Qui-Gon Jinn
Qui-Gon Jinn is a fictional character in the Star Wars universe, portrayed by Liam Neeson in Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace. He also appears frequently in the Star Wars Expanded Universe of comic books, video games and novels.
Character overview
Qui Gon Jinn was perhaps the greatest Jedi alive, a commanding presence at Council, a strong and brave warrior who refused to be intimidated by even the most daunting challenge, and a good and kind man.
Qui-Gon Jinn is introduced in Episode I as a wise and powerful Jedi, the mentor of the young Obi-Wan Kenobi. He is something of a maverick among the Jedi Order; unlike other, more conservative Jedi Masters, he values living in the moment as the most effective and rewarding way to embrace the Force. While other Jedi respect him, they are frequently puzzled by his unorthodoxy, and ultimately deny him a seat on the Jedi Council.
Qui-Gon inherits his independent spirit from his equally rebellious master, Count Dooku. Unlike his master, who leaves the Jedi Order and ultimately joins the Sith, Qui-Gon stays true to the Jedi up until his death at the hands of Darth Maul.
Biography
Early life
Born almost a century before the events of Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope, Qui-Gon Jinn is taken as an infant to the planet Coruscant to train and become a Jedi. He maintains some ties with his native planet, and even once obtains a special worn stone from his homeworld's River of Light.
At the age of eight, he and Tahl become the best of friends. At the age of 10, Qui-Gon participates in the Exhibition Day Tournament, where young students are encouraged to perform their skills so that they may be taken as an apprentice to one of the Jedi Knights or Masters. At this exhibition, Jedi Master Count Dooku first sees Qui-Gon's lightsaber skills, and takes the boy as his Padawan a short time afterwards.
Together, Dooku and Qui-Gon go on numerous missions across the galaxy. On one notable mission, the two 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 with whom Dooku was once close friends. The two battle and Dooku lets his anger get the best of him. Qui-Gon stops his Master from violating the Jedi Code by committing cold-blooded murder. Some time following this assignment, Dooku and Qui-Gon are given their final assignment as master and apprentice, a mission set to last two years. Upon returning from this mission, Qui-Gon is reunited with Tahl. Dooku tells Qui-Gon that he has one weakness: his compassion for all life. Dooku warns him that betrayal inevitably comes from a friend.
Knighthood and Xanatos
As revealed in the Jedi Apprentice series by Jude Watson, both Qui-Gon and Tahl become Jedi Knights. The Jedi Council suggests that he take a Padawan learner, but Qui-Gon chooses not to, feeling he is unready. Over the next few years, he takes on solo missions. During this time Qui-Gon discovers a young boy from Telos IV named Xanatos who exhibits a strong connection to the Force. Qui-Gon takes Xanatos to the Jedi Temple for training, even though the child is much older than the accepted age for training. After successfully guiding the Padawan to Knighthood, Qui-Gon Jinn becomes a Jedi Master, and soon Xanatos becomes his newest apprentice.
For 12 years, Qui-Gon and Xanatos are master and apprentice. Many members of the Council, including Yoda, express their concerns about Xanatos, and decide to give the young man one final test before granting him the title of Jedi Knight. Qui-Gon and Xanatos are sent to Telos, Xanatos's homeworld, where the boy's father, Crion, has become a tyrant. Xanatos is tempted by his father's wealth and power, and joins Crion, hoping to rule together. Leading the planet into a civil war, Crion is confronted by Qui-Gon, who is forced to kill the governor. Xanatos flies into a rage and takes a ring from his father's finger, searing hot from Qui-Gon's blade. He brands it into his cheek, creating a broken-circle scar. Swearing his revenge on his former master, Xanatos flees.
Qui-Gon blames himself for Xanatos' failure, and even goes so far as to renounce his success in training his first Padawan. He vows not to take another Padawan for the rest of his life. Tahl tries to comfort Qui-Gon by accompanying him to the training world of Ragoon VI, but this dark chapter in Qui-Gon's life would be very hard to erase.
