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Revision as of 14:33, 13 January 2014
Template:Infobox Star Wars character Qui-Gon Jinn is a fictional character in the Star Wars saga, portrayed by Liam Neeson in the 1999 film Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace.
Depiction
Film appearance
Introduced in Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace, Qui-Gon Jinn is a wise and powerful Jedi Master and Obi-Wan Kenobi's teacher. Unlike other, more conservative Jedi, he values living in the moment as the best way to embrace the Force. While other Jedi respect him highly, they are frequently puzzled by his unorthodox beliefs and ultimately deny him a seat on the Jedi Council despite being among the most powerful of the Jedi.
Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan are sent to the planet Naboo to resolve a political crisis. The corrupt Trade Federation, in response to a protest to recent taxation laws, had blockaded the planet with a fleet of battleships. Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan are sent as Chancellor Finis Valorum's ambassadors to reach a peaceful settlement.
Shortly after their arrival, the Federation's Neimoidian viceroy Nute Gunray has their starship destroyed and attempts to gas them. The two Jedi survive the gas and easily defeat the battle droids assigned to reinforce the chamber entrance. Qui-Gon tries to cut through the bridge's blast doors with his lightsaber, but the arrival of Federation droidekas force him and his apprentice to escape and they stow away on troop transports invading Naboo.
On Naboo, Qui-Gon saves the life of Gungan Jar Jar Binks, earning his eternal debt in the process. Jar Jar agrees to take the two Jedi to the Gungan underwater city of Otoh Gunga, where its ruler Boss Nass gives them transport to the Naboo capital city of Theed and allows Jar Jar to go with the offworlders as a guide. Once in Theed, Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan rescue Naboo Queen Padmé Amidala and escape on the royal starship. As they dash through the Federation's blockade, however, the ship is hit by laser fire and the hyperdrive is badly damaged. The party is forced to land on the desert planet Tatooine to make repairs.
On Tatooine, Qui-Gon searches for parts in the settlement of Mos Espa, where he encounters nine-year-old slave Anakin Skywalker. The Jedi Master comes to believe that the boy that is exceptionally strong in the Force and may be the "Chosen One" of Jedi legend destined to bring balance to the Force. Qui-Gon helps liberate Anakin from slavery when he wagers with the boy's Toydarian owner Watto on his victory in the Boonta Eve Classic podrace. However, a Sith Lord intercepts them as they approach the Queen's repaired starship. Qui-Gon orders Anakin to get onboard while he engages the Sith Lord in a lightsaber duel. Using the Force, Qui-Gon manages to leap onto the ship's extended landing ramp as it takes off, leaving the Sith Lord behind.
On the Galactic capital Coruscant, Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan return to the Jedi Temple and appear before the Council to give an update on the status of their mission. There, Qui-Gon expresses his belief that Anakin is the "Chosen One" and the Council reluctantly agree to test the boy for Jedi potential. They find that the boy is indeed very strong with the Force, having the greatest midi-chlorian count ever recorded but say he is too old to begin the training. When Grand Jedi Master Yoda senses that the boy's future is "clouded" by the fear he exhibits, Qui-Gon protests the Council's decision and states that he would take Anakin as his Padawan in light of the fact that Obi-Wan is ready to face the trials. The argument is put on hold as Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan are then ordered by the Council to return with Amidala to liberate Naboo from the Federation's control. On the way, Obi-Wan protests Qui-Gon's decision to push for the boy's training. Qui-Gon tells Anakin that while he is not allowed to train him, he wants Anakin to stay close to him and pay attention.
During the battle of Naboo, Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan encounter and fight Darth Maul in another deadly lightsaber duel, inside the Theed Palace's plasma refinery complex. After Obi-Wan is briefly isolated from the duel via a row of impenetrable laser walls, Qui-Gon is mortally wounded by Maul, but Obi-Wan eventually cuts the Sith Lord in half with his master's own lightsaber.
With his dying words, Qui-Gon requests Obi-Wan to train Anakin to which his Padawan agrees upon being promoted to the Jedi Knight rank for his victory over a Sith Lord. Following this, Qui-Gon's body is cremated in a traditional Jedi funeral.
After death
In Star Wars Episode II: Attack of the Clones, Qui-Gon Jinn's voice is heard shouting "Anakin! Anakin!" echoing through the Force when Yoda senses Anakin Skywalker's slaughter of the Tusken Raiders. The novelization states this is the first time that Yoda encounters a Jedi's spirit who has passed into the Force. It's also revealed that Qui-Gon inherited his maverick ways from former Jedi Master Count Dooku (now known as Sith Lord Darth Tyranus). Dooku attempts to use Qui-Gon's memory to recruit Obi-Wan Kenobi to his side but fails. Dooku also does show genuine sorrow over Qui-Gon's death, though Obi-Wan refutes Dooku's belief that Qui-Gon would join his cause if he were still alive.
