Star Wars Insider – July 2019

STAR WARS INSIDER / 65

FATHER FIGURES

Anakin be trained in the Force.

Kenobi’s determination prompted

Yoda to remark, “Qui-Gon’s

defi ance I sense in you.” Ironically,

Obi-Wan had initially disagreed

with his master, arguing that

danger lurked around the boy, to

which Jinn quipped that the truth

about Anakin’s potential varied

with one’s perspective. Qui-Gon

often played loose with the facts,

from lying to Watto about owning

Anakin’s podracer to disguising a

midi-chlorian test as a check for

infections. Kenobi picked up this

trait, most notably when he argued

that his claim that Darth Vader

murdered Luke’s father was true,

from a certain point-of-view.

Kenobi paid close attention to

his master’s tactics during their

time together. When Qui-Gon

recognized the need to retreat

from droidekas aboard the Trade

Federation battleship in Star Wars:

The Phantom Menace (1999), it was

a lesson Obi-Wan heeded. Later,

even after besting Darth Vader on

Mustafar, Kenobi knew that he and

Yoda could not overthrow Emperor

Palpatine on their own, so took

a cue from his former master to

retreat and regroup. Watching over

Anakin’s son required the same

patience Qui-Gon espoused.

Another intriguing method that

Obi-Wan learned from his master

involved using another’s greed as

an ally. Jinn manipulated Watto’s

thirst for wealth to free Anakin

from slavery. Decades later, when

Obi-Wan and Luke negotiated

passage on the Millennium Falcon

with Han Solo in the Mos Eisley

cantina, the Jedi cleverly played on

Han’s avarice, successfully offering

the smuggler more compensation

than he had requested—as long

as they settled the majority of the

balance on Alderaan.

Qui-GonJinndemonstratedan
independent streak that repeatedly
clashed with the Jedi Code, and
on more than one occasion Obi-
Wan Kenobi highlighted that it
was that very same insubordinate
behavior which stood as a barrier
between his master and a seat on
the Jedi Council. Jinn’s headstrong
mentality bordered on arrogance,
and even put him at odds with
Padmé Amidala on occasion.
Qui-Gon relied heavily on his
own instinct, as demonstrated by
his dogmatic obsession over the
Chosen One and a willingness
to spurn the Council’s wishes
in order to train Anakin, but in
contrast, Jinn preached patience
and concentration to his Padawan,
ideals which Kenobi later tried to
instill in both Anakin and Luke.
Following his master’s death,
Obi-Wan found himself at odds
with the Council when he vowed
to fulfi ll Qui-Gon’s request that

qui-gon

jinn &

obi-wan

kenobi