25 most heartbreaking Star Wars character deaths of all-time

Qui-Gon Jinn

Qui-Gon Jinn was another mentor figure who left the Star Wars franchise too soon. To be fair, this was another death we should have seen coming with the Jedi’s big plans and speeches regarding the young Anakin Skywalker’s future. The situation was just too hopeful and tragedy had to reel its ugly head.

Qui-Gon, who was killed by Sith Lord Darth Maul during a saber fight between the two and Obi-Wan, was the first father-figure Anakin had ever known. Qui-Gon is the one who rescued Anakin from slavery, seeing the boy as the embodiment of Jedi prophecy to bring balance to the force. Qui-Gon was the only pillar for Anakin and a young Obi-Wan, who was still a Padawan Learner when his master was murdered.

Because most of us had already seen the previous Star Wars trilogy with Luke and Leia, it was already widely known Anakin would become Darth Vader. However, during Qui-Gon’s time alive, it’s easy to believe in that stability only Liam Neeson could convince us would last forever. Qui-Gon’s death was heartbreaking, but it was mostly unnerving and the first of many deaths Anakin would experience with a loved one, leading him to choose the Dark Side.