Obi-Wan Kenobi

Background:

Obi-Wan Kenobi is one of the foremost characters in the Star Wars film franchise. Utilizing his immense talent and understanding of the Force, he takes direct part in some of the most iconic conflicts that would later shape the galaxy, and later imparts his wisdom onto Luke Skywalker so that the young farmer can go on to do the very same. He is portrayed in the original trilogy by Sir Alec Guinness, and by Ewan McGregor in the more recent prequels.

Kenobi makes his first appearance in Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope as what Luke believes to be a crazy old hermit. It doesn't take long for him to reveal his identity as a self-exiled Jedi Knight to the boy. Chronologically, Kenobi appears first in The Phantom Menace as a Jedi Padawan quickly approaching a level of aptitude qualifying him for Knighthood. From there he rapidly progresses from Jedi Knight, to Jedi Master, and eventually to a member of the Jedi High Council.

Original Trilogy

A New Hope

Obi-Wan Kenobi is first introduced as "Ben" early on in Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope when he assists Luke Skywalker in warding away a number of assailing Tusken Raiders. Skywalker turns over R2-D2 to the old hermit, as the droid apparently has a recorded distress message embedded in his memory banks that is meant for him. The holo-image of Princess Leia pleads to Kenobi for assistance in the Rebellion's plight versus the Empire, and his response is to reveal his past as a Jedi Knight to Luke and to suggest that the young farmer become his new apprentice. Skywalker is reluctant until it is discovered that Imperial Stormtroopers are in hot pursuit of R2-D2, and have murdered both his Unlce Owen and Aunt Beru.

Kenobi takes on the services of Han Solo and Chewbacca at the port of Mos Eisley in an attempt to reach the planet Alderaan -- Princess Leia's home planet -- and aid in her struggles. He begins Luke's Jedi training aboard the Millennium Falcon en route, and become overwhelmed shortly thereafter by the disturbance in the Force caused by the destruction of Alderaan by the Empire. On approach to the Death Star, the Jedi becomes wholly aware of its sinister nature when he senses the presence of Darth Vader within the construct.

The Falcon is pulled into the Empire's space station via tractor beam, and Kenobi opts to hunt down the tractor beam controls alone while Luke and Han stay behind to guard the ship. In reality, the lone wolf mission is simply a ploy to keep Vader's ability to seek him out from placing Obi-Wan's companions in jeopardy. Regardless, he manages to disable the tractor beam before being confronted by his former pupil. Kenobi and Vader engage in a dialogue-fueled lightsaber duel that ultimately ends in the former's death when he sacrifices himself so as to allow Luke, Han, and Princess Leia to escape.

Despite his demise, he comes to Luke as a disembodied voice amidst the Rebel Alliance's siege on the Death Star. When Luke attempts to use the targeting computer on his X-Wing Fighter to fire the battle-winning shot, Obi-Wan tells him to trust in his feelings and in the Force. Luke switches off the computer and fires, the shots landing in the Death Star's fusion core and causing the station to explode.

The Empire Strikes Back

Luke Skywalker becomes lost and injured during the opening of Star Wars Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back, and prior to falling unconscious to the harsh weather conditions of the ice planet Hoth, a translucent image of Obi-Wan Kenobi instructs him to go to the Dagobah system and seek out a Jedi Master called Yoda. Luke eventually recovers, and takes mournful advantage of the Empire's assault on the Rebel Alliance's new base to investigate the apparition's words. Here Luke encounters a small green creature, and catches an exchange between it and the voice of Obi-Wan that reveals the former to be Yoda himself.

The deceased Jedi appears again to try and convince Luke not to end his training prematurely to rescue his friends from Darth Vader's clutches on Cloud City. Unsuccessful, Kenobi warns his former student that he will not be able to interfere should Luke require assistance. He takes some comfort in the promise that Luke will return, but holds little hope that young Skywalker can actually walk away from a confrontation with the Sith Lord.

Return of the Jedi

Luke Skywalker returns to his Jedi training only to find Yoda on his deathbed, apparently suffering from a sudden illness that the Jedi Master's advanced age is making it impossible to overcome. Yoda confirms to Luke that Darth Vader is in fact Anakin Skywalker, Luke's father, a fact of which the Jedi trainee had been made aware of during his confrontation with the Sith Lord on Cloud City.

Obi-Wan approached Luke in his spirit form once Yoda has passed on, and delivers his reasoning for having never been straight with the boy about the identity of his father. He also confirms that Leia is Luke's twin sister, and that the two were separated at birth to keep them a secret from the Empire.

