3. Obi-Wan vs Picard
Now we’re starting to get to the big ones. No character in Star Wars canon holds such a special place in the majority of Star Wars fan’s hearts, than Obi-Wan Kenobi. The first time we saw him, he was called Old Ben, and he was living on Tatooine, watching over the son of his former best friend, Anakin Skywalker. It was Obi-Wan who saved Luke from the Sand People, and it was Obi-Wan who gave Luke his father’s lightsaber (which by the way will make an appearance in The Force Awakens). However, the most selfless thing Obi-Wan did, was to allow Vader to strike him down, so that he could be one with the Force, and better guide Luke.
In the prequels, Ewan McGregor took on a role that was made iconic by Sir Alec Guinness, and he knocked it out of the park. In fact, all respect due to Guinness, McGregor made the role of Obi-Wan his own, and when I read about Kenobi, it’s McGregor’s voice I hear, and his bearded face I see.
Captain Jean-Luc Picard was known as the other captain of the Starship Enterprise, for the longest time. However, the longer The Next Generation ran, the more Picard became the captain of the Enterprise, and James Kirk became a fond memory. In that regard, Patrick Stewart went through the same paces as Ewan McGregor, as he too took on an iconic role made famous by someone else.
Of course, he wasn’t portraying James T. Kirk, and perhaps that how he was able to make the new Enterprise all his own. No, that job fell to Chris Pine…but he isn’t part of this debate.
Winner: Obi-Wan Kenobi. Why? Well, because Kenobi fulfilled a promise to watch over Padme and Anakin’s son. Even though his former brother did his best to kill him, Obi-Wan adhered to the Jedi Code, and didn’t allow anger to encroach on his feelings toward the offspring of his now arch-nemesis, Darth Vader. Obi-Wan is the ultimate hero, and hopefully we will see a bit of that in elderly Luke Skywalker, when Star Wars: The Force Awakens roles around.
Next: #2 Lightsabers take center stage