For the next few years, Qui-Gon returns to solo missions, yet occasionally works with others on various assignments. Qui-Gon and Tahl are credited for accomplishing many missions, such as successfully overseeing the first democratic elections of New Apsolon.
Taking another apprentice
9 Years later, Yoda encourages Qui-Gon to take another apprentice. Qui-Gon agrees to at least observe a small tournament among a group of the Temple's older students, which include Bruck Chun and Obi-Wan Kenobi. He takes notice of Kenobi's skills, but shortly following the tournament, he leaves for the planet Bandomeer.
On the transport ship to Bandomeer, Qui-Gon is reunited with Obi-Wan, who is also being sent to Bandomeer to begin life as an agricultural labourer. On the transport, 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 Xanatos. It turns out that the whole ordeal has been organized by Xanatos, who is revealed to be 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. Qui-Gon duels with his former apprentice, and he and Obi-Wan end Offworld's business on Bandomeer. Xanatos escapes, however. During their situation with Xanatos, Qui-Gon discovers Obi-Wan's true potential, and takes him as his new Padawan learner.
Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan are sent on various missions across the galaxy, to worlds such as Gala and Phindar. One mission, in which the two rescue a blinded Tahl from the war-torn world of Melida/Daan, leads to Obi-Wan's temporary resignation from the Jedi Order. Also over this time, Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan have more encounters with Xanatos, who, with the help of the bitter Padawan, Bruck Chun, nearly assassinates Yoda within the Jedi Temple itself. After Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan fight a fierce duel with Xanatos, the fallen Jedi commits suicide, jumping into a pool of acid instead of surrendering.
Along with other Jedi such as Tyvokka, Plo Koon, Tholme and his Padawan Quinlan Vos, Qui-Gon fights in the Stark Hyperspace War. It is the first of many times that he and Obi-Wan encounter the Trade Federation.
Qui-Gon once again faces off with Lorian Nod on Junction 5, and once again the fallen Jedi is incarcerated for his crimes.
As time goes on, Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan accomplish various other missions across the galaxy. On Kegan, they discover the Force-sensitivity of the future Jedi Knight Olana Chion. In the Rutan system, they act as ambassadors to settle a conflict between Rutan and its moon of Senali.
Qui-Gon also helps the Wookies Attichitcuk and Chewbacca establish a colony on the Kashyyyk moon of Alaris Prime, and drives the Trade Federation off it.
About a decade before The Phantom Menace, Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan investigate a strange series of murders in which the bodies of the victims were drained entirely of their blood. This investigation leads them to meet the famed scientist Jenna Zan Arbor. Eventually, they discover that the bounty hunter Ona Nobis is behind the murders, but they still do not know who her client is. Upon confronting Nobis, Qui-Gon gets aboard her ship and is immediately hit with her blaster fire. Qui-Gon is captured and taken to Jenna Zan Arbor. Zan Arbor, who is studying the genetic traits of Force-sensitives, begins further experiments on Qui-Gon, draining his blood and torturing him to test his limits. Obi-Wan, with the help of Tahl, Adi Gallia, and Siri Tachi, infiltrates Zan Arbor's labs and frees Qui-Gon. Zan Arbor is caught and imprisoned, and the bounty hunter Ona Nobis is presumed dead after a fight with Obi-Wan.
Following the Zan Arbor incident, Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan are faced with troubles of the past yet again. Vox Chun, the father of the Dark Padawan Bruck Chun, hires lawyer Sano Sauro to prosecute Obi-Wan for Bruck's accidental death. The trial leads Qui-Gon's apprentice into an emotionally difficult time, even after he is cleared of the charges.
Forbidden love
Over the next few months, tensions increased in Qui-Gon's friendship with Tahl. Tahl had recently taken Bant Eerin, one of Obi-Wan's close friends, as her Padawan, and Qui-Gon tries to press his advice onto her. The tension starts to make the two realize that they have romantic feelings toward each other. However, they put the teachings of the Jedi Code first, and do their best to ignore their mutual attraction.
