“Star Wars” is jam-packed with important deaths, and at this point, more main characters have been killed off than not. Obi-Wan Kenobi, Yoda, Darth Vader, Emperor Palpatine, Han Solo, General Leia Organa, Luke Skywalker, and Kylo Ren are no more. But one fateful duel set all of those events into motion.
Arguably the most consequential death in all of “Star Wars” is that of Qui-Gon Jinn (Liam Neeson). In “Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace,” Qui-Gon is a Jedi Knight tasked with training his apprentice, Obi-Wan Kenobi (Ewan McGregor), and getting to the bottom of the political intrigue surrounding the recent trade disputes. When their ship gets waylaid, Qui-Gon makes the acquaintance of a young Anakin Skywalker (Jake Lloyd). He’s impressed with his mechanical skills and pod racing abilities, and he believes Anakin to be the one who can restore balance to the Force and he intends to take him on as a Padawan.
Unfortunately, Qui-Gon gets himself run through with Darth Maul’s (Ray Park) double-bladed red lightsaber. As he dies, he makes Obi-Wan promise to teach Anakin the ways of the Force. This will be the first master-apprentice relationship in a long line of Jedi who won’t always listen to the council and won’t always finish their training. It’s the inciting incident in the “Star Wars” storyline that leads to Vader, Luke, Rey, and beyond.
