If you want to learn -Wan Kenobi’s character, watch these 10 must-seeStar Warsstories.Obi-Wan Kenobi has been a fixture ofStar Wars' storytellingsince the very firstStar Warsmovie, later retitledA New Hope, was released in 1977. Sir Alec Guinness' portrayal of Obi-Wan was that of a wiser, older mentor, a calming influence on Luke Skywalker as he began his Jedi journey.
In theStar Warsprequel trilogy, Ewan McGregor took over, giving this younger version of the character a more playful and snarkier demeanor while honoring Guinness' performance. Though Obi-Wan had a major role in Luke’s story, his part in the tragedy of Anakin Skywalker was much more impactful and devastating; it’s a story that becomes all the more heartbreaking when youwatchStar Wars: The Clone Wars.
Obi-Wan Kenobi is a guiding light inStar Wars, and these 10Star Warsstories, from the movies to the animated shows to Disney’s live-action miniseries, prove that.
10Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace
The Start Of Obi-Wan And Anakin’s Devastating Friendship
InStar Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace, the audience is introduced to Padawan learner Obi-Wan Kenobi. While Obi-Wan is usually adamant about following the rules, he trusts his Master, Qui-Gon Jinn, to do the right thing, which leads him to follow Jinn on Tatooine and become involved with Anakin Skywalker.
Obi-Wan is unsure about Anakin’s place with the Jedi. Still, once Obi-Wan is forced to face his Master’s death and his victory over Sith apprentice Darth Maul, Obi-Wan decides to honor his Master’s last wishes and takes Anakin on as his apprentice. This is a major turning point in both Anakin’s and Obi-Wan’s lives. The Jedi Order and the galaxy will never be the same again.
9Star Wars: Episode II - Attack of the Clones
Obi-Wan’s Mission To Kamino
InStar Wars: Episode II - Attack of the Clones, Obi-Wan and Anakin are separated for most of the story. Though their relationship is a highlight ofStar Wars' storytelling, the separation in this installment works in Obi-Wan’s favor. Obi-Wan becomes a detective, of sorts, unraveling the mystery of the waiting clone army.
Watching Obi-Wan interact with people outside the Jedi Order, like Dexter Jettster at the Coruscant diner, adds another layer to his character. Evena model Jedi like Obi-Wanisn’t in Jedi-mode all the time. It’s fun to see him function in different environments. His confrontation with bounty hunter Jango Fett is exhilarating, and his time with Count Dooku is all the more interesting because of their shared connection to Qui-Gon.
8Star Wars: The Clone Wars Season 2 - Mandalore
Obi-Wan’s Greatest Love Is Introduced
Star Wars: The Clone Warsis where we truly get an insight into who Obi-Wan once wasand how his history shaped his prequel-era relationships. Nowhere is this more apparent than whenThe Clone Warsintroduces Satine Kryze, the Duchess of Mandalore, who is revealed to beObi-Wan’s former (and current) love interest.
InThe Clone Wars' season 2 Mandalore arc, Obi-Wan and Anakin are called to Mandalore to protect the Duchess. It’s clear they haven’t seen each other in a while, and though we never find out exactly how they met, there’s an undeniable romantic tension to their dynamic, one that Anakin picks up on, too.
Obi-Wan’s history with Satine explains so much about his character and his relationship with Anakin. Obi-Wan confesses that he would have left the Jedi Order to be with her had she asked, and she replies that that’s exactly why she never did. Obi-Wan wanted Anakin to experience the happiness he never did.
7Star Wars: The Clone Wars Season 4 - Obi-Wan Undercover
Obi-Wan Undertakes A Dangerous Mission
“Obi-Wan Undercover” is one of the fewClone Warsarcs in which Obi-Wan is given an individual spotlight. The Jedi uncover a plot to kidnap the Chancellor, and Obi-Wan is sent deep undercover as a criminal to infiltrate the group responsible and save Palpatine.
To ensure Obi-Wan’s disguise is foolproof, however, Obi-Wan and the Council fake his death so that he can assume the identity of his “killer,” Rako Hardeen. They do all this without informing Anakin, who’s left spiraling in his grief.
This arc tests all of Obi-Wan’s most important personality traits: his loyalty to the Force and the Jedi, his ethics, his relationships with Anakin and Anakin’s Padawan, Ahsoka Tano, and his trust in himself. If you want to see more of Obi-Wan in action, this is the arc to watch.
