Post by jtn90 on Nov 20, 2022 12:38:17 GMT
So, a common criticism about the prequels trilogy I'm personally tired of, is that it supossedly did a poor job showing Obi Wan and Anakin supossed friendship, and only TCW and more recentlly Obi Wan series had to do the job thatr the prequels failled to do. People often says that their friendship in the prequels is told but not shown, or is show that they don't stand each other.
I'm gonna try to analyze thier relationship in each movie:
As you can see their realtions ship started badlly, is clear in the rest of the trilogy that Anakin still has some resentment but what started as an obligation to Obi Wan became genuine affection, same with Anakin. The friendship that starts from an intial hostility is a common trope, Woody and Buzz Lightyear for provide an example. It's true they don't interact each other very much but the movie is planting the seeds for hat is come in the rest of the trilogy, and I find endearing that their clear bond to with Qui Gon showed for both of them is what ends up bringing them together, like two orphan brothers, that's is reinforced with Obi Wan staing that Anakin is his brother.
Well, first of all I should mention that the expectaions for Anakin and Obi Wan friendship are derived from Obi Wan telling Luke "he was a good friend"
in a new hope, ell people focuses so much about that line that they forget that Vader was also Obi Wan apprentice, and that relationship was perfectlly show, portrayed like a father and son relationship, from Obi Wan worrying about sending Anakin to his first misssion alone to the mentioned Anakin complaints typicall form a teenager who feels his parents don't undestand him. Their constant bickering is like that for Anakin,who see Obi Wan as a father,Obi Wan is strict because he want to make the best jedi of Anakin. Obi Wan seeing Anakin as a brother creates a sort of sibling rivally, like when Obi Wan jump out of Padme's window, doing something that Anakin would do, showing that they are not so different, Anakin saying that Obi Wan is jelaous is common form a sibling rivaly, sepeaking of wich, Anakin blaming Obi Wan for the eath of his mother is something that yes, the jelaous part cames from earlier in their relationship hen they first met, the blame part is result of ANakin anger, and people often say barbaric things when they are angry that would not say in a better emotional state, Anakin still goes to rescue Obi Wan , doesn't he? and the first thing Obi Wan thinks when he sees that Anakin is not in Naboo is not "that dam rebellius bastard didin't follow my orders" but it is "hope nothing has happened to him".
with everithing here, even without the father and son/brother realtionship, gess what ? friends fight very often, for people saying that George Lucas doesn't undestand basic human relationships they think that if they are not like "we are super BFF, look how well we get along" then they hate the guts of each other.
I'm gonna try to analyze thier relationship in each movie:
- First, in The phantom menace they don't interact that much, and Obi Wan seems to suffer form elitism, you kno he call Anakin a pathetic life form ithout knoing himm hile using it to refer Jar Jar, hile Qui Gon knows no life form is worthless, that also goes for Jar Jar even if Qui Gon can also be annoyed by him. Obi an diislike for Anakin only increases hen the jedi say he is too dangerous and Qui Gon willingnes to train him, the look Obi Wan makes points that he thinks like Qui Gon is dumping him, making him jelaous of Anakin (something Anakin would say in Aotc). this leds to Obi Wan trying to convince Gui Gon that Anakin was dangerous while Anakin himself as standing there, Anakin telling Qui Gon that he don't want to be a problem confirms that he heard. and obviuslly Obi Wan only train Anakin because it as Qui Gon dying wish, Anakin crying while looking at Qui Gon corpese afte Obi Wan tells tha he ill be his master tells that not only Anakin will miss Qui Gon but also he is dad that instead of him, it will be this asshole who just talked shit about him the one thatt will train him.
