Qui-Gon Jinn

Qui-Gon Jinn
Star Wars character
Liam Neeson as Qui-Gon Jinn
First appearance	The Phantom Menace
Created by	George Lucas
Portrayed by	Liam Neeson
Voiced by	Liam Neeson  Tom Kane  Micheál Richardson  Fred Tatasciore  James Warwick
In-universe information
Occupation	Jedi Master
Affiliation	Jedi Order Galactic Republic
Master	Count Dooku
Apprentices	Xanatos  Obi-Wan Kenobi

Qui-Gon Jinn (/ˈkwaɪɡɒn/) is a fictional character in the Star Wars franchise created by George Lucas. He is introduced as a main character played by Liam Neeson in The Phantom Menace (1999). He appears briefly as a Force spirit in the 2008 animated series The Clone Wars, the season finale of the 2022 live-action series Obi-Wan Kenobi, along with Attack of the Clones and The Rise of Skywalker as a disembodied voice, with Neeson reprising his role in all of the above. Qui-Gon also appears in two episodes of Tales of the Jedi, which depicts some scenes from his life before the events of The Phantom Menace; Neeson voices adult Qui-Gon in the series, while his son Micheál Richardson voices Qui-Gon as a Padawan.

Within the fictional Star Wars universe, Qui-Gon mentors Obi-Wan Kenobi, and is a powerful and wise, yet maverick and controversial Jedi Master, who has many uncommon beliefs regarding the Force. In The Phantom Menace, his and Obi-Wan's mission to protect Queen Padmé Amidala leads him to encounter the young slave Anakin Skywalker, whom he believes to be the prophesied "Chosen One" who will bring balance to the Force and insists upon his training as a Jedi against the wishes of the Jedi High Council, who believe Skywalker to be too old for training. Qui-Gon is fatally wounded in a lightsaber duel by the Sith Lord Darth Maul; in his final moments, he makes Obi-Wan promise that he will train Skywalker. Attack of the Clones introduces his former Jedi mentor Count Dooku, who fell to the dark side of the Force and became a Sith Lord. At the end of Revenge of the Sith, it is revealed that Qui-Gon has learned how to become a Force spirit after death, teaching the idea to Yoda during the Clone Wars and later to Obi-Wan.

Outside of the films, the character appears in various canon and non-canon Star Wars media, such as books, comics, and video games. Since the release of The Phantom Menace, Qui-Gon has become one of the most popular Star Wars characters, gaining a cult status. Neeson's portrayal of Qui-Gon has been met with positive reviews, with some critics saying he helped hold the film together significantly. For his role in The Phantom Menace, Neeson was nominated for a 2000 Saturn Award for Best Actor.

Creation

George Lucas created the character Qui-Gon Jinn during pre-production of The Phantom Menace. Although Qui-Gon is the master of Obi-Wan Kenobi and is older than him, Lucas had considered making Qui-Gon the younger Jedi. Initially, Lucas had planned for Qui-Gon to have white hair, but ultimately decided that he should have brown hair. Lucas described the character as independent and "always testing the rules". He said Qui-Gon refuses to "go along with the program."

Lucas originally envisioned an American actor in the role of Qui-Gon, but ultimately cast the Northern Irish actor Liam Neeson. He describing Neeson as a "master actor, who the other actors will look up to, who has got the qualities of strength that the character demands." Neeson described Qui-Gon as wise, confident, philosophical and very skilled in martial arts. He said the Jedi Master has "a magical quality that enables him to see into the future. He's not really a rebel, but he has his own code."

Qui-Gon Jinn's name is derived from the Chinese word qigong (simplified Chinese: 气功; traditional Chinese: 氣功), and the Arabic word jinn (جِنّ). Qigong is a system of breathing and exercise designed to support physical and mental health, while a jinn is a type of spirit found in Arabian mythology. "Qui-Gon Jinn" can be translated as "Guardian Spirit of the Living Force." "Jinn" also resembles the Chinese word for power, jin (勁), and the martial arts concept fa jin, which is the explosive release of internal strength or power.

Appearances in the official canon

Prequel trilogy

Main article: Star Wars prequel trilogy

Qui-Gon is introduced in the first film of the prequel trilogy, The Phantom Menace (1999). He and his apprentice Obi-Wan Kenobi are sent to Naboo to resolve a conflict involving the Trade Federation, a business conglomerate that has blockaded the planet for political leverage. When the two Jedi arrive, the Federation attempts to assassinate them. Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan retreat to Naboo, rescue its besieged queen, Padmé Amidala, then leave for Coruscant, the galactic capital. During the journey, they land on Tatooine to repair their ship. Qui-Gon encounters a nine-year-old slave boy named Anakin Skywalker, whose potential with the Force is the highest ever detected. The Jedi Master becomes intrigued when Anakin's mother tells him that the boy had no father. Believing that Anakin could be the "Chosen One" of Jedi prophecy destined to bring balance to the Force, Qui-Gon secures the boy's freedom and decides to bring him before the Jedi Council on Coruscant. Before leaving Tatooine, Qui-Gon duels with a mysterious warrior dressed in black.

