Chewbacca is a Wookie who is a vital player to the Rebel Alliance thoroughout the original trilogy. Customary to Wookie tradition, Chewie placed a life debt on Han Solo before the original trilogy began. This essentially means that Chewbacca will protect Han Solo at all times. This promise leads Chewie into as many dangerous situations as any Rebel hero could hope to be in. He has ventured on to a Death Star, the barren wastes of Hoth, and the treacherous forests of Endor. Chewbacca always remains in control of any situation, perhaps because anyone who knows him is aware that he won't hesitate to rip someone's arms out of their sockets if they provoke him. C-3P0 was made aware of this in Episode IV after losing to Chewie in a game of chess he reconsidered and lets the Wookie win. Chewbacca usually sports his laser crossbow as his only weapon, however his brute strength is always a handy back-up. Chewbacca helped save Princess Leia and later Han Solo by being a fake prisoner in both cases. The second attempt before Jabba the Hutt was not as successful as Chewie was actually imprisoned for quite some time. Perhaps one of the most memorable moments is when Chewie took over the controls of an Imperial AT-ST with two Ewoks and caused absolute chaos during the battle of Endor. Overall, Chewbacca is one of the coolest Wookies you'll ever see in the Star Wars series. Actually, unless one makes it into Episode III he may be the only Wookie seen in the whole series, save for those Wookie scalps over Boba Fett's shoulder....nasty