Qui-Gon but Not Forgotten

A holy triumvirate of the Force was introduced in a three part Clone Wars story in 2011. Based on a concept outlined in detail by George Lucas himself, according to an interview with Dave Filoni, the episode finds Obi-Wan, Anakin, and Ahsoka shipwrecked on a strange world occupied by three superpowerful Force-wielders--The Father, the Son, and the Daughter, their names conspicuously reminiscent of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost of Catholic theology. The episodes are fascinating for the glimpse they offer into Lucas' conception of the Force from a different angle.

The interview linked to above is also interesting because it's another thing that shows Dave Filoni's role on Clone Wars was much smaller than is generally thought nowadays. He describes walking into the writers' room and finding George Lucas and the writers already well into their discussions of the episode's concepts. Filoni's main contribution, according to his interview, was apparently in getting Liam Neeson to reprise his role as Qui-Gon Jinn. And he credits Lucasfilm employee Lynne Hale with actually sealing the deal. It was Hale's idea to bring in not only Neeson but also Pernilla August to reprise her role as Anakin's mother, Shmi.

That's exciting for those of us who remember August from Ingmar Bergman's Fanny and Alexander.

Both Anakin and Obi-Wan have visions of Qui-Gon while only Anakin sees Shmi--and it clearly seems not to actually be Shmi but the wicked Son posing as her. Ahsoka has a similar deceptive vision, a vision of herself when she's older, looking much more like an older Ahsoka than did her terrible design on Rebels.

But Qui-Gon seems to really be Qui-Gon. It was always fascinating for me that Neeson appeared in these episodes--Episodes II and III seemed to be setting up an appearance by Qui-Gon's ghost but he never appeared and I assumed at the time that Neeson declined the invitation to reprise his role for whatever reason. In recent interviews he's spoken fondly of Episode I so maybe by 2011 his attitude toward the role had softened. Qui-Gon doesn't actually say much of substance, though, in the three parter, basically just reiterating his belief that Anakin is the Chosen One.

The most fascinating thing about the episode for me, though, is that Anakin briefly turns to the Dark Side because the Son shows him a vision of himself becoming Darth Vader. In order to prevent such a terrible fate, Anakin seeks the power of the Dark Side. So to avoid becoming Darth Vader . . . he becomes Darth Vader. Knowledge never seemed to be that guy's friend. Maybe he'd have been better off on Tatooine for the rest of his life.

Clone Wars is available on Disney+.