If you want to learn more about Obi-Wan Kenobi’s character, watch these 10 must-see Star Wars stories. Obi-Wan Kenobi has been a fixture of Star Wars‘ storytelling since the very first Star Wars movie, later reтιтled A New Hope, was released in 1977. Sir Alec Guinness’ portrayal of Obi-Wan was that of a wiser, older mentor, a calming influence on Luke Skywalker as he began his Jedi journey.

In the Star Wars prequel trilogy, Ewan McGregor took over, giving this younger version of the character a more playful and snarkier demeanor while honoring Guinness’ performance. Though Obi-Wan had a major role in Luke’s story, his part in the tragedy of Anakin Skywalker was much more impactful and devastating; it’s a story that becomes all the more heartbreaking when you watch Star Wars: The Clone Wars.

Obi-Wan Kenobi is a guiding light in Star Wars, and these 10 Star Wars stories, from the movies to the animated shows to Disney’s live-action miniseries, prove that.

10

Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace

The Start Of Obi-Wan And Anakin’s Devastating Friendship

In Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace, the audience is introduced to Padawan learner Obi-Wan Kenobi. While Obi-Wan is usually adamant about following the rules, he trusts his Master, Qui-Gon Jinn, to do the right thing, which leads him to follow Jinn on Tatooine and become involved with Anakin Skywalker.

Obi-Wan is unsure about Anakin’s place with the Jedi. Still, once Obi-Wan is forced to face his Master’s death and his victory over Sith apprentice Darth Maul, Obi-Wan decides to honor his Master’s last wishes and takes Anakin on as his apprentice. This is a major turning point in both Anakin’s and Obi-Wan’s lives. The Jedi Order and the galaxy will never be the same again.

9

Star Wars: Episode II – Attack of the Clones

Obi-Wan’s Mission To Kamino

In Star Wars: Episode II – Attack of the Clones, Obi-Wan and Anakin are separated for most of the story. Though their relationship is a highlight of Star Wars‘ storytelling, the separation in this installment works in Obi-Wan’s favor. Obi-Wan becomes a detective, of sorts, unraveling the mystery of the waiting clone army.

Watching Obi-Wan interact with people outside the Jedi Order, like Dexter Jettster at the Coruscant diner, adds another layer to his character. Even a model Jedi like Obi-Wan isn’t in Jedi-mode all the time. It’s fun to see him function in different environments. His confrontation with bounty hunter Jango Fett is exhilarating, and his time with Count Dooku is all the more interesting because of their shared connection to Qui-Gon.

8

Star Wars: The Clone Wars Season 2 – Mandalore

Obi-Wan’s Greatest Love Is Introduced

Star Wars: The Clone Wars is where we truly get an insight into who Obi-Wan once was and how his history shaped his prequel-era relationships. Nowhere is this more apparent than when The Clone Wars introduces Satine Kryze, the Duchess of Mandalore, who is revealed to be Obi-Wan’s former (and current) love interest.

• WATCH: Star Wars: The Clone Wars season 2, episodes 12-14.

In The Clone Wars‘ season 2 Mandalore arc, Obi-Wan and Anakin are called to Mandalore to protect the Duchess. It’s clear they haven’t seen each other in a while, and though we never find out exactly how they met, there’s an undeniable romantic tension to their dynamic, one that Anakin picks up on, too.

Obi-Wan’s history with Satine explains so much about his character and his relationship with Anakin. Obi-Wan confesses that he would have left the Jedi Order to be with her had she asked, and she replies that that’s exactly why she never did. Obi-Wan wanted Anakin to experience the happiness he never did.

7

Star Wars: The Clone Wars Season 4 – Obi-Wan Undercover

Obi-Wan Undertakes A Dangerous Mission

“Obi-Wan Undercover” is one of the few Clone Wars arcs in which Obi-Wan is given an individual spotlight. The Jedi uncover a plot to kidnap the Chancellor, and Obi-Wan is sent deep undercover as a criminal to infiltrate the group responsible and save Palpatine.

• WATCH: Star Wars: The Clone Wars season 4, episodes 15-18.

To ensure Obi-Wan’s disguise is foolproof, however, Obi-Wan and the Council fake his death so that he can ᴀssume the idenтιтy of his “killer,” Rako Hardeen. They do all this without informing Anakin, who’s left spiraling in his grief.

This arc tests all of Obi-Wan’s most important personality traits: his loyalty to the Force and the Jedi, his ethics, his relationships with Anakin and Anakin’s Padawan, Ahsoka Tano, and his trust in himself. If you want to see more of Obi-Wan in action, this is the arc to watch.

