I feel that the overall theme of ESB was pure emotional for each main core character . Luke the hero from ANH had to humble himself and started to realize he had to face his fears and grow as a person mentally to become a Jedi. For Han, he fell for Leia from the start..he really loved her but he didn’t want to be weak in her eyes so he just acted like he didn’t care so much . For Leia , she was raised to be strong willed and in charge so when someone like Han knew it’s okay for her to like someone and be a woman with needs , she had to break down her walls in order to be with someone to trust and really care about and be happy with in life.This always confused me until I watched this gif. At first it always looked sinister to me, which I knew it wasn’t, but looks that way when you watch it in ESB. Now, I can totally tell that he’s realizing a bad storm is brewing, and he knows they’re all in deep trouble. Thanks for this!
So this is a symbolic moment was Han admitting that things could go wrong and showing fear is just part of being human and not a sign of weakness. which is what Harrison was thinking all along that Han should’ve died in the sequel because he felt Han’s character reached his peak and there wasn’t more he could add to the direction of the saga.
The layers that went deep with each of the fab trio was really peeled that although the plot called for the dark times for the rebellion it was a chapter were a person’s character needed to change within themselves and adapt in order to grow and rely on each other to survive and not to ever give up hope if the circumstances are truly against them.
IMO I think that’s why ESB was the best directed of the entire franchise saga because it wasn’t about the basic plot but the inner plot that a person must face in life when things don’t always go your way and it’s okay to admit failure to learn and grow from it