The Top 10 Obi-Wan Moments In All Of Star Wars
I rewatched the Star Wars prequel trilogy for the millionth time yesterday in preparation for the new 'Obi-Wan Kenobi' series on Disney+ (debuting with two episodes on Friday), and I gotta say - for all the faults people like to pick apart in those movies, I still absolutely love all three of 'em. Ewan McGregor makes up for every tough Hayden Christensen scene with a genuinely awesome performance as Kenobi in every installment, and the rewatch just made me more excited to see what he's going to do with (hopefully) better dialogue/material in the new show.
So in honor of it being Obi-Wan Kenobi week, without further ado, here's my personal TOP 10 OBI-WAN KENOBI MOMENTS....
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10. Obi-Wan saves Luke from the Tusken Raiders on Tatooine (A New Hope)
"Hello there!" - kicking things off is Obi-Wan's iconic introduction to the Star Wars universe in the original. Alec Guinness plays the old wizard part perfectly and gives a performance for the ages that tells you everything you need to know about the guy immediately.
9. Obi-Wan brings an end to General Grievous on Utapau (Revenge of the Sith)
Although his methods were a bit uncivilized, Obi-Wan ripping Grievous's metal chest apart to reveal his alien organs, only to shoot the fuck outta them moments later - making him explode from the inside out? That was fuckin badass. Metal as fuck.
Shoutout General Grievous, COVID-19 patient zero.
8. Obi-Wan's one true love is killed right in front of him (The Clone Wars)
I've got a couple of moments from the animated Star Wars universe on here, so hopefully if you haven't seen/aren't into that stuff, you'll bear with me for just a second.
In 'The Clone Wars', it's revealed that Obi-Wan almost had an Anakin/Padme-like forbidden love situation himself with the leader of Mandalore, Duchess Satine Kryze. She's actually Bo Katan's sister, if you remember the red head Mandalorian who was after the Darksaber in the last season of 'The Mandalorian' - and Obi-Wan went as far as telling her he'd leave the Jedi Order for their relationship, but it just never worked out. It's the biggest 'what could've been' mystery in his life up to this point.
Eventually, Darth Maul (who is revealed to have survived getting chopped in half by Obi-Wan on Naboo) takes over Mandalore and lures Kenobi to the planet, only to murder Satine with the Darksaber on the throne right in front of him. It's an incredibly sad (and somewhat dark) scene for a kids cartoon, but it is handled so well by the genius that is Dave Filoni.
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As Satine dies in Obi-Wan's arms, her final words are, “I loved you always, I always will.”, confirming what could've been for them - just another moment that hammers home what a tragic life he has lived, and why he'll be such a broken man when we meet up with him during this upcoming Disney+ series.
7. Obi-Wan guides Luke during the Trench Run (A New Hope)
This one doesn't require nearly as much backstory as the last moment, as it's one of the most quoted lines and famous moments in this history of the franchise: "Use the Force, Luke!"
This is a perfect movie moment. From the emotional weight of Obi-Wan speaking to Luke from the afterlife, to the John Williams' score crescendoing, to Mark Hamill's performance - it couldn't possibly be any better. While it's not specifically OBI-WAN's best personal moment, you could make the argument this is the best moment in Star Wars.
6. Obi-Wan battles Jango Fett on Kamino (Attack of the Clones)
This was ALWAYS one of my favorite battles as a kid. I mean - how could it not be?! It's a god damn Jedi vs a god damn Bounty Hunter in the pouring rain on Kamino, what's not to love?
Jango gets the better of our guy Obi-Wan in combat here, but Kenobi's slick maneuvering saves him at the end, leading to a great chase/space battle with Seismic Charge drops!
I loved this so much I even went as far as being Jango for Halloween the year 'Clones' came out….
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5. Obi-Wan chops a mothafucka's arm off in the cantina (A New Hope)
Pure badassery from old man Ben here. Ponda Baba gets a little too drunk at the cantina, starts messing with Luke, and doesn't realize Luke's old buddy is carrying. Classic mistake.
For all the credit Han Solo gets for shooting first and flipping the bartender a coin to apologize for the mess, Obi-Wan almost deserves just as much for this over-the-top self defense methodology in my opinion.
