolen at least one more time before it was ultimately left on Jakku. Sadly, even after its theft, Han didn't scour the galaxy to find the ship that had essentially become his home over the years. While it was likely because he was now a married man trying to maintain a family, it still showed that the Falcon had no longer become a priority for him.
Han's life took many unexpected turns, from being a rebel hero to a husband and father. However, most of his adult life was spent on the Millennium Falcon. As a result, the way that he parted ways and the overall upkeep he had on the ship showed that while he loved it, it wasn't something he cherished in the way Lando had. While they were great companions, time has proven that Han didn't truly deserve the Falcon as he couldn't maintain it or treat it as a priority the more his life changed. Even though this may seem shocking, it was all foreshadowed by how he handled the ship way back in Solo: A Star Wars Story.