It’s funny they should mention that scene, because I’d been thinking for a while how strongly Finn and Rey’s parting scene on Takodana reminded me of the parting between Rodrigo and Jimena from El Cid (1961).
I mean here’s the woman, climbing up on a higher step and turning to face the man for a Very Important Conversation just before he leaves we know you watched the scene over and over and were just itching to try it Rey you extra bitch
The woman tells the man how unhappy she is with his decision to go.
The man, in words or gesture, confesses his feelings for the woman. This part comes near the end of the conversation in El Cid but at the middle in the TFA scene, since Finn unlike Rodrigo must tell the truth of himself first.
The man makes a heartfelt request to the woman, and that’s exactly what it is–a request, respecfully presented without any pressure as opposed to “I can take whatever I want” or “I’ll destroy her”. As seen below, the woman refuses his request freely and without repercussions.
In each case the woman refuses, asserting her own needs and feelings, while also reiterating her unhappiness with the man’s leaving. This is greeted without any rancor or even a repeat request on the man’s part.
The man says good-bye with complicated feelings. He knows he’s leaving the woman unhappy and she doesn’t want him to go, but he does what he has to do. And she lets him, without threats or coercion, because when you love and respect someone you also respect their decisions.
That doesn’t mean she’s not sad as hell, of course. She climbs down from the steps she was standing on, the better to watch him go.
And she watches and watches, so sadly…
While the man in turn can barely bring himself to go, and looks back at her before he leaves for good.
Finn standing on a lower step than Rey is in fact a very recognizable romantic/knightly trope with the knight gazing up at his lady in adoration. It’s pretty much a mirrored version of the El Cid scene, as seen above. THAT is what knightly worship looks like.
Also, Kylo “bowing” to Rey? Nah, we’ve seen this before, a man invading a woman’s personal space after tying her up, only for her to ridicule and rebuff him (putting under a cut for potentially triggering content and also Hunchback of Notre Dame gifs):
Here’s the man, leaning into the personal space of a woman he has abducted and physically restrained. See how the woman leans away, the fear and revulsion clear in her face:
And then she humiliates him, revealing him as the pathetic bully he is with such force/Force that he is physically repelled. I was always very impressed at Esmeralda’s projectile spitting ability.
As usual Reylows get it all wrong and don’t know their cinematic history lmao.
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