Brad Ricca brings us this fascinating insight into the infamous metal bikini over at StarWars.com.
(w)hen Luke shows up, he is not there to rescue her. He asks for “Captain Solo and the Wookiee,” not Leia. She’s always been strong. Han is the one who is helpless at that point. In fact, when Luke first sees Leia in chains, he doesn’t even bat a single, Jedi eyelash. When Jabba takes her captive, Lando just hangs out in a dark corner with his weird-teeth hat.
No one is worried about her.
Sitting in the audience, we are mesmerized by Leia, but terrified of what is happening to her. Her friends know better. When Leia finally escapes, she does it herself – using the chains to choke Jabba to a grim, rubbery death. When she emerges on the top of that sail barge, swinging a giant pike and shooting a blaster cannon, she is no longer a slave.
