Obi-Wan Kenobi, played by Ewan McGregor, is one of the most complex and admired characters in the Star Wars universe. His journey from being Qui-Gon’s padawan to a wise mentor and a notable figure extends across the entire Star Wars saga, making him a vital figure in the fight against the light and dark sides of the Force.
Birthplace and Upbringing
Kenobi was born on Stewjon, a planet in the Deep Core. When he was not even six months old, the future Jedi Master was discovered to be Force-sensitive and was taken to the Jedi Temple on Coruscant to begin his training under the Jedi Order. Not a lot is known about the Jedi’s family as he was taken to Coruscant at a young age. Obi-Wan often remembers that he had a brother and occasionally has flashes of memory about his mother; however, as he left home quite young, nothing is solid.
Joining the Jedi Order
At a young age, the future Jedi Master is discovered as Force-sensitive and is taken to the Core Worlds’ planet, Coruscant. There, he is placed in Kybuck Clan with other younglings to begin his Jedi training. By the age of three, Kenobi has received training in several simple Force techniques. After receiving initial training, Obi-Wan receives further training from Grand Master Yoda. Furthermore, under Jedi Master Cin Drallig’s tutelage, he learns the basic art of lightsaber techniques.
Young Padawan of Qui-Gon Jinn
When Kenobi is thirteen, Qui-Gon chooses him as his Padawan. Under his tutelage, Obi-Wan learns the ways of the Force and what it means to be a Jedi. In later years, his actions are highly influenced by his mentor. Qui-Gon’s unorthodox methods and strong connection to the Living Force help Obi-Wan understand the Jedi path by blending traditional teachings with a more intuitive approach to the Force.
Invasion of Naboo
Along with his mentor Qui-Gon, Obi-Wan goes on important missions like operating near Botor and the mission to Pijal. But the most important mission of Obi-Wan is the invasion of Naboo and rescuing Queen Padmé Amidala. This mission proves to Qui-Gon that Obi-Wan is ready to be a Jedi Knight from a padawan. When the Trade Federation set up a blockade around Naboo, Supreme Chancellor Finis Valorum of the Galactic Republic sent Obi-Wan and Qui-Gon to negotiate a trade settlement with the Trade Federation representatives.
When the Jedi reach the Trade Federation’s representative freighter, they are seated in the conference room and are told by the protocol droids that the representatives will be there shortly. However, instead of the representatives welcoming them, a poisonous dioxis gas is pumped into the conference room to kill them. The Jedi notice the gas being pumped into the room and figure out that an attack is imminent on them. After pumping the gas into the conference room, Viceroy Nute Gunray, the Trade Federation representative, sends security guards to check if the Jedi are dead. But to their surprise, both Jedi are alive, and they fight off the guards and escape to the surface of Naboo. But just before escaping the ship, they discover the droid army ready to invade Naboo.
Rescuing Queen Padmé Amidala
After Kenobi lands on Naboo, he is attacked by Federation guards but is saved by his mentor Qui-Gon, who is accompanied by Jar Jar Binks. Looking to find a way to reach the capital city, Theed, the Jedi Master and his apprentice, along with Binks, reach the underwater Gungan City to ask for help. But their plea for help is turned down by Boss Nass, and they are only given a ship to travel to the capital.
Upon arrival at Theed, they both notice that the Trade Federation has already taken control of the place. The two Jedi find Queen Padmé and her companions and fight off the battle droids to save them. After rescuing them, they all escape Naboo in the queen’s starship. But while escaping, the ship’s hyperdrive generator gets damaged. To fix it, they have to make an emergency landing on Tatooine, where he meets Anakin Skywalker, his future apprentice for the first time.
Mentor to the Prophesied
After the Battle of Naboo, Obi-Wan is promoted to the rank of Jedi Knight, and the Jedi Council, especially Yoda, reluctantly allows him to train Anakin as his Padawan. Under Obi-Wan’s mentorship, Anakin learns the ways of the Jedi, including lightsaber combat. Despite Anakin being impulsive, the Jedi Master always treats him with patience. However, tension rises between them because of Anakin’s growing impatience and internal conflict. The way he trains Anakin and deals with him shows his belief in his master Qui-Gon Jinn, because he was the one who believed in Anakin being the Chosen One and his potential.
Rising Tensions: The Separatist Threat
After an assassination attempt is made on Senator Amidala in Coruscant, Obi-Wan and Anakin are tasked with protecting her. One night, while Amidala sleeps in her room, Zam Wesell tries to kill her with a venomous kouhun deployed from a probe droid. However, both Jedi sense the attack in time and save the senator. After saving Padmé, both Jedi run after Zam to catch her. But as Kenobi gets closer to her, Zam is shot by an assassin who later turns out to be Jango Fett.
Discovery of the Clone Army
While trying to find the identity of the assassin, Obi-Wan reaches the lost planet Kamino, where he discovers Sifo-Dyas’ secret. Ten years ago, Jedi Master Sifo-Dyas came to Kamino fearing a battle coming; he placed an order to make a clone army. Obi-Wan discovers this and reports it back to the Jedi Council. At Kamino, the Jedi Master also meets the assassin Jango Fett and confronts him. They fight on the platform outside. The fight ends with Obi-Wan falling off the platform and Jango believing the Jedi has died. However, Obi-Wan manages to catch hold of a bridge to come back on the platform and quickly starts to follow Jango Fett and his son Boba Fett on his ship.
Capture on Geonosis
Following Jango’s ship to Geonosis, Obi-Wan lands there only to find several Trade Federation ships. Furthermore, he infiltrates and sees Count Dooku addressing the Separatist Council and mentioning that the attack on Senator Amidala was done at the request of Nute Gunray. Realizing his discovery, Obi-Wan quickly goes to message the Jedi Council. But his ship is not able to signal to Coruscant, so he messages Anakin Skywalker instead, who is on Tatooine at the time. But before he can complete his message, Obi-Wan is captured by the Separatists.
