The Kessel Run Explained - Star Wars

It is rather innocuous but Han Solo's remark about the Kessel Run is quite controversial in Star Wars. Add on to that, the less than stellar way the story was retconned(retroactive continuity) make it even more controversial.

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The funny thing about Star Wars, is that this one line is the most controversial part, [kessel run quote].

The series deals with elements of violence, religion, crime, retroactive numbering, and this is still the most controversial element [kessel run quote].

Even discussing it, gets some people riled. So lets see why this [kessel run quote] is the most controversial part of Star wars.

For starters, the line came from the Star Wars, because that what the film was called when it was released in 1977 none of this episode four a new hope mumbo jumbo. To many people, the line probably flew right above their heads. The context is how Han solo bragging about how fast his ship travels. So it sounds as if he traveled the Kessel Run in a fast time.

Except, a parsec is a unit of distance. 3.26 light years to be specific. So right away the line just doesn't make sense [you never heard of the millenium falcon...kessel run quote]. And of course whether you are flying in a spaceship or a garbage truck... distance is the same for everyone

Things could be fine. The arguing between people could have never started. Han Solo at the time was a smuggler, a smuggler also being a liar or someone that doesn't say things correctly makes sense. Heck, moments later he shoots a guy...unprovoked...at least he did before George Lucas edited the scene in later releases. But that's a story for another day


to fans that only watched the films, the vast majority of the fans, it was over 41 years before the han solo's remarks were clarified... this idea was present much earlier through comics and novels. But When solo a star wars story was released, the 12 parsec run through the kessel run was described as Han taking a short cut which resulted in him traversing the kessel run in less than 12 parsecs.

But then this brings up a whole new slew set of problems. A shortcut is not taking a designated route. The moment Han solo left the standard trail of the kessel run, he essentially stopped traveling on the kessel run. He did not make the Kessel Run.

Lets use a real world example. U.S. Route 66 connects Santa Ana California to Chicago, Illinios. Route 66 is 2,448 miles. No matter what, it is not longer and it is not shorter. Even though Santa Ana and Chicago are 1726 miles apart via a straight line. It is not possible to claim one can take the 2,448 mile trip down route 66 in 2,000 miles...to travel less than 2,448 miles would mean using some other route. Han Solo did not make the kessel run. We know that because the frickin kessel run has lights to guidethe way...granted 12 parsecs or 39.12 light years of lights is a really long path, but i digress.


Now to be fair, the kessel run is in the Akkadese Maelstrom, it would have made sense for Solo to say he traveled the Akkadese Maelstrom in 12 parsecs. It would have taken mere seconds in Solo for Lando to berate han for calling the Akkadese Maelstrom the Kessel Run as if to make make it sound like Han solo is always mixing them up. Jengo Fett hits his head while entering his ship to justify a goof from the original film. So there is precedent for creating backstory from these accidents. But, It still wouldn't make sense to do so when talking about how his ship was fast, but it would have made more sense.

In closing, Based on Han Solo logic, he would tell you that Usain Bolt is the fastest man alive because he can run the 100 meter dash in 96 meters.