In Star Wars: Clone Wars, Qui-Gon makes a cameo appearance in "Chapter 21". During Yoda's Force dream, Qui-Gon tells Anakin to enter the mysterious cave on Dagobah where the boy will see a vision of his future. Also when Obi-Wan reprimands Anakin for being late for his secret Knighthood ceremony, Anakin replies "as far as your wisdom goes, you're no Qui-Gon Jinn!". Though this saddens Obi-Wan, Anakin quickly apologizes, to which Obi-Wan responds that he too misses Qui-Gon.
In Star Wars: The Clone Wars, the character is mentioned several times throughout the series. Qui-Gon's Force ghost appears during the third season. On the mysterious planet Mortis, he informs Obi-Wan in the episode "Overloads" and later Anakin in the episode "Ghosts of Mortis" about the three beings who believe, like Qui-Gon, that Anakin is the Chosen One: the Father (the Unifying Force manifestation), the Daughter (the light side incarnation) and the Son (the dark side embodiment).
After the Jedi Order's fall and Anakin's transformation into Darth Vader in Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith, Yoda reveals to Obi-Wan that Qui-Gon has "returned from the netherworld of the Force" to teach them how to become one with the Force. Yoda and Obi-Wan receive this training during their respective exiles while waiting for when Luke Skywalker (Anakin's son) can be trained as a Jedi.
Expanded Universe
Jedi Apprentice
Qui-Gon's life years prior to The Phantom Menace is mainly detailed in the Jedi Apprentice book series. In The Rising Force (set 12 years before The Phantom Menace), Yoda encourages Qui-Gon to take a new Padawan learner, following the failure of his previous apprentice Xanatos, who turned to the dark side of the Force years before. Qui-Gon observes a small lightsaber tournament among a group of the Temple's older students, which includes 12-year-old Obi-Wan. He takes notice of Obi-Wan's skills, but also of the boy's uncontrolled anger and refuses to train him. Shortly following the tournament, the Jedi Knight leaves for a mission to the planet Bandomeer. On the transport ship, Qui-Gon is reunited with Obi-Wan, who is also being sent to Bandomeer to begin life as an agricultural labourer. During the voyage, Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan help defend a group of Arcona from the criminal organization Offworld Corporation. After putting an end to the tense situation, the two arrive on Bandomeer, where Qui-Gon receives a letter signed by his former apprentice Xanatos.
In The Dark Rival, it is revealed that the whole ordeal has been organized by Xanatos, now the leader of Offworld. Qui-Gon sends Obi-Wan off to his Agri-Corps duties, while he plans to meet with Xanatos to find an agreement between Offworld and Bandomeer. However, Xanatos plans to sabotage their meeting and kill Qui-Gon. The Jedi Master duels with his former apprentice, and he and Obi-Wan end Offworld's business on Bandomeer. Xanatos escapes, however. During the encounter with Xanatos, Qui-Gon discovers Obi-Wan's true potential and accepts the boy as his new Padawan. As a gift for Obi-Wan's 13th birthday, Qui-Gon gives his apprentice a special rock he found from the River of Light on his homeworld. In The Captive Temple, Xanatos attacks the Jedi Temple and nearly assassinates Yoda but Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan thwart his plans, and in The Day of Reckoning, when they chase Xanatos back to his homeworld Telos, the fallen Jedi refuses to surrender and commits suicide. Qui-Gon is thus able to bring closure to a painful chapter of his life.
Other novels
In Legacy of the Jedi, set during both Qui-Gon's Padawan and Knight years, Qui-Gon and his master Dooku are sent to accompany Senator Blix Annon on a diplomatic assignment. However, space pirates infiltrate their ship and their leader turns out to be rogue Jedi Lorian Nod, a former friend of Dooku's. The two battle and Dooku lets his anger get the best of him but Qui-Gon prevents his master from violating the Jedi Code by committing cold-blooded murder. Years after their first encounter, Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan encounter Nod and once again the fallen Jedi is incarcerated for his crimes.
