In praise of LDS Obiwan Kenobis

[Vort]

I have already openly admitted that I'm no Star Wars geek. I thoroughly expect to get corrected over my numerous mischaracterizations that I will doubtless make in this post. Bring it on. But while bringing it on, try to understand the point I'm driving at.

From my viewing of the Star Wars movies, I come away with the impression that Obiwan Kenobi is the, how shall I say this, least naturally gifted of the Jedi masters. Like, Evar. He doesn't exhibit the raw heroism of his trainer Kwangai Jin or whatever his name was. He is not a thousand-year-old pint-sized superhero like Yoda. He is not The Chosen One® with a mitochondrial count of well over nine thousand. He is not a super-duper light saber master, like the dude with the horns. He is not a master of strategy. He's...vanilla. Obiwan is the twenty-year black belt of the Jedi, someone who worked diligently and put in his time. Obiwan appeared not to excel at anything; he only beat his barely-adult The Chosen One trainee in mortal combat because of Anakin's immense ego and refusal to, you know, try to actually secure the high ground before attacking.

If Obiwan has any extraordinary powers, it's the power of taking blame on himself where it properly belongs to others. He warned Kwaigon Jin about Anakin, but Jin had to train him, anyway. He volunteered to continue Anakin's training after Jin was killed, and—surprise!—the immensely wise yet stupid Yoda and the (as far as I can tell) completely useless Mace Windu combined with the rest of the superwise yet idiotic Jedi Council to allow it. Like that was Obiwan's fault. And then when to the surprise of exactly no one, Anakin turned out to be an incorrigible and corrupt [censored] canoe, somehow that's Obiwan's fault.

So what does he do, this Jedi Master who is himself only just barely coming into his prime? Easy. He spends the rest of his life living alone on a barren desert planet so that when D. Canoe's son reaches maturity (having inherited not only his father's mitochondrial count—how exactly does that work?—but also a good deal of his winning personality—"But Uncle Owen! I wanted to go into TOOOOOOWN with my FRIEEEEEEENDS and get some POOOOOOOWER CONVERTERS!" "Shut up, Luke. We both know you don't have any friends"), Obiwan can guide him in the ways of the Force. That's like 20 years in the Sahara, just, you know, waiting around. Let's face it, if Obiwan was (to be generous) 35 when he went into hermitage, that would make him no more than mid-50s when he found Luke. Maybe it's just me, but I don't think those 20 years were kind to Obiwan. Alec Guinness was a handsome man, but he didn't look no 55.

And then, when it came down to it, fighting an opponent that he knew full well he had no chance of defeating like he did before (get it? De-feet-ing? I crack myself up), Obiwan, always the noble soul, willingly sacrificed himself so that DC Jr. can get away.

Honestly, I respect that a whole lot more than Superdwarf Yoda, and certainly more than The Chosen One® or his whiney son, TCO® Jr.

In LDS terms, I'm thinking that Obiwan is the guy who quietly served a mission, not to a South American country where he baptized ten thousand or to an exotic east Asian or European nation, but to, I don't know, Arkansas. Or Boise. And he wasn't the AP, or a zone leader. He was just a missionary. He tried hard, had some limited success, and came home. He tries to live his life well. He is not the stake president or the bishop, or maybe not even the elders quorum president. He's just a guy. The scoutmaster, though the boys didn't flock to him, because he wasn't a natural. But he soldiered on and took the boys out every month for a campout, even when only two went. Maybe the ward mission leader, or more likely "just" a ward missionary. Makes the occasional comment in gospel doctrine or quorum, but doesn't really talk a lot about himself. Did his home teaching, and works on being a good ministering brother. He's not necessarily the best-known or most "popular" guy in the ward, and may not even be much known in the stake outside his own ward. But those who know him well respect him. When he dies, he won't set a record for funeral attendance, but those who attend will know he was someone special, and will offer their thanks for his life.

Obiwan is my hero.

[mikbone]

Qui-Gon Jinn

Fixin’ to bisect Darth Maul

[Vort]

8 minutes ago, mikbone said:

Qui-Gon Jinn

At least I got his name right (more or less) the second time.

[Guest Scott]

2 hours ago, Vort said:

In LDS terms, I'm thinking that Obiwan is the guy who quietly served a mission, not to a South American country where he baptized ten thousand or to an exotic east Asian or European nation, but to, I don't know, Arkansas. Or Boise.

Sorry, couldn't resist.  

[Guest Mores]

8 hours ago, Vort said:

I have already openly admitted that I'm no Star Wars geek. I thoroughly expect to get corrected over my numerous mischaracterizations that I will doubtless make in this post. Bring it on.  -- Boy! Are you asking for it. (insert devilish laugh).

