The Resistance stood on the edge of destruction. The First Order pursued them relentlessly, determined to crush the last remnants of their enemy. In this moment of crisis, leadership and action became the keys to survival. Two figures within the Resistance, Vice Admiral Amilyn Holdo, played by Laura Dern, and Finn, played by John Boyega, found themselves at the center of a conflict not just against the First Order, but within the Resistance itself. Their differing views on leadership, trust, and sacrifice shaped one of the most defining moments in the Resistance’s history.
Vice Admiral Holdo’s Leadership in Crisis
General Leia Organa had always been the guiding force of the Resistance. When an explosion left Leia incapacitated, command fell to Vice Admiral Holdo. Known for an unconventional approach to warfare, Holdo had served alongside Leia since the Rebellion. Unlike other military leaders, Holdo often relied on patience and long-term strategy rather than direct engagement. This made Holdo an unusual but effective commander.
The Resistance fleet faced an unprecedented crisis. The First Order had developed a way to track ships through hyperspace, eliminating the ability to escape. Every jump to light speed would be followed, and with limited fuel, there was no way to outrun the enemy. A plan was needed, but secrecy was necessary. Any leaked information could lead to the Resistance’s destruction.
Instead of explaining the strategy to the crew, Holdo kept her plan hidden. The decision frustrated many, especially Poe Dameron, who expected bold, immediate action. The fleet drifted forward, seemingly without direction. One by one, Resistance ships ran out of fuel and were destroyed. Those who did not trust Holdo’s leadership saw only hopelessness.
Finn’s Need for Action
Finn had no deep-rooted loyalty to the Resistance. A former stormtrooper, survival had always been the priority. The only reason for staying was Rey. The moment the Resistance seemed doomed, the urge to escape resurfaced. But circumstances forced Finn to act.
With no knowledge of Holdo’s hidden plan, Finn joined Poe and Rose Tico in a desperate attempt to turn the tide. The First Order’s tracking system had to be shut down. Without this, the Resistance had no chance. Canto Bight, a luxurious gambling city, held the key to success—a master codebreaker who could infiltrate the First Order’s ship undetected.
The mission to Canto Bight revealed Finn’s evolving worldview. Wealthy war profiteers thrived on the galaxy’s conflicts, selling weapons to both the First Order and the Resistance. Finn, who once saw war as black and white, realized that the galaxy was more complicated. But there was no time for reflection. The mission continued, even as failure loomed.
The Clash of Ideals
Vice Admiral Holdo believed in patience and strategy. Finn relied on immediate action. The contrast between them reached a breaking point when Finn and Rose’s plan failed. DJ, the slicer recruited in place of the master codebreaker, betrayed them to the First Order. Instead of disabling the hyperspace tracker, Finn and Rose were captured.
The First Order, now aware of the Resistance’s escape plan, targeted the remaining ships. Holdo’s secret strategy had been to evacuate the fleet in smaller transports, heading toward a hidden base on Crait. If the plan had remained a secret, the Resistance would have survived unnoticed. But Finn’s mission indirectly exposed the escape, leading to further destruction.
In the moment of crisis, Holdo made the ultimate sacrifice. The Resistance had no defense against the First Order’s weapons. The Vice Admiral stayed behind on the Raddus, alone, while the rest of the Resistance escaped. Then, with a single act, Holdo changed the course of the battle. The Raddus jumped to lightspeed, crashing directly into the Supremacy. The maneuver shattered the massive warship and took down multiple First Order vessels. The Vice Admiral, once questioned and doubted, proved to be the key to the Resistance’s survival.
Finn’s Growth and Understanding
The moment reshaped Finn’s perspective. The Vice Admiral’s sacrifice was not about destruction, but survival. The Resistance had to live, not simply fight until death. When the battle moved to Crait, Finn faced his own test.
With the First Order closing in, a massive battering ram cannon prepared to destroy the Resistance’s final stronghold. Finn saw only one option—self-sacrifice. The need to take immediate action remained, even as the cost of failure became clear. Flying full speed toward the weapon, Finn prepared to give his life for the cause.
Rose stopped him. Survival, not self-destruction, was the path forward. Holdo’s sacrifice had been necessary because it served a purpose. Finn’s, in that moment, would have been futile. The Resistance needed its people alive.
Legacy of Vice Admiral Holdo and Finn
The survivors of Crait marked the beginning of a new chapter. The Resistance had been reduced to only a handful of fighters, but they lived to fight another day. Holdo’s actions became a defining moment in the war. Leadership was more than direct combat; sometimes, it required patience and understanding.
Finn, once a soldier trying to escape, evolved into a leader. The battle against the First Order continued, but with a deeper understanding of what it meant to fight for something bigger than oneself. Later, Finn played a crucial role in leading a stormtrooper uprising, using his experience to inspire others to break free from the First Order’s control.
The clash between Vice Admiral Holdo and Finn was more than a disagreement in tactics. It was the story of two individuals shaped by different experiences, forced to find their place in the larger struggle. One believed in strategy. The other believed in action. In the end, both contributed to the Resistance’s survival.
