As we celebrate Fathers today, let us not forget that the Star Wars saga has brought us some of the best and worst fathers to ever cross the silver screen. Happy Star Wars Father’s Day…
Looking at the Star Wars saga, from Episode I: The Phantom Menace, all the way to Episode VII: The Force Awakens, there have been some epic father/daughter and father/son stories. Join us as we look back at some of the more interesting fatherly stories from the Star Wars universe.
We start our Father’s Day journey with the story that started it all: Darth Vader and his son Luke Skywalker, from The Empire Strikes Back.
If you ask any Star Wars fan what the greatest sequel in cinematic history is, overwhelmingly their answer would be Star Wars Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back. And, what made Empire so good, was the huge twist revealed, when Darth Vader uttered that now iconic (and often misquoted) line:
“No, I am your father.”
This moment would change the course of Star Wars storytelling, for every film to come — including the Prequel Trilogy, and the most recent Star Wars film, The Force Awakens.
Next, we have the father/son story of Jango and Boba Fett. One of the greatest gifts the Prequel Trilogy gave us, was the origin story of the galaxy’s most feared bounty hunter, Boba Fett.
In Star Wars Episode II: Attack of the Clones, we see Obi-Wan Kenobi travel to the planet Kamino, where an army of clones was being grown and prepared to eventually become the Grand Army of the Republic.
While Kenobi is there, he meets the man whose DNA was used to create every single clone: Jango Fett. When Kenobi meets Jango Fett, it is revealed that he asked for an unaltered clone of himself, that he could raise as his own son…that child’s name was Boba Fett.
Not only did we get an epic battle between Jango and Obi-Wan, in Attack of the Clones, we also got to see Boba’s unique ship: Slave I. Sadly Boba’s father Jango was killed by Jedi Master Mace Windu on the planet Geonosis.
Our next fatherly story comes from Star Wars Episode VI: Return of the Jedi, when Princess Leia finds out from Luke that not only is he her brother, but that the galaxy’s most feared villain, Darth Vader, is actually her father.
We got another iconic Star Wars quote from this reveal:
"“The Force is strong in my family. My father has it. I have it. And…my sister has it.”"
This was yet another huge reveal from the Original Trilogy. To see Leia’s reaction to the news that Luke is her brother, but that their father is Darth Vader, truly cemented the strength of the Leia character.
Next, we fast forward to The Force Awakens, and the death of Han Solo. There were two huge moments from this scene: Han confronts his son, Kylo Ren nee-Ben Solo, and Han’s death at the hands of his son.
Nothing says “Happy Father’s Day dad, I love you.” like igniting an unstable plasma bladed lightsaber in his chest cavity.
Han’s death was tragic and traumatic for every Star Wars fan in the theater, and it set a dark tone for the rest of the film…and quite possibly the rest of this new trilogy. Only time will tell.
Next we have the tender father/son moment between Luke Skywalker and his redeemed father, Anakin Skywalker nee-Darth Vader in Star Wars Episode VI: Return of the Jedi. This moment came after Vader turned from the Dark Side and helped his son defeat the Emperor, thus redeeming him in the Light, and returning him to his former self, Anakin Skywalker.
For the first time in the Star Wars story, Vader’s helmet was completely removed, and his face was revealed. Darth Vader was no more, and Anakin was reborn…for a brief moment.
For such a minimalistic scene, actor Sebastian Shaw really knocked his time in the spotlight — as Anakin, formerly Vader — out of the park. Of course, depending on which version of Return of the Jedi you prefer, Shaw returns at the end, as Force Ghost Anakin (after the prequels, Lucas replace Shaw with Hayden Christensen, in the Force Ghost scene).
Finally — and this is a bit of wish fulfillment — we have the end of Star Wars Episode VII: The Force Awakens. You know the moments I’m talking about: Rey finds the planet where Luke Skywalker has been in exile, Ahch-To, and climbs the path to where the Jedi Master stands.
Yes I know that Luke has not been confirmed as Rey’s father, but like I said, this is a bit of fanboy wish fulfillment, on my part.
It makes sense that Rey is a Skywalker. She’s naturally strong in the Force, and she can inexplicably do things she’s never done before like:
- Piloting a starship like an ace fighter pilot.
- Using a Jedi Mind trick on a First Order guard.
- And Luke’s lightsaber called to her. The very same lightsaber that was constructed by Luke’s father, Anakin…it’s a family heirloom.
Who else do we know, in the Star Wars saga, that could do all these things? Why, both Anakin and Luke Skywalker, of course.
Regardless of whether Rey is Luke’s biological daughter or not, presumably he will be taking her under his wing and training her in the ways of the Force, for Star Wars: Episode VIII.
Next: Details About Defunct Live Action Star Wars Series—Star Wars: Underworld—Revealed
We hope you’ve enjoyed our Star Wars homage to Father’s Day. We know we’ve left off a few more fatherly moments from the Star Wars saga, so please let us know who we missed, in the comments and on social media. Happy Father’s Day!