Star Wars has confirmed Qui-Gon Jinn was the one Jedi who could have thwarted Palpatine’s plans. Introduced in Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace, Qui-Gon Jinn was Obi-Wan Kenobi’s Master. Little by little, tie-in comics and novels have been shining a light upon the enigmatic Qui-Gon, revealing he was an unusual and sometimes rebellious figure. Unlike the rest of the Jedi, Qui-Gon Jinn was mindful of the living Force, and there was a history of tension between Qui-Gon and the Jedi Council, with Qui-Gon feeling the Jedi had become compromised by politics.
Qui-Gon’s was familiar with ancient Jedi teachings that stressed balance as a distinct aspect of the Force, like light and dark. He was also well-versed in ancient Jedi prophesies, and thus suspected he was living in the time of the Chosen One. It’s gradually becoming clear he was the one Jedi who could have actually stopped Palpatine.
E.K. Johnston’s new book Queen’s Peril has just supported that assertion. The bulk of the story is set immediately prior to The Phantom Menace, although it then retells the film from the perspective of Padmé and her handmaidens. There are a number of interludes, however, and one shows Qui-Gon Jinn and his apprentice poring over the taxation bills being brought before the Republic Senate. These were orchestrated by Darth Sidious in order to engineer the Trade Federation’s invasion of Naboo and his ascension to the position of Chancellor. It seems Qui-Gon sensed there was something odd about this legislation, and he and Obi-Wan were looking through every detail in order to figure it out. No doubt that explains why Qui-Gon was the Jedi sent to Naboo when the Trade Federation invaded; he was already familiar with the pertinent issues.
It’s becoming clear Qui-Gon Jinn was a unique Jedi. He was the only member of the Old Jedi Order sensitive enough to the living Force to understand what was coming, and he knew enough to be watching political affairs with real concern. It’s unclear whether Palpatine truly understood the scale of Qui-Gon’s threat, or whether it was just his good fortune that Darth Maul killed Qui-Gon before being cut down by Obi-Wan Kenobi. As The Mandalorian showrunner Dave Filoni recently explained, the battle between Maul and Qui-Gon really was the “Duel of the Fates.” Anakin Skywalker’s fate rested upon the outcome of that battle; had Qui-Gon survived, he would have been able to save Anakin.
But Qui-Gon Jinn did not survive the Battle of Naboo. Instead, the only Jedi who could conceivably have stopped Palpatine was killed. Palpatine became Chancellor, and the Jedi Council wouldn’t truly begin to realize they’d been played for fools until near the end of the Clone Wars. It’s fascinating to consider just how different Star Wars’ galaxy’s history could have been.
