From running away from enemy ships to going up against the enemy side by side, Rey and Finn went through a lot together. First introduced to the Star Wars universe in The Force Awakens, the two became fast friends as they teamed up to help the Resistance.
Played by Daisy Ridley and John Boyega respectively, Rey and Finn had an easy dynamic to their friendship and developed a heartwarming bond over the course of the sequel trilogy. Throughout the three films, there were many great moments that showcased just how brilliant their friendship was, and that was a real highlight of their personal narrative arcs.
Running From The First Order
Rey and Finn had a very chaotic first meeting in The Force Awakens – having just escaped from the First Order, Finn crash-landed on Jakku and fatefully came across Rey, who assumed that Finn was a member of the Resistance. Before they could introduce themselves any further, they were accosted by First Order Tie fighters and forced to run, but not before Rey could reject taking Finn’s hand.
As the two made a break for it, it ended up being Rey giving Finn a helping hand before they boarded the Millennium Falcon and fought off the enemy ships. Through all the chaos, the scene was a good introduction to the dynamic of Finn and Rey’s relationship and hinted at how well the two could work together.
The Formal Introductions
Despite the debate that Rey should have ended up with Finn, it was clear from the beginning that the two would have a meaningful friendship outside of any romance. After they had fought off the onslaught of First Order ships and fled from Jakku, Rey and Finn had a moment to catch their breaths and actually introduce themselves.
The quiet moment didn’t last for long however, as once the two were done with complimenting each other’s skills in battle, they had to quickly fix an issue on the Falcon. What followed was a comical scene of Rey trying to fix the ship, with Finn hindering rather than helping. The scene showed the comical ease with which they treated each other, and how they already bickered like old friends.
Hiding On The Falcon
Rey and Finn’s reprieve from danger didn’t last for long – after meeting Han and Chewie and learning of the Resistance’s plans, they were then cornered by two different gangs after Han. Although they were instructed to hide, Rey and Finn instead crawled around the depths of Han’s ship trying to find a way out of the situation.
What followed was a series of comical mishaps that led to Rey and Finn running from the Rathtars Rey had accidentally released onboard the Eravana. Even when on the run, Rey managed to save Finn from the creatures and escape relatively unscathed. The moment was an early insight into the chaos they always found themselves, and yet always managed to escape from thanks to each other’s help.
Finn’s Confession
Finn and Rey fell into an easy stride with one another after going through so much in such a short amount of time. Despite how quickly they formed their friendship however, Finn’s vulnerability when he admitted to Rey that he was running from the First Order showed how quickly the two had grown to trust each other too.
His admittance that he wasn’t a “hero” was one of Finn’s best quotes, as not only did it show his courage in denouncing his past, but also showed that he felt enough of a bond with Rey to tell her the truth, and hope that she accepts him anyway. Thankfully, Rey didn’t judge her friend, and instead tried to convince him not to continue running from his past.
Starkiller Base Rescue
After Rey was captured by Kylo Ren on Takodana, Finn was heartbroken and decided to go through with his own rescue mission by pretending to help the Resistance in taking down Starkiller Base. Whilst Finn did end up helping the Resistance, his commitment to rescuing Rey was unfaltering.
However, much to Finn’s surprise, Rey had ended up rescuing herself. Nevertheless, the hug they shared was a heartwarming sight, as they both realized how much they grew to care for each other. The moment may have been overshadowed by the imminent danger, but Rey’s realization that someone had cared enough to come back for her was a particularly poignant scene.
Rey’s Goodbye
The ending of The Force Awakens was bittersweet for Finn and Rey – although they had just helped destroy the First Order’s super-weapon, and found the location of Luke Skywalker, Finn was gravely injured in the fight against Kylo Ren. In a somber moment, Rey bid her friend farewell as he lay unconscious and promised they would see each other again.
Despite the sad circumstances, this moment was a sweet insight into how much Rey worried for Finn, as she tearfully said goodbye and kissed him on the forehead. Considering the fact that Rey was leaving, and she didn’t know for how long, the scene was even more moving, and wrapped up their friendship well for the first installment.
Reunion On Crait
Rey and Finn spent most of The Last Jedi separated, with Finn off with Rose and Rey training with Luke. Whilst the first film of the trilogy introduced them and set up their friendship, The Last Jedi expanded their relationships with other people, and thus lacked in showing their friendship.
However, the distance between the two made their reunion at the end of the film even more important. As Finn, along with the Resistance, escaped the caves, he realized that Rey was waiting on the other side. Considering the last time Rey saw Finn he was unconscious, the relief on her face upon seeing her friend was palpable. The two then shared an embrace that seemed more meaningful than any words would have been.
Finn’s Unique Idea Of “Alone”
Her survival instincts and powerful force abilities were some of the best traits of Rey’s character, but that didn’t mean that Finn would let her go alone in fighting the enemy. As Rey readied herself to leave at the start of The Rise of Skywalker, Finn reminded her she didn’t have to do everything alone, as she had her friends.
Instead of giving Rey the chance to protest, Finn agreed that she did need to be alone, but “alone, with friends.” It showed just how well he knew his friend, and that he was willing to support her through everything, just as long as he could do it by her side. Rey’s recognition made the moment even more moving, as she realized Finn was right and that she could rely on her friends no matter what.
Pep Talk Before Landing On Kijimi
Whilst on Pasana, Rey went up against Kylo Ren again, with treacherous results. After believing that she had accidentally killed Chewie, Rey was distraught and even more determined to follow through with her own plans, alone. However, Finn knew better than to let his friend suffer in silence.
Not only did he seek her out alone to reassure her that what had happened wasn’t her fault, but he also rallied more support with Poe, and told her that they were all in the fight together, no matter what. Despite the pressure they were all under, Finn always made sure to comfort his friend, even when she wasn’t aware she needed it.
Realizing The War Is Over
Despite the debate that the use of Finn, Poe, and Rey as a trio was disappointing, seeing all of them reunite after Palpatine’s defeat at the end of The Rise of Skywalker was a great moment. After everything that each of them had endured individually, they all finally had the knowledge that the war was over, and they were safe.
The moment was moving for Rey in particular, after having just defeated the only family she had, watching Ben Solo die and losing the dyad connection, the fact that she had her friends was a saving grace, even with the victory of the war. However bittersweet, when Finn and Rey’s eyes met through the cheering crowds, and then the three of them embraced, was an emotional end for the friends.
