If one is so lucky, they’ll be able to share an incredible bond with their father, one that is lifelong and rich with love in abundance. That connection with a father is not to be taken for granted, nor is it to be taken lightly as time marches on. If one is so lucky, they’ll have the ability to cross paths with those who can present themselves as a father-figure. The term is flexible enough where only a few barring qualities prevent anyone from being one. A definition of a father-figure suggests that they are usually an older man, normally one with power, authority, or strength, with whom one can identify on a deeply psychological level and who generates emotions generally felt towards one’s father. Father-figures are regarded with a strong sense of sentimental connection and held in high emotional esteem. They are given the responsibility of guiding those who look up to them and consider them to be so important that they represent a parental figure and shape anyone who idolizes them. Such an endearing relationship is truly a special thing as they partake in shaping the lives of others around them as they lead through example. Their guardianship, compassion, wisdom, and leadership are special, regardless of the forms they may take.
Star Warshas included the power of father-child relationships in a number of ways throughout the franchises’ films, television shows, video games, and literature-based media. Indeed, family identity and family ties have become a prominent recurring theme. Fathers, in particular, have taken center stage when varieties of relationships are depicted throughout the saga. The evolution of Star Wars has welcomed father-figures as prominent characters as the galaxy is shaken by socioeconomic turmoil. Morality and ethical rationality are depicted through father-child interactions and these ideas are passed from generation to generation. Not every “father” and their “child” was exactly related or of the same species. Father-figures played a detrimental role in raising some of the universe’s most important changemakers, advocates, and icons that would forever influence the scope of Star Wars. Here are the best.
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5 Kanan Jarrus
Lucasfilm
Survivor of the Order 66 Execution, Kanan Jarrus is a naturally inquisitive Force-sensitive human who took initiative and rewrote his life. Throughout Star Wars Rebels, he kept any information about his past to a minimum and attempted to distance himself from whom he once was. Despite his own struggle with grasping personal identity and overcoming his setbacks during his prolonged Padawanship, he was insistent about keeping his own Padawan Ezra Bridger out of the Dark Side’s reach. He knew the dangers of giving in to temptation and dedicated himself to steering Ezra from even entertaining the idea of exploring it. Kanan was determined to mend a more estranged relationship with his student and those around him, and Ezra reassured his Master that he had been important to his growth as a person. Kanan embraced his own bravery to overcome his fears and secure greater intimacy with the Force. He proved that even in blindness that he could still impact his Rebel crewmates. Sabine Wren greatly looked up to Kanan, admiring him for his skills and his leadership, even if there was admitted frustration at times.
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4 Bail Organa
Alderaan senator Bail Organa was dedicated to seeking honesty in his justice and shared compassion for those who were most in need of refuge. His sympathy for those affected by tragedy or misfortune extended to raising his adopted daughter, Leia, after Senator Padmé Amidala’s death. Bail was supportive of Leia as she expressed an interest in politics, guiding her as she rose through the ranks on Alderaan before establishing herself as a respected leader. He nurtured her quick-witted spirit and unwavering stubbornness to achieve justice as she aged. Their shared love for the Rebellion was imperative to their bond as Leia would later authorize herself as a diplomatic powerhouse, thanks to her adopted father’s influence. Bail’s status as a leader in the Rebellion was immortalized as he was historically regarded as a hero, though his love for Leia transcended all.
3 Din Djarin
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A man of few words and reserved cultural pride, Din Djarin is commonly referred to as The Mandalorian: a lone warrior who remained protected over the privacy of his identity. A skilled bounty hunter, his work required him to accept an aloof lifestyle that hardened his exterior with armor made of Beskar and cynicism. Beneath his performative skepticism and mistrust of others, Din’s paternal instincts were drawn out after assuming a protective role over the Child, Grogu. He understood the responsibility of guarding the Child against harm’s way and the greed of the galaxy, refusing his apprehensive attitudes to affect how Grogu was influenced. Stern-yet-caring, Din committed himself to stand in as a father as the two embarked on their planet-to-planet escapade. The bond between Grogu and Din swelled as the fight for the Child accelerated at an alarming rate. He remains adamant when putting Grogu and others who have proven their loyalty to him first, sharing the Way of the Mandalore with his young companion.
2 Qui-Gon Jinn
Jedi Master Qui-Gon Jinn was noted for his clear thinking, his even judgment, and his patience when it was needed. Admired for his wisdom, Qui-Gon valued the importance of personal relationships and set aside time to understand anyone he came across. He was a Jedi that preferred to seize the means of living instead of waiting for the future to arrive. Though he did not always agree with the traditionalist ideologies of the Jedi Order, the Master was mindful of their beliefs and prophecies, knowing that they were flexible to fit one’s own interpretation. Qui-Gon sought balance in the Force and acknowledged the risks of extreme Light and Dark paths. As a mentor to his Padawan Obi-Wan Kenobi, he was determined to share differences between their interpretation of the Jedi. He accepted that his Padawan would not completely see eye-to-eye with him, yet trusted him as his student. He expressed pride in Obi-Wan as he passed on his teachings, who had thanked him for his insight. Qui-Gon was a considerate, compassionate individual who believed in the goodness of people.
1 Obi-Wan Kenobi
Headstrong, willful, and loyal to the Jedi Way, Obi-Wan Kenobi was viewed as an incredibly wise Jedi Master who could be soft-spoken at times if not quipping back with sarcastic wit. Humble, Obi-Wan was not one to take much lightly when it came to his success and was grateful for Qui-Gonn’s guidance. He was a skilled negotiator who could disarm most confrontations with a few words alone. Obi-Wan was viewed as a modest, careful, and conservative Master to Padawan Anakin Skywalker, though their relationship was fairly uneven upon meeting for the first time. Prior to Anakin’s manipulation into the Dark Side, Obi-Wan internalized the responsibility of teaching his Padawan all that he knew. He fully committed himself to advising Anakin through his training and overseeing his could-be success. During his self-imposed exiling on Tatooine’s Jundland Wastes, he was entrusted with the care of Anakin’s son, Luke Skywalker, whom he graced with his insight. Obi-Wan was one of Luke’s first Jedi mentors as the young Skywalker followed in his father’s footsteps — for the better — though he was unsure of who his father really was. Obi-Wan Kenobi on Disney+ shares that the hermit protagonist was just as important in Leia’s youth as he was in her brother’s. Obi-Wan assumed the role of protecting Leia from the Empire as they pursued her, traveling from planet to planet with the intention of her safety in mind.
