The Phantom Menace Hides The Real Reason The Jedi Council Allowed Obi-Wan To Train Anakin

Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace revealed Anakin Skywalker’s Star Wars origin story, including why Obi-Wan Kenobi was chosen as his Jedi Master. Although the prequel trilogy was heavily criticized when it was first released and some still consider them to be among the worst Star Wars movies, their importance has only grown in the Star Wars timeline. In fact, of all Star Wars movies and TV shows, the prequels stand out as some of the most important because this era shaped all that followed.

One of the most significant storylines (if not the single most significant) in the prequels is that of Anakin Skywalker. The Phantom Menace in particular reveals how he became a Jedi and plants the seeds for him to ultimately become one of Star Wars’ most powerful Sith. However, this origin story began first with Anakin being rejected by the Jedi Council and why, ultimately, the Council agreed to let Obi-Wan train him.

The Council Rejected Anakin When Qui-Gon Was Going To Train Him

When Qui-Gon met Anakin in The Phantom Menace, he immediately seemed to know there was something special about him. Ultimately, this developed into a belief that Anakin was the Chosen One, which caused him to redouble his efforts to get Anakin freed from slavery, off Tatooine, and to the Jedi Temple on Coruscant. However, the Jedi Council members were not nearly as enthusiastic about Anakin or accepting him into the Order at his age.

Initially, the Council rejected Anakin outright, citing his older age as the reason, but also giving several hints that they were much more concerned about Anakin’s attachment to his mother and feelings of fear (which weren’t unrelated to his older age). Despite their decision, Qui-Gon refused to accept this as final, telling Obi-Wan that he would see Anakin trained as a Jedi one way or another. Ultimately, he got his way, although certainly not in the way he had expected.

Qui-Gon Wouldn’t Have Been What Anakin Needed

In the end, Qui-Gon Jinn died at the hands of Darth Maul in The Phantom Menace, and his dying wish was for Obi-Wan to take Anakin on as his Padawan. Obi-Wan had been just as hesitant as the Council for Anakin to be trained as a Jedi, but no doubt because this was Qui-Gon’s final wish (revealing Obi-Wan’s own issues with attachment), Obi-Wan agreed. Many have argued that this was the beginning of the end for Anakin and believe Qui-Gon would have been a better master to Anakin than Obi-Wan was.

However, in truth, Qui-Gon Jinn would not have been a good fit for Anakin. Just in Qui-Gon’s response to the Council’s decision about Anakin, it’s clear that he was willing to push back against the Jedi Order and forge his own path. The last thing Anakin needed in a Jedi master was another rule breaker who would have enabled his behavior. In fact, this could have truly been a recipe for a disaster, perhaps even accelerating Anakin’s fall.

The Council Changed Their Minds Because Of Obi-Wan

While it was likely Qui-Gon’s death that influenced Obi-Wan’s change of heart, it’s unlikely that this event had the same impact on the Jedi Council. After all, presumably, the Jedi Masters of the Council would have been much more capable of letting go of their grief and making a decision that didn’t stem from emotions. Given that, the Jedi Council must have had another reason for finally accepting Anakin after Qui-Gon died.

Specifically, Qui-Gon’s death meant that it was Obi-Wan who would become Anakin’s Jedi Master. Evidently, the Council was much more comfortable with this master and apprentice arrangement than they had been with the idea of Qui-Gon training Anakin, as it was only then that they welcomed Anakin into the Order. This makes sense in light of the reasons Qui-Gon wouldn’t have been the right master for Anakin.

Unlike Qui-Gon, Obi-Wan was exactly what Anakin needed. Obi-Wan, even in The Phantom Menace, proved to be disciplined, poised, and committed to the Jedi way. Despite how Anakin’s prequel trilogy story ends, Obi-Wan was undoubtedly the better fit; he kept Anakin in check many times, and he clearly worked to help Anakin develop into the Jedi he could have become. He did this not by being like Anakin, but rather by balancing him out.

Master And Apprentice Pairings Are About Balance, Not Similarity

In the end, Obi-Wan being a better Jedi master for Anakin reveals what the dynamic between a Jedi master and their apprentice should be. Specifically, masters and apprentices aren’t matched because of their similarities; they are meant to teach one another. Just as a Padawan is meant to learn from their master to address their weaknesses and flaws, a master can continue to grow by having their Padawan challenge them.

This has been on display throughout Star Wars. In fact, just as Obi-Wan was perfect for Anakin, he was perfect for Qui-Gon. He often played the same role for them both, which was shown throughout The Phantom Menace. In fact, when Qui-Gon insisted that Anakin would be trained no matter what the Council said, Obi-Wan asked him not to defy them again, suggesting that this was a recurrent issue for Qui-Gon. It was Obi-Wan being level-headed that likely prevented Qui-Gon from making rash decisions.

This was also true for Anakin. Although Anakin needed Obi-Wan as a Jedi master because Obi-Wan would ensure he didn’t do anything too drastic, he also needed Ahsoka Tano as his apprentice because she challenged him—in this case because her flaws mirrored his own that he had yet to master. Ahsoka was impulsive, prone to irritation, unlikely to follow orders if she didn’t agree with them, and quite sarcastic. By seeing these traits in someone he was meant to teach and guide, Anakin had to face more of his flaws directly.

Other master and apprentice dynamics, such as Kanan Jarrus and Ezra Bridger in Star Wars Rebels and Ahsoka Tano and Sabine Wren in Ahsoka, have revealed similar dynamics. Ultimately, this gets at the heart of what Jedi master and apprentice duos are meant to look like: they should balance one another out. It is for this reason that Qui-Gon was not the ideal master for Anakin and likely why the Jedi outright rejected the idea.

Of course, the Jedi Council could have accepted Anakin and assigned him a different master while Qui-Gon was still alive. However, Qui-Gon’s clear attachment to Anakin already likely made that a concern too. Although Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace does not come right out and say it, this is likely why Obi-Wan stepping up to be Anakin’s master completely changed the Jedi Council members’ minds.

Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace

2.5

The beginning of the Skywalker Saga, Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace sees young Anakin Skywalker put on his path to discovering his ability to influence the Force. While attempting to thwart the nefarious Trade Federation in their plans for the planet of Naboo, two Jedi discover an exceptionally-gifted slave with the ability to wield the Force. Little do they know, rescuing him is just the beginning of a saga that will span generations of the Skywalker family.  

Release Date

May 19, 1999

Distributor(s)

20th Century

Cast

Ewan McGregor , Liam Neeson , Natalie Portman , Jake Lloyd , Ahmed Best , Ian McDiarmid , Anthony Daniels , Kenny Baker , Pernilla August , Frank Oz , Ray Park , Samuel L. Jackson

Runtime

133 minutes

Budget

$115 Million

Expand