6

Star Wars: The Clone Wars Season 4 – Darth Maul Returns

Maul Vows Revenge Against His Greatest Enemy

George Lucas regretted killing off Darth Maul in The Phantom Menace, so he brought him back to life in The Clone Wars. This decision led to one of the greatest villain arcs in all of Star Wars. Maul is cruel, ruthless, and utterly obsessed with getting revenge against Obi-Wan Kenobi. The “Maul Returns” arc features their first reunion since The Phantom Menace.

• WATCH: Star Wars: The Clone Wars season 4, episodes 19-22.

Watching them duel once more is a violent delight, and there are genuinely a few moments where you feel like Obi-Wan is about to lose, even though we know his story doesn’t end until much later in the Star Wars timeline. Obi-Wan and Maul’s story is a cornerstone of Obi-Wan’s development, and it all starts in these episodes.

What’s arguably even more interesting in the season 4 finale, however, is Obi-Wan’s temporary truce and partnership with former Sith ᴀssᴀssin Asajj Ventress. Obi-Wan and Asajj Ventress’ dynamic is one of distrust, temporary alliances, and flirty banter, and it’s genuinely fun and exciting to watch them fight on the same side.

5

Star Wars: The Clone Wars Season 5 – Shadow Collective

Obi-Wan Faces His Greatest Loss Yet

As we know, Obi-Wan will have a lot to grieve about later in his life. The decimation of the Jedi Order, Anakin Skywalker’s fall to the dark side, and the death of Padmé Amidala will all have a profound effect on his character. His first real trial with grief starts in The Clone Wars season 5, as Maul enacts his most terrifying plan of revenge yet.

• WATCH: Star Wars: The Clone Wars season 5, episodes 14-16.

With the unwitting help of Mandalore’s Death Watch, Satine’s greatest opposition, Maul has taken control of the planet. He’s after power, but what he wants most in the galaxy is Obi-Wan Kenobi’s pain. Maul uses Satine to lure Obi-Wan to Mandalore; he heads there alone after being shut down by the Republic and the Council. While Obi-Wan’s intention to save Satine is honorable, it ends in tragedy.

4

Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith

The End Of The Jedi Order, The Republic, And Anakin Skywalker

Of course, you can’t create a list of the 10 most important Obi-Wan Kenobi stories and not include Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith. Obi-Wan plays a pivotal role in Anakin’s dark side transformation. Their duel on Mustafar is legendary (preceded by an equally iconic duel against Separatist General Grievous) and is infused with undeniable pain, anger, and sadness.

What if Obi-Wan had handled Anakin differently? What if he hadn’t kept Anakin’s relationship with Padmé a secret? How did the Jedi not see through Palpatine’s deception? Everything changes for Obi-Wan in Revenge of the Sith, just like everything changes for the entire galaxy.

3

Obi-Wan Kenobi

A Jedi In Exile

Obi-Wan Kenobi, set a few years after Revenge of the Sith, couldn’t just be about Obi-Wan watching over Luke. Obi-Wan needed to have a reason to leave Tatooine and reconnect with the Force. That reason was Leia. Watching Obi-Wan interact with the young princes is undeniably heartwarming and provides so much more depth to Leia’s message in A New Hope.

Obi-Wan Kenobi also includes Obi-Wan’s first confrontation with Darth Vader, which ends in the tragic realization that Anakin Skywalker is “truly ᴅᴇᴀᴅ.” Knowing the truth does unlock something in Obi-Wan, however, and gives him that final push he needs to begin the last stage of his training: how to become a Force ghost.

2

Star Wars Rebels – “Twin Suns”

Obi-Wan And Darth Maul’s Story Comes To An End

Darth Maul and Obi-Wan’s story comes to an end in Star Wars Rebels season 3, episode 19, “Twin Suns.” Maul tracks Obi-Wan down on Tatooine, and while you’d expect to watch another one of their highly-charged, compeтιтive duels, Obi-Wan has since evolved. He strikes Maul down effortlessly and swiftly, finally giving the Dathomirian male the peace he’s been looking for all his life.

It’s a beautifully animated, poignant ending to a vicious cycle. Maul’s true enemy was never Obi-Wan; it was Palpatine and the Sith, and Obi-Wan reᴀssures him that they will one day be destroyed, as he holds a dying Maul in his arms.

1

Star Wars (A New Hope)

Obi-Wan Trains Luke Skywalker

The story that started it all. Obi-Wan dedicated his life to protecting Luke so that one day, he may rise to be the galaxy’s new hope. Having watched all the other Star Wars stories on this list, Obi-Wan’s duel with Vader in A New Hope becomes much more meaningful, as do his comments about Luke’s father’s legacy as a Jedi.

Aside from a few minor retcons and up-for-interpretation pieces of dialogue, the way Star Wars has tied all of Obi-Wan’s history into A New Hope is impressive. In this first–ever Star Wars story, Obi-Wan Kenobi is just a mentor, but we now know he’s so much more.