• least naturally gifted of the Jedi masters. -- True.
• Like, Evar. -- No, the Clone wars showed some obviously less talented ones who couldn't defend themselves from droids.
• He doesn't exhibit the raw heroism of his trainer Kwangai Jin or whatever his name was. -- True -- due to age (too young and too old).  We didn't get to see what he did in the intervening years between Episodes 3 and 4.
• He is not a thousand-year-old pint-sized superhero like Yoda. -- True.  But we did get so see some of his wisdom in his advanced years and afterlife.
• He is not The Chosen One® with a mitochondrial count of well over nine thousand. -- True
• He is not a super-duper light saber master, like the dude with the horns. -- Whom Obiwan defeated.
• He is not a master of strategy. -- Uhmmm.  He was the one to point out the high ground.  Although, there is a fan theory that it wasn't about strategy or tactics, but a shared vision between them.
• He's...vanilla. Obiwan is the twenty-year black belt of the Jedi, someone who worked diligently and put in his time. Obiwan appeared not to excel at anything;-- See above.  Among all the Jedi of his era, Qui-gon and Obiwan were considered the best saber masters behind Yoda.
• he only beat his barely-adult The Chosen One trainee in mortal combat because of Anakin's immense ego and refusal to, you know, try to actually secure the high ground before attacking.-- Differing schools of thought on that one.

...that would make him no more than mid-50s when he found Luke. Maybe it's just me, but I don't think those 20 years were kind to Obiwan. Alec Guinness was a handsome man, but he didn't look no 55. -- The character was supposed to be 58 years old in Episode 4.  Guiness was 62 during filming.  Not much of a difference.  And, as you pointed out, he did live in the desert for those 20 years.

And then, when it came down to it, fighting an opponent that he knew full well he had no chance of defeating like he did before (get it? De-feet-ing? I crack myself up), -- You're a riot.

Obiwan, always the noble soul, willingly sacrificed himself so that DC Jr. can get away.  Honestly, I respect that a whole lot more than Superdwarf Yoda, and certainly more than The Chosen One® or his whiney son, TCO® Jr. -- I see where you're going.

In LDS terms, ... Obiwan is my hero. -- Gotcha.  I like that.

Edited June 19, 2019 by Mores

[Guest Mores]

On 6/18/2019 at 10:34 PM, Vort said:

Obiwan is my hero.

I've been thinking about this.  Might not Wedge be a better analogy?

[anatess2]

My favorite Obi-wan series in the EU is the young readers series about Obi-wan's life growing up at the Jedi Temple and becoming a padawan.  There are 18 books in this series written for 5th graders and I bought the entire series and read them all in one sitting.

Obi-wan was a highly gifted Jedi.  Best in his class and all that.  His character is more of that overachieving kid who is always brown nosing some teacher trying to be the teacher's pet.  But he found himself turning 12 and has not been picked as a padawan.  His advancing years had him vascillating between having very low self-confidence and then trying too hard in trials to impress making him too aggressive and angry, lowering his chances of being picked by Knights. 

Meanwhile, Qui-gon lost his last padawan to the dark side and so he has also lost his confidence of being a good teacher to a padawan.  Yoda tried to convince him to check out Obi-wan at trials.  Yoda saw that Qui-Gon's sensitivity to the living force is just what Obi-wan needs to tame his "check this box to be #1" personality.  But Qui-Gon's last experience with a padawan turning to the dark side made him hesitate when he saw Obi-wan's aggressiveness at trials.  Yoda couldn't make him change his mind. 

As it happens, Qui-gon was on his way off-planet and Obi-wan was also on the same ship being sent off-planet due to an altercation at the jedi temple when the ship got ambushed and Qui-gon and Obi-wan ended up saving the ship.  So Qui-gon ended up taking Obi-wan as his apprentice.

Obi-wan would then be more of that kid who is exemplary at following the letter of the law but not quite the spirit of the law.  It wasn't until Qui-gon's influence that he became cognizant of the spirit of the law that is the reason for its letter.  Unfortunately, this has led to some mishaps too when Obi-wan decided to leave the Jedi a few years into being a Padawan when he desired to help some kids rebel against their elders when it is the Jedi Way not to take sides in the dispute but to simply maintain the peace.  Obi-wan felt the kids needed to succeed to make their world a better place so he has to help them.  He had to beg Qui-gon and the council to take him back (this would be like being excommunicated and had to work his way back to baptism).  It was after this that Obi-wan learned to balance the living force with the Jedi Way - or in LDS terms - learn to live in the world but not of the world following and applying the laws of Christ.

