Our favorite Star Wars characters
Photo Credit: Lucasfilm
Obi-Wan Kenobi
Appearances: A New Hope, The Empire Strikes Back, Return of the Jedi, The Phantom Menace, Attack of the Clones, Revenge of the Sith, Star Wars: The Clone Wars, Star Wars Rebels
Defining Moment: Sacrificing himself for the greater good
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From the first time I watched A New Hope, much like Luke, I was drawn to Obi-Wan Kenobi.
Despite being introduced to us as an old hermit, Alec Guinness’s portrayal of the archetypal sage or mentor character struck a chord with me. He was my introduction into the world of Jedi, the Force, and lightsabers. He caught the Academy’s attention as well, as he is still the only actor to be nominated for an Academy Award for his role in a Star Wars film.
While other kids on the playground all fought over who would be Luke or Han, I chose Obi-Wan. Often, I had little competition for the part, that was until the prequels came out and Ewan McGregor’s version of the character became incredibly popular with my elementary school counterparts.
For most of us, McGregor’s portrayal as a Padawan learner growing into a Jedi Master immediately became the best part of the prequels. His high-speed lightsaber fights, detective skills, and relationships with Master Qui-Gon and Padawan Anakin are the things that make Star Wars great.
Kenobi’s character even anchors some of the strongest storylines in The Clone Wars and Rebels, with his relationship with Duchess Satine and his feud with Maul.
I eagerly wait for more Obi-Wan stories. This year, we get Claudia Gray’s Master and Apprentice about his time with Qui-Gon. Rumors have persisted for years that an Obi-Wan-centered Star Wars Story was on the horizon, but after recent announcements from Disney that all spinoff movies are on hold indefinitely, that wait will continue. Hopefully this becomes a blessing, and the Disney+ streaming service will bring us an Obi-Wan Kenobi mini-series instead. What’s better than two more hours of Kenobi? Six to ten hours!
There’s a clear reason why I begged my wife to let us name our dog Kenobi. For me, everything I love about Star Wars is somehow connected to this character who caught my attention as a child. Every character and every plot point in the saga can somehow be traced back to the ultimate Jedi Knight Obi-Wan Kenobi.
Perhaps my fascination with the first mentor figure in the franchise should have been a sign that I would grow up to become a teacher. Here’s to hoping none of my students turn to the Dark Side.