While training with Obi-Wan on Ragoon VI, Qui-Gon suffers from visions of Tahl in grave danger. Upon returning to Coruscant, Qui-Gon requests to the Council that he be sent with her on her next mission, to New Apsolon. Tahl, however, declines his offer and goes on alone, even leaving Bant behind at the Temple. Three weeks pass without word from Tahl. Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan go to New Apsolon (against the orders of the Council) to discover what may have happened to Tahl. After a lengthy search, they find her, safe and in perfect health. Upon seeing each other again, Qui-Gon and Tahl openly admit their forbidden love. They promise to each other that they will deal with their emotions more after the mission is over.
However, it isn't long before Tahl goes missing yet again. This time, she is kidnapped by a New Apsolon rebel named Balog. When Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan finally find Balog, he has already drugged Tahl. The Jedi rescue her, but she dies despite Qui-Gon's attempts to heal her through the Force.
Tahl's death drives Qui-Gon into a terrible state of depression and a rise in strong dark side emotions. He blames himself for her death and even recalls his past failure with Xanatos. He swears revenge on Balog and vows to track him down. Qui-Gon tracks Balog down and corners him. When he is about to take his revenge, however, he hears a voice beseeching him to stop.
Qui-Gon suddenly realizes that he is heading down a dark path, and abruptly deactivates his lightsaber. After taking Balog into custody, Qui-Gon thanks Obi-Wan for stopping him, only to hear from his apprentice that it was not him who said those words. Qui-Gon realizes that it was the voice of Tahl who had stopped him from giving in to the dark side. The Jedi return to Coruscant and give Tahl a proper funeral.
Changing times
On a mission to protect a young boy named Talesan Fry, Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan are paired with Adi Gallia and Siri Tachi. The mission, which resulted in Qui-Gon and Adi being separated from Obi-Wan and Siri, leads to the discovery of romantic feelings between the two Padawans. Qui-Gon detects these emotions and warns Obi-Wan of his own example with Tahl, and the consequences of losing a loved one.
Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan meet Supreme Chancellor Finis Valorum, who calls upon the two Jedi in particular for future assignments. The two also encounter the bounty hunter Aurra Sing, and fight alongside Mace Windu, Plo Koon, and other Jedi against the Yinchorri.
During this time period, Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan are dispatched on a mission to locate a valuable cargo ship that had disappeared. Their search takes them to Ord Mantell, and brings them to confront the land baron Taxer Sundown. On the mission, Qui-Gon befriends the native Mantellian savrip, which helps him to complete the mission.
Both Jedi later fight against a terrorist organization called the Nebula Front. At the Trade Federation conference on Eriadu, Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan defend Supreme 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.
Blockade of Naboo
In The Phantom Menace, (12 years after Qui-Gon took Obi-Wan as his apprentice) Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan are sent to the planet Naboo onboard the Radiant VII to resolve a political crisis. The Trade Federation, in protest to recent taxation laws, have assembled a blockade of the planet with a fleet of battleships. Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan are sent as ambassadors of Supreme Chancellor Valorum to reach a peaceful settlement.
Shortly after their arrival on the Federation battleship Saak'ak, the Radiant VII is destroyed and the conference chamber they were waiting in flooded with dioxis gas. They survive the gas, and easily defeat the battle droids assigned to reinforce the chamber entrance. Qui-Gon tries to cut through the bridge's blast doors, but the arrival of Federation droidekas forces them to flee through the ships ventilation. The two Jedi then stow away on a troop transport as the Federation moves to invade Naboo with a force of battle droids.
On Naboo, Qui-Gon meets Jar Jar Binks, saving him from possible death and earning his life debt. Binks reluctantly takes him to the underwater city of Otoh Gunga, where Boss Nass agrees to give them a transport and allows Binks to go with the offworlders as a guide. After he gains transport to the capital city of Theed, Qui-Gon, Obi-Wan and Jar Jar journeys through the planet's core, evading several sea monsters, to Theed. Once in the capital city, he and Obi-Wan rescue Queen Padmé Amidala and escape Naboo on the royal starship. As they dash through the blockade, however, the ship is hit by laser fire and the hyperdrive is badly damaged. The party is forced to land on the planet Tatooine.