- In Attack of the clones,the prime example they provide of telling not showing is the elevator scene of AOTC, wich was shot later after the main shooting ended beacuse George himself knew he had to show more of their friendship. The reason why is an example of how not "show don't tell" is because they talk that they had adventures offscreen, and that's it. My opinion, is telling their adventures not only to provide some context but also lo let htem sho their friendship by ho they react to the memories,like Anakin reminding Obi Wan certain details he didn't mention like that Anakin had to save him. posssibly what people remeber the most about their relationship in this movie is their constant bickering, Anakin complaining about Obi Wan to Padme and Obi Wan being overlly strict., embarrasing him in their first meeting with Padme, here they frist dissagree.
Well, first of all I should mention that the expectaions for Anakin and Obi Wan friendship are derived from Obi Wan telling Luke "he was a good friend"
in a new hope, ell people focuses so much about that line that they forget that Vader was also Obi Wan apprentice, and that relationship was perfectlly show, portrayed like a father and son relationship, from Obi Wan worrying about sending Anakin to his first misssion alone to the mentioned Anakin complaints typicall form a teenager who feels his parents don't undestand him. Their constant bickering is like that for Anakin,who see Obi Wan as a father,Obi Wan is strict because he want to make the best jedi of Anakin. Obi Wan seeing Anakin as a brother creates a sort of sibling rivally, like when Obi Wan jump out of Padme's window, doing something that Anakin would do, showing that they are not so different, Anakin saying that Obi Wan is jelaous is common form a sibling rivaly, sepeaking of wich, Anakin blaming Obi Wan for the eath of his mother is something that yes, the jelaous part cames from earlier in their relationship hen they first met, the blame part is result of ANakin anger, and people often say barbaric things when they are angry that would not say in a better emotional state, Anakin still goes to rescue Obi Wan , doesn't he? and the first thing Obi Wan thinks when he sees that Anakin is not in Naboo is not "that dam rebellius bastard didin't follow my orders" but it is "hope nothing has happened to him".
with everithing here, even without the father and son/brother realtionship, gess what ? friends fight very often, for people saying that George Lucas doesn't undestand basic human relationships they think that if they are not like "we are super BFF, look how well we get along" then they hate the guts of each other.
- With revenge of the sith, I think all the chacellor rescue section is everything people actually wanted from their friendship, TCW protrayal takes all its isnpiration from this, this time Anakin takes not craps form Obi Wan, like hen he is about to mock R2 and Obi Wan funny "I did not say anything". Yet people say "too little too late" and they say they just tell that anakin saved Obi Wan life tons of times but never show anything (despite SHOWING ANAKIN SAVING HIM TWICE!). and yes their relationship improved from the last film, it's what happens when they are now equals isntead of master and apprentice. It's clear the war strengthened thier relationship ich is SHOW just by the direct contrast to episode 2. Yes is this same movie where their relationship broke, the thing is , their relationship as never perfect, in this very same movie e have the scene here Obi Wan tells Anakin that he is assigned to spy the chancellor, Obi Wan is put into a position where he have to chose the councill over his friendship ith Anakin, he assuring Anakin that he is with him in the master rank matter and his response to Anakin question fo "why areyou asking me this of me?", he answers "the councill is asking you" ( in the spanish dub of the fim he adds a "not me") , wich shows that Obi Wan is excusing himself on this in order to not be in bad terms with Anakin, despite he being himself part of the couuncil. Then there is the goodbye scene before the mission to Utapau, where Obi Wan finally says something Anakin needed in his padawan days but maybe now it doesn't matter too much to him.
With all of this said whe can see thier realtionship in the prequels is more coplicated than just a "super best buddies". and take note that something even the prequel haters can agree is that the prequels are very ambitious, they touch many points and prioritize others, so sorry if atleast one of the movies is not a buddie road trip adventure, and also people should stop focusing of the "he was a good frined " line wich by the has a nostalgic undertone, telling that Obi Wan think of that as te good old days, both ups and downs, and foucs on the "who was a pupil of mine" too. The fact that both TCW and Obi Wan could take inspiration from this tells that maybe ther as something in the first place.