The best part of the that series was when Qui-Gon fell in love with Tahl and went against the Jedi Council to rescue her.  This is, of course, against Yoda's principles.  Obi-wan had to figure out how to keep Qui-Gon in the Jedi Order (within the Law) while at the same time understanding Qui-Gon's need to save Tahl (following the tenet of the living force).

Anyway, Obi-wan was not ready to be a Knight, let alone be a mentor to a Padawan - especially a Padawan that has not grown up in the culture of the Jedi Temple and has very strong attachments to the living force already - when Qui-Gon died.  This constant challenge to have to balance the Law with the Living Force - being pulled to extremes from one to the other - has been Obi-wans specific cross to bear.  Obi-wan's exclamation of "I failed you Anakin" was a statement of comparison between what he was able to do with Qui-Gon and Tahl and what he failed to accomplish with Anakin.  Ahhh... I have to read this series again.

[NeedleinA]

On 6/19/2019 at 12:43 AM, Scott said:

Sorry, couldn't resist.  

"Where's a map?" - hah

[mikbone]

23 hours ago, anatess2 said:

My favorite Obi-wan series in the EU is the young readers series about Obi-wan's life growing up at the Jedi Temple and becoming a padawan.  

Is this it?  Always looking for good books for the younger boys to get them hooked.

[NeuroTypical]

On 6/18/2019 at 9:34 PM, Vort said:

"But Uncle Owen! I wanted to go into TOOOOOOWN with my FRIEEEEEEENDS and get some POOOOOOOWER CONVERTERS!" "Shut up, Luke. We both know you don't have any friends")

Like father, like son.  Late bloomers all.

[Vort]

On 6/20/2019 at 7:51 PM, Mores said:

I've been thinking about this.  Might not Wedge be a better analogy?

Isn't Wedge the guy who goes up in flames when they attack the Death Star? Not my Star Wars hero, but more like my Star Wars avatar. Him or Uncle Owen.

Edited June 22, 2019 by Vort

[Vort]

39 minutes ago, NeuroTypical said:

Like father, like son.  Late bloomers all.

That boy is smoooooooooth with the wimminfolk.

[Midwest LDS]

42 minutes ago, Vort said:

Isn't Wedge the guy who goes up in flames when they attack the Death Star? Not my Star Wars hero, but more like my Star Wars avatar. Him or Uncle Owen.

No Wedge Antilles is the leader of Rogue Squadron and is a somewhat prominent side character in several films. Here is a pic. He survives the first Death Star run and helps blow up the Second Death Star with Lando.

Edited June 22, 2019 by Midwest LDS

[NeedleinA]

31 minutes ago, Midwest LDS said:

No Wedge Antilles is the leader of Rogue Squadron and is a somewhat prominent side character in several films. Here is a pic. He survives the first Death Star run and helps blow up the Second Death Star with Lando.

Dork alert!*

 

 

 

*I'm a big dork myself. My nerd cave, basement.

[mikbone]

7 minutes ago, NeedleinA said:

Dork alert!*

 

 

 

*I'm a big dork myself. My nerd cave, basement.

[Midwest LDS]

38 minutes ago, NeedleinA said:

Dork alert!*

 

 

 

*I'm a big dork myself. My nerd cave, basement.

That is epically awesome. I tip my hat to you sir.

[NeedleinA]

24 minutes ago, Midwest LDS said:

That is epically awesome. I tip my hat to you sir.

Some invest in gold, stocks, etc.
I put some fun money away in collectible retro toys. When the Star Wars movies were announced back in 2012/2013 range prices started to go up on these little guys.
A $100 figure might be up in the $300-400 range now.  Take a 100 figures at $400 = (not too bad for a fun side gig)

[Guest Mores]

3 hours ago, Vort said:

Isn't Wedge the guy who goes up in flames when they attack the Death Star?

Wedge is noted as the only named minor character with a speaking role in all three of the original series -- and survives.

He also got to join the main cast in the final "curtain call" shot at the end of Return of the Jedi.

"Luke! I'm hit!"

"Get out of there, Wedge.  You're not doing any good back there."

"Sorry!". Proceeds to pull out and go home.

Edited June 22, 2019 by Mores

[Vort]

34 minutes ago, Mores said:

Wedge is noted as the only named minor character with a speaking role in all three of the original series -- and survives.

He also got to join the main cast in the final "curtain call" shot at the end of Return of the Jedi.

"Luke! I'm hit!"

"Get out of there, Wedge.  You're not doing any good back there."

"Sorry!". Proceeds to pull out and go home.

 A,h I got it. Wedge is the one the Luke want to go get power converters with.

[Guest Mores]

Just now, Vort said:

 A,h I got it. Wedge is the one the Luke want to go get power converters with.