"Fuck with my nephew Luke and I'm gonna chop off your fucking arm and leave you with blood squirtin outta your shoulder like a faucet into every drink in the house. I'm too old for this shit."
4. Obi-Wan sacrifices himself against Darth Vader to become one with the Force (A New Hope)
Another classic - "If you strike me down, I shall become more powerful than you can possibly imagine."
What a line. Although this lightsaber battle doesn't have all the flippy-doos the prequels battles do, the emotion behind it makes up for the lack of action. As does this incredible fan-edit….
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Kenobi makes the ultimate sacrifice in this scene not only to help Luke escape Vader's grasp, but to become one with the Force as he knows that will be much more useful later on, and that is the ultimate selfless Jedi move to me. Perfect death for this character.
3. Obi-Wan kills Darth Maul once and for all (Star Wars Rebels)
Remember when I mentioned earlier that Darth Maul survived getting sliced in half on Naboo, as revealed in 'The Clone Wars'?
Well, he lives on for a while after that and makes it all the way to 'Star Wars: Rebels' (which takes place right before 'A New Hope') where he tracks down Kenobi on Tatooine for one last duel. This one is more unique than possibly any other lightsaber fight in Star Wars, though, as it only takes one quick move for Obi-Wan to kill Maul. He reads Maul's attack, takes the stance of his former Master Qui-Gon, and finishes him (and his lightsaber) off with a 12-6 slice down the middle.
This is a pretty iconic scene for fans of the animated Star Wars series and rightfully so. It marks the end of an all time rivalry.
2. Obi-Wan defeats Darth Maul and avenges Qui-Gon (The Phantom Menace)
Just as that last moment marked the end of a great rivalry, this moment marks the START of said rivalry - even though it sorta looks like the end.
Obi-Wan avenging the death of Qui-Gon immediately with the move he pulled was like the Jedi version of a player earning their pinstripes on the Yankees. Just unbelievable talent in that flip up, and quick thinking using his Master's saber to finish the job as his was sent flyin down the shaft earlier! I always used to recreate that moment (and the entire Duel of the Fates fight scene) with my action figures with I was little, and it'll always hit just as hard on a rewatch. Might be John Williams' finest work on the franchise!
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1. Obi-Wan defeats Anakin Skywalker and leaves him for dead on Mustafar (Revenge of the Sith)
You had to see this one coming as #1 - the Battle of the Heroes.
It's a bittersweet moment for Obi-Wan Kenobi, but without a doubt the biggest, most pivotal moment in his life. Obi-Wan secures the high ground in the epic 'Revenge of the Sith' battle against his former Padawan Anakin Skywalker on Mustafar, chops both of his legs off when Anakin tries to jump toward him, and leaves him for dead.
Ewan McGregor's performance couldn't be more heartbreaking as he screams, “YOU WERE MY BROTHER, ANAKIN! I LOVED YOU!” after a burnt-to-a-crisp Anakin bellows out an animalistic "I HATE YOU!" at his former Master.
I know some people feel weird about the fact that Obi-Wan and Vader are going to have a big duel in this upcoming series, because this won't be their last meeting before 'A New Hope' now, but I really think there is some decent evidence to suggest the rematch makes sense.
For example, Padme's final words to Obi-Wan were, "There's good in him. There's still…", and then in 'Return of the Jedi', when Luke is trying to turn Vader back to the Light Side, Vader says "Obi-Wan once thought as you do." When combined, those two moments make me think Obi-Wan also believed what Padme said about Anakin, and tried to pull him back to the light after their battle on Mustafar. I really think they'll make it work.
Honorable Mentions:
-Obi-Wan performs a Jedi Mind Trick on Stormtroopers (A New Hope)
-Obi-Wan gives Luke his father's lightsaber (A New Hope)
-Obi-Wan turns down Death Sticks and makes the dealer rethink his life (Attack of the Clones)
-Obi-Wan fights Darth Maul and his brother Savage Opress at the same time (The Clone Wars)
-Obi-Wan drops "From a certain point of view…." on Luke as a Force Ghost (Return of the Jedi)
-Obi-Wan and Qui-Gon fight their way off the Trade Federation ship (The Phantom Menace)
-Obi-Wan reaches out to Luke on Hoth (Empire Strikes Back)
Did I forget any you would've included?! Let me know!