Star Words: Episode II, Part 5
Oct. 26th, 2017 05:23 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
matrilWe saw a little bit of Obi-Wan's snark in Episode I. But ten years of training Anakin have given him ample opportunity to expand his supply of sarcasm and witty retorts. Because Anakin, it turns out, isn't so weak in the snark department himself. More and more we see the tension and competition that colors their relationship, though it's clear they are also quite fond of each other. The entire Coruscant chase sequence is full of great exchanges.
"...you'd rival Master Yoda as a swordsman!" "I thought I already did" "Only in your mind"
"That was some short cut!" "If you'll excuse me" "I hate it when he does that" (Pretty hypocritical considering Obi-Wan just took a similarly reckless flying leap through the window!)
And let's not forget "this weapon is your life," illustrating how the lightsaber is inextricably linked to a Jedi's identity. But now let's focus on the exchange that sums up the entire tumultuous pathos of Obi-Wan and Anakin's relationship.
"Why do I get the feeling you're going to be the death of me?"
First of all, as far as foreshadowing goes, this one's pretty heavy. Yeah, Anakin/Vader will eventually kill Obi-Wan. Ouch. But seen in the context of Obi-Wan's current mindset, it's one of those exasperated parent-like things to say. He's saying it almost flippantly, perhaps not aware of how much it stings Anakin. "Don't say that, Master. You're the closest thing I have to a father." And Anakin has always yearned for a father. He hoped to find a surrogate in Qui-Gon, but that didn't work out. Obi-Wan, alas, is never able to find quite the right footing as a father figure. He ends up behaving more like an older brother, as evidenced by the competition and impatience and snarking. Anakin ends up finding a different father figure....who just happens to be a conniving Sith Lord. Alas indeed.
But let's not lay all the blame at Obi-Wan's feet. There's no question that Anakin is impatient, strains against Obi-Wan's authority over him, and resents the fact that he has any advantage over him even though it's perfectly reasonable for a teacher to know more than a student. When Obi-Wan follows up Anakin's response with an exasperated "Then why don't you listen?" he probably has a point. They both contribute plenty to their relationship's dysfunction. And even though the beginning of Episode III shows them getting along better, as close as brothers, those underlying tensions haven't been resolved. Ultimately their bond will disintegrate, and Obi-Wan will indeed meet his end at his old student's hand.
Next, a glimpse into an assassin's warped perspective...
"...you'd rival Master Yoda as a swordsman!" "I thought I already did" "Only in your mind"
"That was some short cut!" "If you'll excuse me" "I hate it when he does that" (Pretty hypocritical considering Obi-Wan just took a similarly reckless flying leap through the window!)
And let's not forget "this weapon is your life," illustrating how the lightsaber is inextricably linked to a Jedi's identity. But now let's focus on the exchange that sums up the entire tumultuous pathos of Obi-Wan and Anakin's relationship.
"Why do I get the feeling you're going to be the death of me?"
First of all, as far as foreshadowing goes, this one's pretty heavy. Yeah, Anakin/Vader will eventually kill Obi-Wan. Ouch. But seen in the context of Obi-Wan's current mindset, it's one of those exasperated parent-like things to say. He's saying it almost flippantly, perhaps not aware of how much it stings Anakin. "Don't say that, Master. You're the closest thing I have to a father." And Anakin has always yearned for a father. He hoped to find a surrogate in Qui-Gon, but that didn't work out. Obi-Wan, alas, is never able to find quite the right footing as a father figure. He ends up behaving more like an older brother, as evidenced by the competition and impatience and snarking. Anakin ends up finding a different father figure....who just happens to be a conniving Sith Lord. Alas indeed.
But let's not lay all the blame at Obi-Wan's feet. There's no question that Anakin is impatient, strains against Obi-Wan's authority over him, and resents the fact that he has any advantage over him even though it's perfectly reasonable for a teacher to know more than a student. When Obi-Wan follows up Anakin's response with an exasperated "Then why don't you listen?" he probably has a point. They both contribute plenty to their relationship's dysfunction. And even though the beginning of Episode III shows them getting along better, as close as brothers, those underlying tensions haven't been resolved. Ultimately their bond will disintegrate, and Obi-Wan will indeed meet his end at his old student's hand.
Next, a glimpse into an assassin's warped perspective...
