devotee of the originalStar Warstrilogy are familiar with the hilarious scene inEmpire Strikes BackwhenLeiacallsHan Soloa nerf - herder , even if they were n’t incisively sure what the contumely meant . Based on Han ’s reaction , it was clear that Leia cut to the core of him with those on the face of it virulent tidings – and now sports fan are given the full explanation as to why that is .

InStar warfare : Episode V - The Empire Strikes Back , theRebel Alliance are gathered in their Hoth Qaeda , though after some sentence fighting alongside the Rebellion play along his assistance in the destruction of the Death Star , Han Solo decides it is metre to leave . However , Han ’s architectural plan are put on cargo deck as the infrastructure run on lockdown , meaning no ship were to fly in or out of the area . So , in true Han Solo fashion , he jokingly attributed this hang - up to Leia ’s ‘ desire ’ to keep him around , teasing that she already express her true feelings for him on a previous mission . In response , Leia calls Han a “ stuck - up , half - witted , scruffy - looking nerf - herder . ”

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Emperor Palpatine laughing maniacally in Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith.

InStar Wars#17 by Jason Aaron and Leinil Francis Yu , buff hear that ‘ nerf - herder ’ was n’t really an insult so much as something that Han just did one time . In this chapter – which is set between the events ofEpisodes IVandV – Luke and Han are look to make a quick one dollar bill , so they hang around a seamy bar in the promise of hit an gentle smuggling chore . While Luke is able to find them some oeuvre ( since Han was still trying tolay - first from Jabba the Hutt ) , it is n’t necessarily leisurely , as they are charter to ravish an intact ruck of nerfs – which , as it turns out , are large , hairy animals kindred to Bos taurus that are used primarily for their milk .

Han Solo Is Literally A Nerf-Herder - So Why Was It An Insult?

Throughout this issue , Han Solo is incredibly embarrassed that he ’s had to resort to carrying illegal nerfs across the galaxy and is legitimately angry at Luke for gibe to do this job – then , their site went from annoyingly humbling to downright deadly . Before long , a team of Imperial Patrol Troopers are on their tail assembly , all whilethe Millennium Falcon ’s hyperdriveis broken – think of they ca n’t even go into hyperspace to escape . basically , Luke and Han were nearly blown to bits all because of a herd of nerfs . Not only that , but while the twoStar Warsheroes were having a jolly preposterous adventure , Leia was really doing something important . At that clock time , Leia was risk her life-time to pull through an entire prison full of criminals who were being executed one - by - one by a heinous villain . While Leia was on a righteous mission to save the life of hundreds of people and potentially reach valuable allies in the mental process , Han Solo was herding nerfs , and nigh pass away doing so .

So , the contemptuous facial expression ofLeiacalling Han a nerf - herderinEmpire Strikes Backwasn’t so much that it was a average name , but because it remindedHan Soloof his most humbling moment as a professional contrabandist within theStar Warsuniverse .

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Star Wars: why Leia calls Han Solo a nerf-herder.

Star Wars: why Leia calls Han Solo a nerf-herder.

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