The Battle of Geonosis
Obi-Wan, sentenced to execution, is joined by Anakin Skywalker and Padmé in the Petaraki arena, who came there to save him but are also captured. Even though the Jedi Master is assured by Anakin that his message is re-transmitted to Coruscant, he is still disappointed in his apprentice for not being able to save him. Eventually, Mace Windu, along with other Jedi, comes to their rescue and they fight back against the overwhelming number of armies of droids. But soon only a few Jedi are left to fight against the large number of droids. Count Dooku gives Mace Windu a chance to surrender, to which he replies that the Jedi will die fighting.
Moments before the Jedi are about to be executed, Yoda, along with the Clone Army, comes to the rescue, fighting Count Dooku and the droid army off. The clones create a perimeter around the survivors, letting them board the LAAT/i transport so they can leave. While leaving, Anakin catches Dooku’s speeder and orders the pilot to follow him.
Obi-Wan and Anakin confront Dooku in a cave where he is about to make his escape. They duel, and the Sith cuts off Anakin’s hand and also leaves Obi-Wan unconscious. Just then, Yoda comes and duels with the Sith. While dueling, Dooku uses Force Energy, rips out a piece of the ceiling, and throws it at Anakin and Obi-Wan, who are lying unconscious, knowing that the Jedi Master will save them, giving him a chance to escape. Yoda saves Anakin and Obi-Wan, while Dooku escapes his ship.
Order 66
Following the duel with Mace Windu and other Jedi and his Sith identity being revealed, Palpatine broadcasts Order 66 to the entire clone army, after which they start to attack the Jedi around them. Kenobi on Utapau meets with Commander Cody and orders him to move his men to higher levels of the city, and the commander hands him his lightsaber back. The Jedi takes the lightsaber and proceeds to climb with Boga. Just then Commander Cody receives the message of Order 66 and asks his men to shoot Obi-Wan, which leads him to fall into the water. Not having any time to react and understand what has happened, Kenobi quickly finds his way to Grievous‘ starship to escape Utapau.
Taking Grievous’ Starship, he leaves Utapau and contacts Senator Bail Organa. Kenobi meets with Organa and Yoda on Tantive III, who inform him of the message being broadcast telling the Jedi survivors to return to Coruscant. Yoda and Kenobi decide to return to the Jedi Capital so they can recalibrate the message, warning the Jedi to stay away. Organa takes them to Coruscant, where they see the horrors of what is left of the Jedi Order and Jedi.
Duel on Mustafar
After looking at the horrors of Anakin’s actions, Obi-Wan confronts his apprentice on Mustafar, where Anakin has gone to kill the Separatist leaders as per Palpatine’s orders. Obi-Wan and Anakin duel on Mustafar as Anakin believes the Jedi Master is there to kill him. The Jedi Master tries many times to make his apprentice listen, but in his rage, Anakin does not listen to anything. The duel ends with Obi-Wan cutting off both of Anakin’s legs and left arm, leaving him helpless on the lava bank on Mustafar. Later, Anakin is saved by Emperor Palpatine.
Birth of the Skywalker Twins
After fighting with Anakin on Mustafar, Obi-Wan quickly takes an unconscious Padmé to the asteroid of Polis Massa, where she gives birth to twins and dies. After Padmé’s death, Obi-Wan and Yoda decide to separate the twins to hide their existence from Vader and Emperor Palpatine. Senator Organa adopts Padmé’s daughter Leia, while Obi-Wan takes Luke to Tatooine to his uncle and aunt, Owen and Beru Lars. After which he also decides to stay on Tatooine to look after Luke.
Rescuing the Young Princess
When Princess Leia is about nine years old, she is kidnapped by Vect Nokru, whom the Third Sister hires in order to lure out Obi-Wan Kenobi. The Third Sister’s plan succeeds, and Senator Bail Organa reaches out to Obi-Wan to find his daughter. The Jedi Master comes out of his exile and follows the lead the senator has given him and finds the princess. But bringing her back is not that easy; Kenobi and Organa face many challenges, including facing Darth Vader, but eventually the princess returns to Alderaan.
An Unexpected Meeting
In “A New Hope,” Obi-Wan unexpectedly meets Luke. At first, the Jedi Master is not able to recognize him. However, when he gets to know who Luke is, the Jedi Master tells him about his heritage, which Luke is unaware of until then. Kenobi also tells Luke about his father being a Jedi. Upon learning that his father was a Jedi, Luke also begins his initial training in the Jedi arts under Obi-Wan Kenobi.
Death
Kenobi, along with Chewbacca, Luke, Han, R2-D2, and C-3PO, is on his way to Alderaan in the Millennium Falcon when suddenly the Empire on the Death Star catches the Falcon and they are unable to escape. They discover the Empire has put a tractor beam on the Falcon, which is why the ship is unable to fly away. Upon reaching the Death Star, Obi-Wan goes to deactivate the tractor beam, in which he is successful. But on his way back, Kenobi is confronted by Darth Vader and they duel. While they are dueling, Kenobi lets himself get snuck down by Vader in order to distract him so that Luke, Leia, Han, Chewbacca, and the droids escape from the Death Star. Obi-Wan Kenobi sacrifices his life to save others.
The Jedi Master’s Lightsaber Color
Throughout all of the Star Wars saga, Kenobi constructed three lightsabers, and they were all blue. His sabers complement his personality perfectly as a protector and his duty to the Jedi Order, as well as his loyalty.