Kenobi makes his final appearance at the end of the film amidst the Rebel Alliance's celebration over the destruction the Death Star, the deaths of the emperor and Darth Vader, and the end of the Empire. His ghost stands beside those of Yoda and the redeemed Anakin Skywalker, gazing at Luke with fondness and appreciation.

Prequel Trilogy

The Phantom Menace

Alongside his master Qui-Gon Jinn, Obi-Wan Kenobi makes his first chronological appearance in Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace as a twenty-three year old Jedi Padawan. The duo are sent to the Trade Federation battleships orbiting the planet Naboo in an attempt to talk Viceroy Nute Gunray into standing down on his blockade of the peaceful world. Before negotiations can begin however, the two are attacked by battle droids and thought dead. In reality they escape to the planet below.

Obi-Wan is separated from Qui-Gon briefly, but catches up and finds his master with a Gungan named Jar Jar Binks in tow. The young Jedi expresses his disgust for the creature's stupidity, but seems to become more interested in the Gungan species and their culture when Binks secures safe transport to Theed, Naboo's capitol.

Obi-Wan and his master lay waste to the Federation battle droids escorting Queen Amidala, and they subsequently secure the palace's hangar and escape aboard a royal vessel. When they are forced to make an emergency stop on Tatooine, where Kenobi begins questioning Qui-Gon's methods. Regardless, he remains aboard the ship as security reasons, and intercepts a series of distress messages from Naboo. He declares them to be a trap and has all communications shut down. Shortly thereafter he is introduced to a very young Anakin Skywalker when Qui-Gon brings him aboard for transport to the Jedi Temple on Coruscant.

Obi-Wan's passive head-butting with his master comes to its climax in the Council Chambers, when Qui-Gon offers to train Anakin as a Jedi despite his age, and announces that Obi-Wan is ready and able to face the trials required to graduate apprenticeship. Believing that he his simply being cast aside in favor of Anakin, Obi-Wan confronts Qui-Gon openly about his arrogance and defiance towards the Jedi Council.

Master and apprentice reconcile on Naboo wheen the Queen opts to return despite the Galactic Senate's unwillingness to provide support for her planet. Obi-Wan engages in battle alongside Qui-Gon against the Sith Lord Darth Maul, but the brutal fighter is able to ward off both skilled Jedi with his double-bladed lightsaber. Qui-Gon is struck down in front of a helpless Kenobi, who can only watch, but the sight doubles the Padawan's determination and he is able to put an end to Maul, slicing him through and casting him down a bottomless generator pit.

Obi-Wan promises his dying master that he will train Anakin and help the boy realize his prophesized destiny as the chosen one. Soon after, Yoda declares that Obi-Wan's skill with the Force is evident enough to grant him the rank of Jedi Knight, and to take Skywalker as his apprentice.

Attack of the Clones

In Star Wars Episode II: Attack of the Clones, set 10 years following the events of the previous film in the franchise, Obi-Wan Kenobi has become a respected Jedi Knight reporting directly to the High Council. He has developed a strong, close personal friendship with Jedi Masters Yoda and Mace Windu, and through his apprentice has a connection with Supreme Chancellor Palpatine. He holds a strong bond with Anakin Skywalker, having practically raised the now 19-year old Padawan since he was a young boy.

But all is not well in the galaxy; a group of separatists have risen up under the apparent leadership of Trade Federation Viceroy Nute Gunray and tensions are at an all time high. When an attempt is made on the life of Padme Amidala -- no longer Naboo's queen, but instead its voice in the senate -- Obi-Wan and Anakin are charged with her protection. It's during this time that the Jedi find themselves pursuing an assassin through Coruscant. The assassin is herself assassinated by means of a poisonous dart, and lead Obi-Wan follows to the mysterious planet of Kamino while sending his padawan to protect Amidala on her home planet.

More questions are raised on the storm-ridden planet when a manufactured clone army is found to have been ordered by the now deceased Jedi Master Sifo-Dyas for some unknown purpose. Obi-Wan is introduced to the basis of the cloning, Jango Fett, and his son Boba, and it takes little time for the diligent Jedi to become suspicious. He informs the Council of what he has found and confronts Jango, whose hi-tech suit and gadgetry confirm Kenobi's suspicions that the subject of the cloning is also the bounty hunter hired to kill Amidala.

Using the stealth capabilities of his Jedi Starfighter, Kenobi follows Fett to the remote world of Geonosis where he discovers the elusive Nute Gunray. He manages to broadcast his location to Anakin, who re-routes it to the Jedi Council, before being assaulted and captured. Held in a stasis field, Obi-Wan is confronted by Count Dooku, once a Jedi Knight and Qui-Gon Jinn's former master. The count all but confirms his allegiance with the separatists before attempting in vain to coax Kenobi into joining him.