Discovery of the Chosen One
On Tatooine, Qui-Gon looks for parts in the settlement of Mos Espa, where he encounters the junk dealer Watto and his slave, a young boy named Anakin Skywalker. Qui-Gon comes to believe that Anakin, who is exceptionally strong in the Force, may be the "Chosen One" of Jedi legend.
Qui-Gon's Naboo ship is disabled and his credits are no good on the planet. He places a wager with Watto and acquires machine parts for the repair of Anakin's podracer for the next race. Later, Qui-Gon releases Anakin from slavery when he wagers Watto on the boy's victory during the Boonta Eve Classic podrace. The wager also results in obtaining parts to fix the damaged Naboo ship. With their means to return to Coruscant secured, Qui-Gon and his new charge sojourn to the outskirts of Mos Espa to meet up with the disguised Naboo Queen, Padme. However, their progress is watched by a DRK-1 Dark Eye probe droid. Qui-Gon senses the intrusive presence and strikes the probe down, but the damage is already done. The Sith Lord Darth Maul had been trailing the Jedi and recovers his destroyed droid, thinking that his quarry have stowed aboard the smuggling ship. Maul boards the light freighter and strikes down the pilot. Once he learns the truth, the Sith assassin doubles his efforts to reach Qui-Gon before he escapes. As Anakin and Qui-Gon approach the Queen's ship, they are intercepted by Darth Maul. Qui-Gon fights the Sith warrior as the ship takes off behind him. Jumping high with the Force, Qui-Gon lands on the boarding ramp and they escape.
On Coruscant, Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan appear before the Jedi Council to give a report. The Council reluctantly agrees to test young Anakin for Jedi potential. They find that the boy is indeed very strong with the Force, having the greatest midi-chlorian count ever recorded, but says he is too old to begin the training. Yoda senses that the boy's future is "clouded" by the fear and anger he exhibits. Qui-Gon tries to release Obi-Wan from apprenticeship in order to take Anakin as his Padawan, but the Council remains firm. Disappointed, Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan prepare to return to Naboo with Queen Amidala, who hopes to liberate the planet in one swift stroke.
Deadly duel
In the film's climactic battle scene, Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan encounter and fight Darth Maul. Maul eventually isolates Obi-Wan from himself and Qui-Gon Jinn by activating an energy shield between themselves and him. After a fierce duel, Maul impales Qui-Gon with his lightsaber. Obi-Wan collects himself, and when Maul releases the energy shield, attacks Maul in a furry, slashing his double bladed light saber in half, but ultimatly gets kicked down into a shaft, losing his lightsaber. Facing a certain death, he calms himself, and uses the force to pull himself out of the shaft while also using the force to take Qui-Gon's lightsaber and catch Darth Maul by surprise and cut him in half. Darth Maul falls in 2 pieces to the bottom of the shaft. Obi-Wan rushes to Qui-Gon's side, just in time for Qui-Gon to tell Obi-Wan that Anakin is the chosen one, and Obi-Wan promises to train him as his Jedi Master dies. Following this, Qui-Gon is burned in the traditional way of a Jedi funeral.
Personality
 | This article possibly contains original research. |
Regarded as a maverick by his peers, Qui-Gon Jinn was a wise and faithful — but unorthodox — member of the Jedi Order. He successfully trained several Jedi Knights in his time, until his failure with Xanatos led him to obsess over the mistake. Due to this, he was reluctant to take Obi-Wan Kenobi to be his new apprentice. Dooku, Qui-Gon, Obi-Wan, and Anakin Skywalker formed a chain of Jedi Masters and Padawans through which passed a rebellious streak, making them a difficulty in the eyes of the Jedi Council. Indeed, his Padawan Obi-Wan suggested that the Council would have invited Qui-Gon to join them, if he would follow the Jedi Code. A distinguished and adept Jedi warrior, Qui-Gon Jinn reflected strength and wisdom.