On Coruscant, Qui-Gon asks the Council to allow Anakin to be trained as a Jedi. Master Yoda senses fear in the boy, and the Council denies the request. Undaunted, Qui-Gon vows that he will train Anakin himself. Padmé, Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan return to Naboo, where they once again encounter the dark warrior, who reveals himself to be the Sith Lord Darth Maul. After a ferocious lightsaber battle, Maul mortally wounds Qui-Gon, but is then killed by Obi-Wan. The Jedi apprentice promises his dying master that he will train Anakin. Near the end of the third film, Revenge of the Sith (2005), Yoda reveals to Obi-Wan that he has been communicating with the spirit of Qui-Gon.

The Rise of Skywalker

Neeson provides the voice of Qui-Gon in The Rise of Skywalker (2019). After Rey collapses during her confrontation with the resurrected Darth Sidious, she hears the voices of various deceased Jedi, including Qui-Gon. The Jedi give her the strength to continue the battle.

Television

Qui-Gon appears several times in the series The Clone Wars (2008–2014; 2020). In season three, he informs Obi-Wan and Anakin about three beings who share his belief that Anakin is the Chosen One. These beings are known as the Father (the unifying Force manifestation), the Daughter (the light side incarnation) and the Son (the dark side embodiment). In the sixth season of the series, Qui-Gon's disembodied voice instructs Yoda to learn the secret of Force immortality.

Qui-Gon is featured in three of the six episodes of the 2022 miniseries Tales of the Jedi. In the second episode, a young Qui-Gon serves as Padawan to Count Dooku, and helps to investigate a mysterious kidnapping on an impoverished planet. When Qui-Gon stops Dooku from losing his temper and killing a corrupt senator, Dooku commends him for his wisdom. In the fourth episode of the series, Jedi Master Qui-Gon and Dooku discuss the Jedi Council's refusal to believe that Darth Maul is a Sith Lord. After Qui-Gon's death, a grieving Dooku remembers how, as a boy, Qui-Gon was fascinated by the tree in the Jedi Temple.

Early in the 2022 miniseries Obi-Wan Kenobi, the titular Jedi tries unsuccessfully to reach out to Qui-Gon's Force spirit. In the final episode, Qui-Gon finally appears to Obi-Wan.

Novels

The 2019 novel Master and Apprentice features Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan.

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, Star Wars Episode I: Racer, the Lego Star Wars games and as a character skin (via purchased download content) in Star Wars: The Force Unleashed. A bird version of Qui-Gon, called "Quail-Gon," is playable in Angry Birds Star Wars II. A Lego Minifigure variant of the character appeared and is playable in Lego Star Wars: The Video Game, Lego Star Wars: The Complete Saga, Lego Star Wars III: The Clone Wars and Lego Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga.

Appearances in Star Wars Legends

See also: Star Wars in other media

In 2014, most of the licensed Star Wars novels and comics produced since 1977 were rebranded by Lucasfilm as Star Wars Legends and declared non-canon to the franchise. The Legends works comprise a separate narrative universe.

Clone Wars (2003–2005)

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. Later 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!". Ashamed, Anakin apologises and his master admits that he misses Qui-Gon.

Novels

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.

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 the 2010 reference book The Jedi Path, Obi-Wan states that some have called Qui-Gon a gray Jedi.

Comics

Aside from the graphic novelization of The Phantom Menace, Qui-Gon appears 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.

Reception

Despite the mixed reviews that the prequel trilogy received from critics, Liam Neeson's performance and character received positive reviews. Colin Kennedy from Empire Online stated in his review of the film, "Liam Neeson has manfully carried the action on his shoulders throughout (the subsequent prequels desperately miss him) and his final words – “Obi-Wan, promise... Promise me you will train the boy” – provide the movie with its only real weight." Owen Gleiberman from Entertainment Weekly said in his review of The Phantom Menace, "If there’s an actor who holds The Phantom Menace together, it’s Liam Neeson. Tersely commanding, he gives the film its only hints of emotional dynamism."

References

Works cited

• Bouzereau, Laurent; Duncan, Jody (1999). Star Wars: The Making of Episode I—The Phantom Menace. New York: Del Rey. ISBN 0345431111.

• Hidalgo, Pablo; Sansweet, Stephen (2008). The Complete Star Wars Encyclopedia. Vol. II (First ed.). New York: Del Rey. ISBN 9780345477637.

External links

• Qui-Gon Jinn in the StarWars.com Databank