Uhhmmmm...  Yes. ... Sure...  That works.

[NeuroTypical]

On 6/18/2019 at 9:34 PM, Vort said:

In LDS terms, I'm thinking that Obiwan is the guy who quietly served a mission, not to a South American country where he baptized ten thousand or to an exotic east Asian or European nation, but to, I don't know, Arkansas. Or Boise. And he wasn't the AP, or a zone leader. He was just a missionary. He tried hard, had some limited success, and came home. He tries to live his life well. He is not the stake president or the bishop, or maybe not even the elders quorum president. He's just a guy. The scoutmaster, though the boys didn't flock to him, because he wasn't a natural. But he soldiered on and took the boys out every month for a campout, even when only two went. Maybe the ward mission leader, or more likely "just" a ward missionary. Makes the occasional comment in gospel doctrine or quorum, but doesn't really talk a lot about himself. Did his home teaching, and works on being a good ministering brother. He's not necessarily the best-known or most "popular" guy in the ward, and may not even be much known in the stake outside his own ward. But those who know him well respect him. When he dies, he won't set a record for funeral attendance, but those who attend will know he was someone special, and will offer their thanks for his life.

Obiwan is my hero.

This is one of those posts that just stayed with me, and keeps growing on me.  Excellent post, Vort.  As someone who perhaps spends a bit more time than I should, learning about principles and how-to-be from art and fiction, I appreciate the insights here.

And here we are, burying it under funny memes and fandom.  I'm ashamed of us!  

Actually, mostly I'm ashamed of you SW geeks.  Everyone knows ST is most better.

Edited June 23, 2019 by NeuroTypical

[Vort]

21 hours ago, NeedleinA said:

Dork alert!*

 

 

 

*I'm a big dork myself. My nerd cave, basement.

 I give this a thumbs-up, but what we really need is a "Wow!" icon.

[Guest Mores]

On 6/22/2019 at 2:39 PM, Vort said:

 A,h I got it. Wedge is the one the Luke want to go get power converters with.

I just realized that I don't know if you were kidding or not.  There were two notable minor characters with Luke during the attack on the Death Star:  Wedge and Biggs.

Biggs was a friend of Luke's from Tatooine.  Upon Biggs' death, Luke felt a great sense of loss.  In the original cut in the 70s, that really didn't make much sense.  We only got a minor hint at who he really was to Luke (mentioned the name "Biggs" while getting to know the recently purchased droids while on Tatooine, and mentioned Beggar's Canyon).  But in the re-release in the 90s, they added an additional (cut from earlier release) scene which showed that this was the guy who Luke knew from back home.  Thus the line "It'll be just like Beggar's Canyon back home" made a whole lot more sense.  It may well be that he was one of Luke's friends with whom he'd go to Toschi station.

Wedge was the one who declared "Look at the size of that thing!" upon seeing the Death Star for the first time.  He was Luke's wingman on Hoth during the Walker raid.  And he was there on the attack of Endor leading fighter escort for Lando as they flew inside the Death Star.

Each time, he was never the star.  But he did give support to the main characters.  Without him around, the main characters couldn't do their jobs.  Lucas intended to give this message.  That's why he let him join the cast in the final scene.

Edited June 24, 2019 by Mores

[anatess2]

On 6/22/2019 at 10:04 AM, mikbone said:

Is this it?  Always looking for good books for the younger boys to get them hooked.

No.  That's a beginning reader book (I'd say generally 2nd and 3rd graders).  It's not a chapter book nor a book series.

The Jedi Apprentice series is by Jude Watson.  The Jedi Apprentice book series (18 books on Qui-gon and Obi-wan as the padawan) is followed by Jedi Quest (10 books on Obi-wan and his padawan Anakin ) and then The Last of the Jedi series (10 books on Obi-wan while watching over Luke growing up on Tatooine - he wasn't just "living alone in a barren desert", he was doing missions searching for survivors of Order 66.)

 

 

[anatess2]

On 6/22/2019 at 12:43 PM, Midwest LDS said:

No Wedge Antilles is the leader of Rogue Squadron and is a somewhat prominent side character in several films. Here is a pic. He survives the first Death Star run and helps blow up the Second Death Star with Lando.

Another one of my favorite book series (this one is a 10-book series for adult readers) is the X-Wing Series.  This series is set after Return of the Jedi (New Republic Era) and features Wedge Antilles' X-wing Squadrons battling a decentralized Imperial army and trying to help organize the New Republic. 

I read the first 2 books on the flight from Florida to the Philippines which is how I found out I don't get jet lagged if I don't sleep en-route. 

Edited June 24, 2019 by anatess2