A philosophical warrior, Qui-Gon believed heavily in what he referred to as the "Living Force," a method of focusing on the moment rather than contemplating the Force in all its degrees. For this reason, Qui-Gon could be considered one of the more 'down-to-earth' Jedi of his time, due to his concentration on the matter at hand. It has been suggested that an ability such as this would have been conducive to stopping Palpatine's rise to power; as the Jedi focused on the Separatist threat to the future of the Galactic Republic, they failed to examine the moment more closely. Qui-Gon possessed knowledge of the architecture and engineering of various space transports and large capital vessels. Qui-Gon was also skilled in mind tricks, as was evident when he managed to convince the Gungan leader to let him escape.
In addition to his mastery of the Force, Jinn was also a master in Form IV: Ataru, often having sparred with Master Mace Windu. The Jedi lightsaber master who taught Qui-Gon had considered him the best lightsaber duelist he had seen in over 400 years of teaching in the Jedi Order. His deep-rooted strength and compassion was fuelled by the Force, and this was reflected in his lightsaber style, a style that needs precision and smoothness of movement. It is interesting to note his choice of Ataru despite sparring with Mace Windu, and being apprenticed to Count Dooku, a master of Form II: Makashi.
Behind the scenes
As revealed in The Art of Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace, director George Lucas conceived Qui-Gon's character during pre-production. This is shown by concept art where Obi-Wan is shown alone in the Federation ship and while meeting Jar Jar. Even when Qui-Gon was conceived, Lucas toyed with making him the younger Jedi, as shown in concept art depicting Obi-Wan as an old man.
Postmortem Appearances
Qui-Gon's voice appears in Star Wars Episode II: Attack of the Clones but he is only referred to in Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith. He doesn't appear in any of the original films A New Hope, The Empire Strikes Back, or Return of the Jedi and isn't even mentioned. He was included in a scene from Episode III that was not completed: he communicates with Yoda from beyond the grave and promises to teach the ancient Jedi Master how to achieve immortality through the Force. The latter scene was included in the novelization of Revenge of the Sith by Matthew Stover.
He also makes a brief appearance in Star Wars: Clone Wars, the animated micro-series that aired on Cartoon Network from 2003 to 2005. It also aired on Teletoon for a short period of time.
Trivia
 | This article contains a list of miscellaneous information. (June 2007) |
- George Lucas planned to have Qui-Gon appear as a Force ghost in Revenge of the Sith, similar to how Obi-Wan appeared in The Empire Strikes Back and Return of the Jedi. The idea was shelved, however, because Neeson had recently broken his leg. However, the writers covered for this by having Yoda tell Obi-Wan that he would eventually make contact with his former master. This is also confirmed when Yoda tells Obi-Wan that Qui-Gon has found the path to immortality. This story, however, has yet to be expanded upon. [citation needed]
- As a nod to Neeson, one of the younglings in Attack of the Clones is named Liam.
- In the PC game Star Wars Jedi Knight: Jedi Academy, online players would often play pranks on newer players by telling them to type "/qui gon" into the game's console. This resulted in the game registering the inputted command as "/quit", which disconnected the player.
References
- Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace Novelization, 1st edition paperback, 1999. Terry Brooks, George Lucas, ISBN 0-345-43411-0
- Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith Novelization - Novelization, 1st edition hardcover, 2005. Matthew Woodring Stover, George Lucas, ISBN 0-7126-8427-1
- Star Wars Episode I Who's Who: A Pocket Guide to Characters of the Phantom Menace, hardcover, 1999. Ryder Windham, ISBN 0-7624-0519-8
- The New Essential Guide to Characters, 1st edition, 2002. Daniel Wallace, Michael Sutfin, ISBN 0-345-44900-2
- Star Wars: The Phantom Menace: The Visual Dictionary, hardcover, 1999. David West Reynolds, ISBN 0-7894-4701-0
- Star Wars Roleplaying Game Core Rulebook, 1st edition, 2000. Bill Slavicsek, Andy Collins, ISBN 0-7869-1793-8
External links
- Qui-Gon Jinn in the StarWars.com Databank
- Qui-Gon Jinn on Wookieepedia, a Star Wars wiki