6Star Wars: The Clone Wars Season 4 - Darth Maul Returns
Maul Vows Revenge Against His Greatest Enemy
George Lucas regretted killing offDarth MaulinThe Phantom Menace, so he brought him back to life inThe Clone Wars. This decision led to one of the greatest villain arcs in all ofStar Wars. Maul is cruel, ruthless, and utterly obsessed with getting revenge against Obi-Wan Kenobi. The “Maul Returns” arc features their first reunion sinceThe Phantom Menace.
Watching them duel once more is a violent delight, and there are genuinely a few moments where you feel like Obi-Wan is about to lose, even though we know his story doesn’t end until much later in theStar Warstimeline. Obi-Wan and Maul’s story is a cornerstone of Obi-Wan’s development, and it all starts in these episodes.
What’s arguably even more interesting in the season 4 finale, however, is Obi-Wan’s temporary truce and partnership with former Sith assassin Asajj Ventress. Obi-Wan and Asajj Ventress' dynamic is one of distrust, temporary alliances, and flirty banter, and it’s genuinely fun and exciting to watch them fight on the same side.
5Star Wars: The Clone Wars Season 5 - Shadow Collective
Obi-Wan Faces His Greatest Loss Yet
As we know, Obi-Wan will have a lot to grieve about later in his life. The decimation of the Jedi Order, Anakin Skywalker’s fall to the dark side, and the death of Padmé Amidala will all have a profound effect on his character. His first real trial with grief starts inThe Clone Warsseason 5, as Maul enacts his most terrifying plan of revenge yet.
With the unwitting help of Mandalore’s Death Watch, Satine’s greatest opposition, Maul has taken control of the planet. He’s after power, but what he wants most in the galaxy is Obi-Wan Kenobi’s pain. Maul uses Satine to lure Obi-Wan to Mandalore; he heads there alone after being shut down by the Republic and the Council. While Obi-Wan’s intention to save Satine is honorable, it ends in tragedy.
4Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith
The End Of The Jedi Order, The Republic, And Anakin Skywalker
Of course, you’re able to’t create a list of the 10 most important Obi-Wan Kenobi stories and not includeStar Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith. Obi-Wan plays a pivotal role in Anakin’s dark side transformation.Their duel on Mustafar is legendary(preceded by an equally iconic duel against Separatist General Grievous) and is infused with undeniable pain, anger, and sadness.
What if Obi-Wan had handled Anakin differently? What if he hadn’t kept Anakin’s relationship with Padmé a secret? How did the Jedi not see through Palpatine’s deception? Everything changes for Obi-Wan inRevenge of the Sith, just like everything changes for the entire galaxy.
3Obi-Wan Kenobi
A Jedi In Exile
Obi-Wan Kenobi, set a few years afterRevenge of the Sith, couldn’t just be about Obi-Wan watching over Luke. Obi-Wan needed to have a reason to leave Tatooine and reconnect with the Force. That reason was Leia. Watching Obi-Wan interact with the young princes is undeniably heartwarming and provides so much more depth to Leia’s message inA New Hope.
Obi-Wan Kenobialso includesObi-Wan’s first confrontation with Darth Vader, which ends in the tragic realization that Anakin Skywalker is"truly dead.“Knowing the truth does unlock something in Obi-Wan, however, and gives him that final push he needs to begin the last stage of his training: how to become a Force ghost.
2Star Wars Rebels - “Twin Suns”
Obi-Wan And Darth Maul’s Story Comes To An End
Darth Maul and Obi-Wan’s story comes to an end inStar Wars Rebelsseason 3, episode 19, “Twin Suns.” Maul tracks Obi-Wan down on Tatooine, and while you’d expect to watch another one of their highly-charged, competitive duels, Obi-Wan has since evolved.He strikes Maul down effortlessly and swiftly, finally giving the Dathomirian male the peace he’s been looking for all his life.
It’s a beautifully animated, poignant ending to a vicious cycle. Maul’s true enemy was never Obi-Wan; it was Palpatine and the Sith, and Obi-Wan reassures him that they will one day be destroyed, as he holds a dying Maul in his arms.
1Star Wars (A New Hope)
Obi-Wan Trains Luke Skywalker
The story that started it all. Obi-Wan dedicated his life to protecting Luke so that one day, he may rise to be the galaxy’s new hope. Having watched all the otherStar Warsstories on this list, Obi-Wan’s duel with Vader inA New Hopebecomes much more meaningful, as do his comments about Luke’s father’s legacy as a Jedi.
Aside from a few minor retcons and up-for-interpretation pieces of dialogue, the wayStar Warshas tied all of Obi-Wan’s history intoA New Hopeis impressive. In this first-everStar Warsstory,Obi-Wan Kenobiis just a mentor, but we now know he’s so much more.
The Mandalorian and Grogu