Obi-Wan is joined in his captivity by Anakin and Padme just in time for the three of them to be publicly executed within the Geonosis arena. The two skilled Jedi and the combat-experienced senator refuse to go quietly, breaking free of their confines and assaulting the monstrosities released upon them. Dooku threatens them further upon their victory, but finds himself with Mace Windu's lightsaber blade to his throat. A host of Jedi Knights reveal themselves to be among the arena's crowd and put up an exceptional fight, but are ultimately defeated. However, Yoda arrives on the scene with Kamino's clone army in tow, and turns the tide while Obi-Wan and Anakin pursue Count Dooku.

They confront the count in a hangar as he is about to escape, and Obi-Wan is unsurprised to hear that his master's master has become a Sith Lord. The two fight, but Kenobi finds himself not to be much of a match for Dooku's years of experience. Anakin steps in to protect his own master, but is also defeated, and the two of them are again rescued by Yoda. Obi-Wan is seen in the Jedi Council Chamber going over the facts of the matter, and contemplating the start of the Clone Wars.

Revenge of the Sith

Several years have past since the events depicted in Attack of the Clones. Obi-Wan Kenobi has seen his padawan Anakin Skywalker graduate to the rank of Jedi Knight, and has himself become a Master and earned a seat on the Jedi High Council. His stellar performance in the Clone Wars have granted him a great deal of respect from the Republic, and his prowess as a high general has bought him loathing from him enemies.

When Chancellor Palpatine is abducted by General Grevious, Obi-Wan and his former padawan are sent to the rescue, and a fierce battle wages in the space over Coruscant. Fighting through Grevious' ship, the Jedi again find themselves at odds with Count Dooku. Kenobi spends much of his time unconscious during this fight, rendered so by the Sith Lord's skill with the Force, but he redeems his own role in the conflict by turning the tides against Grevious as the situation sours. Grevious escapes, apparently not for the first time, but the recovery of the chancellor and the death of Dooku afford the Republic a victory.

With the war nearly at its end, Obi-Wan finds himself at odds with Anakin, whose close friendship with Palpatine is beginning to weigh badly on the shoulders of the Council. However, he keeps a level head, and when Anakin is given a seat on the Council at Palpatine's request without being granted the rank of Jedi Master -- a decision toward which Skywalker openly expresses his outrage -- Obi-Wan remains the voice of reason. He assures Anakin that he should be proud of his accomplishments before departing Coruscant to search for General Grevious.

Grevious is stationed with his droid battalions on Utapau, where Kenobi confronts him. The cyborg's learned skill with a lightsaber, as well as his reputation for hunting and killing Jedi, make him a more than worthy oponent for Obi-Wan, but ultimately he is destroyed by a blaster shot through his core. The battle on Utapau is all but won when Order 66 is issued, and the Jedi Master is attacked and believed to have been killed by the Clone Troopers under his own command.

But Kenobi survives and escapes the planet, and is eventually intercepted by Bail Organa who has himself witnessed portions of the Jedi massacre occuring throughout Coruscant. Yoda has also been spared from the slaughter and teams up with Obi-Wan to infiltrate the Jedi Temple and shut down the communications signal that is beckoning thousands of Jedi home and to their doom. What they discover is a hologram depicting young trainees being slaughtered mercilessly by Anakin Skywalker, now called Darth Vader, and an image that confirms Chancellor Palpatine to be the Sith Lord Darth Sidious. Obi-Wan is sent to eliminate Anakin by Yoda, who himself goes to confront Palpatine.

Stowing away on board Padme Amidala's own vessel, Obi-Wan confronts his former comrade on Mustafar. He attempts to talk some sense into Anakin, but finds that the person he once knew is now psychotic and irrational. They engage in a fierce lightsaber duel that spans the entirety of the Separatist complex before Obi-Wan strikes down the overconfident Darth Vader, severing both of his legs and his one remaining organic arm. He watches the heat of Mustafar's lava pools burst Anakin into flames before turning his back, snatching up his apprentice's lightsaber, and leaving his friend for dead.

Aboard Organa's ship, Padme enters childbirth and is found to be dying for no discernible reason. She births twins, whom she names Luke and Leia. Anakin being the father, it is suggested by Yoda that they hide the children from Palpatine, whom the old Jedi was unable to defeat. Leia is adopted by Organa and his wife, while Obi-Wan elects to take Luke to his family on Tatooine. Yoda makes a shocking revelation, telling Kenobi that Qui-Gon Jinn has discovered the secret to immortality, and awaits him on the desert planet to train him in such ways.