Vice Admiral Amilyn Holdo, portrayed by Laura Dern, and Rose Tico, played by Kelly Marie Tran, played crucial roles in the Resistance’s fight against the First Order. One led with strategic brilliance, while the other embodied hope and selflessness. Their paths crossed during the desperate escape from the First Order, revealing a compelling dynamic of leadership, courage, and sacrifice.
A Resistance on the Brink
The Resistance was on the run after the destruction of Starkiller Base. General Leia Organa led the fleet in a desperate retreat, pursued relentlessly by Supreme Leader Snoke’s forces. When Leia was incapacitated, command fell to Vice Admiral Holdo. The calm yet enigmatic leader took control, facing the challenge of saving what remained of the Resistance.
Rose Tico was an engineer aboard the Raddus, the flagship of the fleeing Resistance fleet. Working below decks, the mechanic never sought the spotlight but believed in the cause. While Holdo commanded from the bridge, Rose worked tirelessly to keep the fleet operational. Each played a different role, yet both were committed to the survival of the Resistance.
Vice Admiral Holdo’s Leadership and Strategy
Holdo refused to reveal the full extent of the Resistance’s escape plan. The Vice Admiral maintained secrecy, even when Poe Dameron challenged the approach. The strategy involved using small, untraceable transports to evacuate the remaining Resistance members to Crait, a hidden base. This plan was risky but necessary.
Many in the fleet, including Poe and Rose, did not immediately understand Holdo’s decisions. The Vice Admiral appeared distant, almost indifferent, but every move was calculated. Instead of engaging in a doomed battle, Holdo sought survival. Every choice was made to ensure the Resistance lived on.
Rose Tico’s Mission and Determination
While Holdo executed the larger plan, Rose found a way to contribute beyond engineering. After discovering a tracking device used by the First Order, Rose and Finn devised a daring mission to disable it. This mission led them to Canto Bight, a world of luxury and corruption, where they sought a codebreaker to help infiltrate the Supremacy.
This journey tested Rose’s belief in the Resistance. Seeing the suffering of others on Canto Bight, the engineer recognized that the fight against the First Order was bigger than just one battle. Even after the mission failed, Rose’s determination never wavered. The belief that protecting those who could not fight for themselves fueled every action.
The Ultimate Sacrifice
Vice Admiral Holdo faced the greatest test when the First Order discovered the Resistance’s evacuation. Realizing that escape was impossible without a distraction, Holdo made a fateful decision. Remaining aboard the Raddus, the Vice Admiral prepared for a final act of defiance.
With the Resistance transports in the First Order’s sights, Holdo turned the Raddus and initiated a hyperspace jump directly into the Supremacy. The maneuver, later called the Holdo Maneuver, shattered the massive warship, giving the Resistance the time needed to reach Crait. This sacrifice ensured the survival of the movement.
On the surface of Crait, Rose demonstrated her own form of sacrifice. When the First Order’s battering ram cannon threatened to destroy the Resistance’s last stronghold, Finn attempted a suicidal charge. Refusing to let another life be lost, Rose intercepted Finn, saving him at the last moment. “We’re going to win this war not by fighting what we hate, but saving what we love,” Rose declared, reinforcing the core belief that had guided both characters.
A Legacy of Courage
Holdo and Rose, though different in approach, shared a commitment to the ideals of the Resistance. Holdo’s leadership and willingness to make the ultimate sacrifice allowed the Resistance to endure. Rose’s courage and determination symbolized the hope that would carry the fight forward.
Leia, Poe, Finn, and the surviving Resistance fighters escaped Crait, inspired by those who had given everything for the cause. The sacrifice of the Vice Admiral and the selflessness of Rose would resonate in the battles to come. The spark of the Resistance remained alive because of their actions.
Legacy in the Resistance
The Holdo Maneuver became a legendary moment in galactic history. Military strategists debated the effectiveness of such a tactic, but the message remained clear—sometimes, bold actions were necessary to defeat tyranny.
Rose continued to serve, dedicating efforts to rebuilding the Resistance. Every step forward carried the lessons learned from those who had fought before. The war against the First Order would continue, but the foundation built by Holdo and Rose ensured that hope would never die.
