Maz Kanata, played by Lupita Nyong’o, is a Force-sensitive pirate queen who has lived for over a thousand years. Running a castle on Takodana, Maz provides shelter, wisdom, and aid to those seeking refuge from war. Finn, played by John Boyega, is a former First Order stormtrooper who abandons his post after witnessing the horrors of war. The meeting between Maz Kanata and Finn in The Force Awakens is brief but critical. Their interaction shifts Finn’s perspective, pushing the young warrior toward his destiny in the Resistance.
Maz Kanata and Finn are at a crossroads when they meet. One is an ancient being with a deep understanding of the Force and the struggle between light and dark. The other is a soldier who has broken free from oppression but remains lost. Maz, with keen insight and wisdom, helps Finn take the first step toward becoming something more than a fugitive.
Takodana: A Place of Guidance and Change
After escaping the First Order, Finn arrives at Maz Kanata’s castle with Rey, Han Solo, and BB-8. The group is searching for a way to get BB-8 to the Resistance. Han brings them to Maz, believing the pirate can help. Finn, however, has a different goal. The young warrior wants to leave the conflict behind, fearing the inevitable war with the First Order.
The moment Finn enters the castle, Maz notices something. The ancient being, despite not being a Jedi, has a deep connection to the Force. The large, enhanced goggles that rest over Maz’s eyes allow a unique way of seeing—beyond the physical and into the hearts of others. Finn tries to hide, but Maz sees the truth.
Sitting with Finn at a table, Maz doesn’t ask why the young warrior is running. Instead, the wise pirate simply acknowledges the truth:
“I have lived long enough to see the same eyes in different people. I see your eyes. I know your eyes.”
The words cut deep. Finn is not just another runaway. The fear, the hesitation, the need to escape—it is something Maz has seen countless times before. But survival alone is not enough. The Force has brought Finn here for a reason.
Maz recognizes that Finn is at a turning point. The battle ahead is not just for Jedi or Force-users. It is a fight between those who oppress and those who choose to resist. Finn has a choice. The path forward is not just about running. It is about standing and fighting for something greater.
The Lightsaber and the Burden of Choice
Deep beneath Maz Kanata’s castle, hidden away in a vault, rests an artifact of great importance—Luke Skywalker’s lightsaber. This weapon, once wielded by Anakin Skywalker and later Luke, carries a powerful history. The lightsaber calls out, but not to Finn. It calls to Rey.
Rey is the one who follows the mysterious pull, descending into the vault where Maz has kept the saber for years. Upon touching the weapon, Rey experiences a powerful Force vision. The past and future collide in an overwhelming moment. Fearful and confused, Rey refuses the lightsaber and runs from the castle.
Maz knows that the lightsaber must be carried forward. If Rey will not take it, another must hold it. The ancient pirate retrieves the weapon and turns to Finn. Maz does not expect Finn to be a Jedi. The young warrior is not chosen by the Force. But in this moment, Maz understands something important:
“Take it. Find your friend.”
The lightsaber is not given as a weapon of destiny, but as a test of courage. Finn does not have the training of a Jedi. The Force has not called to this warrior in the way it has to Rey. But Finn has a heart willing to fight. Maz sees that clearly.
Taking the lightsaber is not about claiming a legacy. It is about proving that courage is found in the moments when running is no longer an option.
The First Order’s Attack: A Trial by Fire
Before Finn can fully process Maz’s words, the First Order launches a brutal assault on Takodana. Kylo Ren, Captain Phasma, and their legions of stormtroopers arrive to crush Maz’s sanctuary. The castle is bombarded by TIE fighters, sending stone walls crumbling. Stormtroopers flood the battlefield, slaughtering Maz’s guests and capturing those who resist.
Finn, still uncertain about his place, is thrown into battle. But this time, something is different. Instead of running, Finn stands and fights.
Clutching Luke’s lightsaber, Finn ignites the blue blade for the first time. The weapon of the Jedi, once passed through generations, now rests in the hands of an ex-stormtrooper. A stormtrooper-turned-warrior.
The battle is intense. Finn faces off against an imposing First Order riot control trooper, known as FN-2199, or “Nines.” Armed with an electrostaff, the stormtrooper engages in brutal close combat. The fight is personal—Finn is not just fighting an enemy, but a symbol of the past life that once controlled him.
Maz Kanata, though not seen fighting in the battle, disappears into the chaos. The wise pirate survives, but her castle is reduced to ruins. Kylo Ren takes Rey captive. The Resistance arrives to push back the First Order, but the damage is done. The world Finn hoped to escape to is gone.
But something has changed. Finn no longer wants to run.
Legacy of Maz Kanata and Finn’s Meeting
The meeting between Maz Kanata and Finn is brief but powerful. The ancient pirate sees something in the young warrior that even Finn does not recognize. Fear does not make someone weak. It is the choices made in the face of fear that define a warrior.
Finn’s journey continues in The Last Jedi and The Rise of Skywalker, where the lessons from Takodana continue to shape the path forward. The warrior who once wanted nothing but escape grows into a leader of the Resistance. The moment of hesitation in Maz’s castle leads to a moment of courage on Crait, then to the final stand on Exegol.
Maz Kanata remains a figure of mystery. The pirate later aids the Resistance during their darkest hours. The origins of the lightsaber remain unknown, but Maz’s knowledge of the Force suggests a deeper understanding of the weapon’s journey.
The connection between Maz Kanata and Finn may not be built on destiny or prophecy. It is built on something stronger—the choice to stand and fight. In a galaxy where war is inevitable, survival is not just about running. It is about finding the strength to push forward.
A single moment with Maz Kanata changes Finn’s path forever. The warrior who once wanted to escape becomes a symbol of defiance. All it took was a spark.
