Years after its introduction, Star Wars has the perfect opportunity to tell Obi-Wan Kenobi’s most important story. Obi-Wan has been one of Star Wars’ most pivotal characters since the first Star Wars movie released in 1977. And yet, it wasn’t until the Star Wars prequel trilogy premiered that audiences began to learn more about him – not just as Luke Skywalker’s mentor, but as a Jedi and a person in his own right. His relationships with Qui-Gon Jinn, Anakin Skywalker, and Padmé Amidala all proved that Obi-Wan Kenobi was a Jedi with integrity, dedication, and compassion. As such, he was seen by many as the ideal Jedi.
Star Wars: The Clone Wars built upon that foundation but made Obi-Wan a little more complex; it depicted more of Obi-Wan and Anakin’s brotherly relationship, his sense of humor, his innate sense of right and wrong, and his relationship with other prominent Jedi. Most surprisingly, however, it proved that Obi-Wan and Anakin had much more in common than anyone originally believed. Star Wars: The Clone Wars gave viewers a glimpse into Obi-Wan’s personal life, and it turned out that he, too, had once fallen in love.
Star Wars Has Never Fleshed Out Obi-Wan’s Love Story
In The Clone Wars season 2, Obi-Wan and Anakin are sent to Mandalore. There, they meet with the Duchess Satine Kryze, Mandalore’s pacifist leader. It’s quickly revealed that Obi-Wan and Satine had a past – he and Qui-Gon Jinn were sent on a mission to Mandalore when Obi-Wan was still a Padawan, where they were charged with protecting the young Satine. By all accounts, it was a long mission, and Obi-Wan and Satine fell for one another. In one episode, Obi-Wan confirmed his deepest feelings: “Had you said the word, I would have left the Jedi Order.”
Much more than that, however, has never been revealed. All that has been published and seen on screen is the tail end of their relationship – their reunion on Mandalore, their ideological differences, and Satine’s tragic fate. This feels like an oversight, however. Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan’s original mission to Mandalore was clearly a fundamental moment in Obi-Wan’s life as a Jedi; it not only speaks to his dedication to the Jedi Order and their ideals but also changed his relationship with Anakin, too – a relationship that changed the fate of the galaxy forever.
Why Obi-Wan & Satine’s Romance Is So Important For Star Wars
Obi-Wan and Satine’s romance is inextricably part of Mandalore’s larger history. Obi-Wan and Qui-Gon were sent to Mandalore to protect Satine as she was a leading force in the Mandalorian Civil War, advocating for peace rather than the Mandalorians’ ancient warrior culture. Satine was at the very heart of the conflict that eventually led to the creation of Death Watch, Maul’s reign of terror on Mandalore, her sister Bo-Katan Kryze’s changing allegiance, and destruction at the hands of the Empire.
What If Obi-Wan Kenobi Had Left The Jedi To Live On Mandalore?
Long before Star Wars: Episode I, Obi-Wan Kenobi almost left the Jedi Order to become a Mandalorian and marry Duchess Satine Kryze on Mandalore.
The Mandalorians have never been more important to Star Wars storytelling. Much of the history that affected the remaining Mandalorians during the New Republic era started with Satine, and Obi-Wan was a prominent part of that history. Without his and Qui-Gon’s intervention, Satine may never have survived long enough to rebuild Mandalore. Their relationship linked the Jedi and the Mandalorians forever, despite the significant and brutal history between their two cultures. All in all, there’s no better time to dive into Obi-Wan and Satine’s love story. It would not only enrich Obi-Wan’s character, but it would reveal more about Mandalore’s legacy, too.
Obi-Wan’s Love Story Affected His Relationship With Anakin Skywalker
Obi-Wan’s romance with Satine not only played a major part in Mandalorian history but also affected his relationship with his own Padawan, Anakin. Unlike Obi-Wan, Anakin gave into his feelings wholeheartedly, ignoring the Jedi Order’s rules against attachment by marrying Padmé Amidala in secret. Their love affair changed the course of galactic history; without it, Palpatine may never have been able to manipulate Anakin, and Anakin may never have felt desperate enough to be consumed by the dark side.
Despite Anakin and Padmé’s secret affair, though, Obi-Wan knew the truth. In the novel Brotherhood by Mike Chen, it is revealed that Obi-Wan was aware of their relationship the minute they returned to Coruscant after the events of Star Wars: Episode II – Attack of the Clones. And yet, Obi-Wan made the conscious decision not to reveal Anakin’s secrets to the Jedi Council. Obi-Wan, the model Jedi, who left the love of his life behind on Mandalore, protected Anakin’s secret because he wanted his Padawan and friend to experience the happiness that he had denied himself.
Anakin and Padmé’s relationship is central to the Skywalker saga, but without Obi-Wan’s discretion, the story may have played out very differently. Obi-Wan saw first-hand how Anakin’s obsessive love for Padmé consumed him – his desperation to save her life rather than being able to let her go changed everything. Obi-Wan allowed Anakin and Padmé their happiness, but in doing so, he inadvertently caused the fall of the Jedi Order and the rise of the Empire. Obi-Wan and Satine’s relationship is, therefore, one of the most fundamental stories in all of Star Wars.
Obi-Wan’s Love Story Shows Why He Was A Better Person Than Anakin – Not Just A Jedi
Obi-Wan Kenobi’s Star Wars love story proves that he was a better Jedi and a better person than Anakin Skywalker – and there is one specific reason.
Tales Of The Jedi Season 2 Could Deepen Obi-Wan & Satine’s Relationship
Obi-Wan and Satine’s romance is a story that deserves further exploration, and one upcoming Star Wars show is perfectly positioned to do so. Star Wars: Tales of the Jedi season 1 explored the lives of two prominent (ex)-Jedi, Ahsoka Tano, and Count Dooku, through animated shorts that depicted them at different stages of their lives. In just six short episodes, Tales of the Jedi revealed a lot about these characters.
In Dooku’s case, it showed the first time he accessed the dark side, his growing disillusionment with the Order and the Republic, and the tragic moment that saw him join forces with Palpatine once and for all. In Ahsoka’s case, audiences learned about her place of birth, how she survived Order 66, and how she became a part of the Rebellion. They were two sides of the same coin; Jedi who left the Order because they could no longer believe in what it stood for.
Tales of the Jedi season 2 is on the way, but Lucasfilm has yet to reveal which two characters will be featured this time around. Obi-Wan would be a perfect candidate. Tales of the Jedi is all about diving into the past to understand these characters more deeply, and Obi-Wan’s past, his life before he met Anakin in Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace, deserves to be examined more closely – especially his time with Satine. Their relationship is fundamental to who Obi-Wan is as a Jedi, as a friend, and the history of both Mandalore and the Jedi. It is, by far, one of Star Wars’ most essential stories.
Star Wars: Tales of the Jedi
Star Wars: Tales of the Jedi is an animated action-anthology series set in different periods during the first three episodes of the film series. The show follows two different characters, Ahsoka Tano and Count Dooku, at different points in their lives, with Ahsoka’s padawan days and beyond, as well as the rise and fall of Count Dooku, exploring his descent into the dark side.
- Release Date
- October 26, 2022
- Cast
- Matt Lanter , Liam Neeson , Janina Gavankar , Corey Burton , Bryce Dallas Howard , Clancy Brown
- Seasons
- 1
- Writers
- Dave Filoni
- Network
- CBS
- Streaming Service(s)
- Disney+
- Franchise(s)
- Star Wars
- Directors
- Charles Murray
- Showrunner
- Dave Filoni
