It's Father's Day, and what better time to look at some of the galaxy's best dads in Star Wars? This list isn't just about blood relations but those who stepped up to raise the children in their care. Needless to say, Darth Vader will not be on the list.
Here are 5 of the best dads in Star Wars.
1. Owen Lars
Owen is proof that being a parent isn't about who fathered you. Anakin was never there for Luke. It was Owen and Beru who shaped Luke into who he is when we first meet him in A New Hope.
On the surface, Owen appears grumpy and stern, keeping Luke from his dreams. However, he had to be, as the Empire would have done horrible things to Luke if he was found. Owen might seem like just a guy, but he proved what it means to be a real parent. Along with Beru, Owen raised Luke, worked hard for him, fed him, cared for him while he was sick, and fought an Inquisitor for his kid. This is what fatherhood looks like. The struggle, the care, the love through actions, even when words don't always come out right.
2. Bail Organa
Like Owen, Bail didn't have to take in Leia. He didn't have to take on the danger of always looking over his shoulder, knowing her very existence could bring devastating consequences to his life. However, he chose to be her father. He chose to honor his friendship with Padme Amidala and raise her child. Bail accepted this danger and responded with love.
Part of that love was giving Leia everything she needed, including the truth. Bail didn't hide that she was adopted, but it didn't make him any less of a father to her. Like Owen, he did everything any good parent would do. The key difference is preparing Leia.
When Leia finds out her parents are leaders in the Rebellion in Leia, Princess of Alderaan by Claudia Gray, Bail realizes that Leia will get involved regardless of what he thinks. The best way Bail can protect her is to teach her how to do what he does. This trust and nurturing are what make Bail one of the best parents and is one of the many reasons Leia became the leader we know her to be.
3. Imanuel Doza
The best father and husband is in an underrated show that no one watched. Captain Imanuel Doza is a fantastic character in the sequel trilogy era and such a different kind of dad. He's essentially a rare case of a stay-at-home father while his wife Venisa is off fighting in the Resistance with his full support.
That doesn't mean that Doza is a pushover. He is the captain of the refueling ship The Colossus, which is essentially a floating city with hundreds of citizens under his care. When the First Order invades his station, Doza knows their tactics. He is an ex-Imperial and well aware of what these people can do when crossed. It's a game of mental chess that Doza must play to save the lives of his citizens and, most importantly, his daughter Torra.
Torra and Imanuel have such a beautiful relationship that he has to learn to let her grow. She's an Ace Pilot and one of the defenders of The Colossus. While he worries for her safety, Doza knows how to trust her to handle herself in battle, especially with a war brewing on the horizon. It's an understanding that his child is not a little girl anymore. This father-daughter duo is wonderful to watch together and one of the best parts of Star Wars Resistance.
Din Djarin
What do you do when you're on a bounty mission and you find a kid? Become a dad, of course!
The core of The Mandalorian's first three seasons is watching the lone bounty hunter, Din Djarin, slowly become a parent to his little green Force sensitive son, Grogu. Both orphans and survivors of the horrific Clone Wars, their shared background helps them to bond. Grogu makes Din a better person, expanding his horizons and testing his beliefs. Din goes from being alone, only serving his group of Mandalorians, to making allies like Cobb Vanth and Boba Fett, helping guide the lost like Bo-Katan Kryze, and facing a spiritual side of himself as he has to learn about the Force. Din throws out his morals instantly, removing his helmet as it's the only way to save his kid from Moff Gideon and later to say goodbye when Luke is taking his kid for Jedi training. Teaching Grogu about his own culture has also been a big development for Din, preparing Grogu for a long-term future and community. Because of Grogu, Din is no longer alone.
They are a Clan of Two.
Kanan Jarrus
One of the most underrated Kanan Jarrus episodes being peak Space Dad is Star Wars Rebels Season 3, "Legacy of Mandalore." Kanan faces down Sabine's mother, Ursa, and champions his kid every step of the way. Ursa even calls out Kanan, saying, "You believe you know my daughter better than me?"
Kanan stands firm, claiming, "You don't know what it's taken for her just to be here... I believe you're underestimating the woman she's become." Later in the episode, as they say goodbye, Sabine hugs him as he lets her know how proud he is of her.
(This is also not a slight against Ursa Wren, who was in a horrific position with her husband's life in danger and having to think of her entire clan. She was doing her best in the situation she was forced into.)
Kanan is the epitome of Found Family Space Dad. He is the steady force of the Ghost Crew, along with Hera, to nurture Ezra and Sabine. He's a brother to Zeb. He's the wrangler of Chopper (who cannot be contained). He's the partner to Hera, and he would have been an amazing father to Jacen if he had the chance. Kanan fails a lot, especially in Season 1, when it comes to training Ezra. His willingness to grow through that makes him a great parent.