In Secrets of the Jedi (set seven years before The Phantom Menace), Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan are paired with Jedi Master Adi Gallia and her Padawan Siri Tachi. The mission, which results in Qui-Gon and Adi being separated from Obi-Wan and Siri, leads to the discovery of romantic feelings between the two Jedi Padawans. Qui-Gon detects these emotions and warns Obi-Wan of his own example with Tahl, a female Jedi, whose murder nearly pushed Qui-Gon over the edge to the dark side.
In Cloak of Deception (set a year before The Phantom Menace), both Jedi fight against a terrorist organization called the Nebula Front, who are secretly following Darth Sidious' orders. At the Trade Federation conference on Eriadu, Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan successfully defend Chancellor Valorum, but do not prevent the deaths of the rest of the Trade Federation Directorate, allowing the Neimoidians to take control of the Federation.
In comic books
Aside from the graphic novelization of The Phantom Menace, Qui-Gon appears infrequently in Star Wars-related comic books. His most extensive appearance thus far is in the "Stark Hyperspace War" plotline in Star Wars: Republic. In this story arc, which takes place during the same year Qui-Gon takes Obi-Wan as his apprentice, Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan fight in the titular conflict along with other Jedi such as Plo Koon and Quinlan Vos, and Qui-Gon ends up saving Nute Gunray, the future Trade Federation viceroy.
In video games
Qui-Gon has also appeared in several Star Wars video games: Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace, Star Wars: Jedi Power Battles, Star Wars: Obi-Wan, the Lego Star Wars games and as a character skin (via purchased download content) in Star Wars: The Force Unleashed. A version of Qui-Gon as a bird is available as a playable character in Angry Birds Star Wars II.
Behind the scenes
As revealed in The Art of Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace, director George Lucas conceived the character of Qui-Gon Jinn during pre-production of the film. This is shown by concept art where Obi-Wan Kenobi is shown alone in the Trade Federation flagship and while meeting Jar Jar Binks. Even when Qui-Gon was conceived, Lucas toyed with making him the younger Jedi, as shown in concept art depicting Obi-Wan as an old man. Lucas originally envisioned an American actor for the role of Qui-Gon, but ultimately cast Irish actor Liam Neeson because he considered Neeson to have great skills and presence, describing him as a "master actor, who the other actors will look up to, who has got the qualities of strength that the character demands." Initially, Lucas had planned for Qui-Gon to have long white hair, but that idea was scrapped and Qui-Gon is depicted as having long brown hair in the film. For various fight scenes of the film, including the lightsaber duels, British actor Andrew Lawden served as Neeson's body double.
References
- Obi-Wan Kenobi, Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace, 1999 ("If you would just follow the Code, you would be on the Council.")
- Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace (DVD). 20th Century Fox. 2001.
- Star Wars Episode II: Attack of the Clones
- Star Wars: Clone Wars episodes 20-21
- Star Wars: The Clone Wars season 3, episodes 15 & 17
- Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith
- Star Wars: Jedi Apprentice – The Rising Force
- Star Wars: Jedi Apprentice – The Dark Rival
- Star Wars: Jedi Apprentice – The Captive Temple
- Star Wars: Jedi Apprentice – The Day of Reckoning
- Star Wars: Legacy of the Force
- Star Wars: Secrets of the Jedi
- Star Wars: Cloak of Deception
- Star Wars: Republic - The Stark Hyperspace War
- "Star Wars Episode I Production Notes: The Actors and Characters - Part I". StarWars.com. 1999-05-01. Archived from the original on 2004-10-23. http://web.archive.org/web/20041023023458/http://www.starwars.com/episode-i/bts/production/f19990501/indexp4.html. Retrieved 2009-04-05.
- Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace Novelization, 1st edition paperback, 1999. Terry Brooks, George Lucas, ISBN 0-345-43411-0
- Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith Novelization - Novelization, 1st edition hardcover, 2005. Matthew Woodring Stover, George Lucas, ISBN 0-7126-8427-1
- Star Wars Episode I Who's Who: A Pocket Guide to Characters of the Phantom Menace, hardcover, 1999. Ryder Windham, ISBN 0-7624-0519-8
- The New Essential Guide to Characters, 1st edition, 2002. Daniel Wallace, Michael Sutfin, ISBN 0-345-44900-2
- Star Wars: The Phantom Menace: The Visual Dictionary, hardcover, 1999. David West Reynolds, ISBN 0-7894-4701-0
- Star Wars Roleplaying Game Core Rulebook, 1st edition, 2000. Bill Slavicsek, Andy Collins, ISBN 0-7869-1793-8
External links
- Qui-Gon Jinn in the StarWars.com Databank
- Qui-Gon Jinn on Wookieepedia, a Star Wars wiki
