9. A View Of How The Master And Padawan Relationship Should Work
In the original trilogy, the remaining Jedi were on catch up. Their numbers depleted, any hopes of turning the galaxy around on the shoulders of two kids whose father brought about most of the galaxys problems in the first place. Through Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan in The Phantom Menace we are shown what Obi-Wan and Yoda were trying to bring out of Luke in the Original Trilogy. We are shown what a master and apprentice duo could achieve. Obviously this theme continues throughout the Prequel Trilogy but in The Phantom Menace we get to see the blueprint of how the Jedi work and of course rather than a half old man, half machine vs an old man and a young boy with barely any training we see what Jedi and Sith can really do with a lightsaber or two when their training is complete. Make no mistake Luke Skywalker is Obi-Wan's new Padawan and old Obi-Wan's similarities to Qui-Gon are no accident. Don't forget Phantom Menace era Obi-Wan describes creatures of a certain background as 'pathetic lifeforms' and seeing what course three prequels and a whole lot of years between trilogies does to change all that is an interesting, if not largely ignored arc for Kenobi. Additionally, note the difference in lightsaber battles between Episode I and the original trilogy. Beyond the better skills, the Jedi and Sith have absolutely nothing to talk about. They are focused and clear with their actions. The Sith want the Jedi dead and the Jedi need to stop that from happening. Jump forward to the original trilogy and the battles are more about people and the connections between them. They have things to discuss and the dramas between father and son or master and apprentice are strengthened even more. Lastly on this section, Obi-Wan is very much aware how the death of his master affected him as a Padawan. Seeing Qui-Gon die in Phantom Menace and how that relates to Obi-Wan's disappearing act in front of Luke in New Hope speaks volumes. Obi-Wan knows what this will ignite in Luke Skywalker and his 'sacrifice' begins Luke's real path to bring down the Empire. Additionally Anakin Skywalker / Darth Vader thinks he knows every secret there is to know about The Force and its reasonably downsized use in the original trilogy era but his old master's disappearing act delivers a surprise to Vader and maybe his certainty of how things are isn't as solid as he once thought. Also there is an argument that upon seeing Luke across the Death Star hanger, the repetition of events may very well have sparked Vader's memories of his own past and given that this situation had happened before, has reminded Anakin he was once the one who had his Jedi master die early in his training.