reading the later JA books for the first time in years and appreciating Qui-Gon’s style of teaching all over again. I love that he treats everything as an opportunity for a lesson but never spoon-feeds Obi-Wan everything–he encourages him to think for himself and draw his own conclusions. The Order as a whole may have been tied up in knots about emotions, but Qui-Gon does a great job helping Obi-Wan understand his feelings without ever judging them or telling him to stop. He’s very patient, and I love how Obi-Wan is constantly thinking how impressive and intimidating his Master is–I know I wouldn’t want to come up against him in an argument!
Other things of note: Obi-Wan is still very insecure and introspective, but you can’t miss the sass under all that. I like Qui-Gon’s method of staring at someone until they become ashamed of themself: I bet that would have worked GREAT on Anakin, but of course Obi-Wan can’t use the technique cause he can’t resist the opportunity for a smart remark. Also, Qui-Gon is far too excited at the opportunity to get arrested. I have a strong image in my mind of young Knight Jinn chaining himself to the front of a repulsor-truck in protest of some kind of deforestation or what have you–”The werewolves have a right to live too!” he says passionately as he’s escorted to space jail. “They need that habitat!”
I was rewatching TPM (for reasons) and I just had an absolute revelation at Qui Gon’s death scene.
I always hated that scene because it felt so heartless- here is a Jedi master who obviously is very close to his padawan, yet he doesn’t use his dying breath to say goodbye, to give any words of encouragement, or to ease Obi Wan’s pain. All he offers is a burden, asking his apprentice to take on his crusade, after telling him in front of the Council that he was ready to brush him aside for that same cause. It just felt wrong and poorly written.
And on this, my four trillionth viewing, it has finally dawned on me- Qui Gon wasn’t talking about Anakin at all. He’s talking about Obi Wan. He says “Promise me you will train the boy”- because Qui Gon, more than anyone else, knows what training a padawan truly means. He knows how deeply Obi Wan will feel this loss. He understands what it means to despair and to have a small, precocious person give hope for the future. He doesn’t ask Obi Wan to promise that Anakin will be trained, he purposely sets this task on his apprentice because he knows it is what will allow him to move past his grief. He also knows that Obi Wan was meant for something great. He understands that the Chosen One needs to be placed in the care of the person who is the most capable, and there could be no greater compliment or sign of trust than to give Obi Wan this charge. Qui Gon knows that training Anakin will allow both The Chosen One and his young master to become the Jedi they were meant to be.
So, really, Qui Gon wasn’t putting duty before attachment. He was using his last breath to ensure that Obi Wan became everything Qui Gon had always known he could, through the only means available to him.
when rewatching TPM I was struck by the difference in Qui-Gon’s and Obi-Wan’s costumes. (I am a JA kid. I frequently think about/am struck by Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan.) Obi-Wan: clean, pristine, every seam in place, a beige that’s nearly white. Qui-Gon: does it cover my body and not smell too bad? good enough.
