When audiences think of pivotal characters from the Star Wars franchise, the names Luke Skywalker, Princess Leia, and Han Solo spring to mind. However, the name Obi-Wan Kenobi quickly follows as one of the most important characters in the franchise. Without Obi-Wan, Luke wouldn't have made his way to his adopted family or learned the ways of the Force. Obi-Wan's influence stretched to other characters in the franchise too, including Luke's father, Anakin Skywalker, and Anakin's padawan, Ahsoka Tano.
The Star Wars prequels and animated Clone Wars made Obi-Wan even more popular. His famous traits of being wise, extremely skilled, respectful of traditions, and also willing to bend the rules make him a stand-out hero. When looking at TV characters who are just like Obi-Wan, these are the characteristics to keep in mind.
10 Joan Watson Loves The Bizarre Yet Strives For A Calm Life
During the Star Wars prequel trilogy, Obi-Wan often laments to Anakin that he wished his padawan could be calmer and take fewer risks. Yet, Obi-Wan certainly embraced the unpredictability of life as a Jedi. He was a fighter pilot, an extremely respected general, and could twist the truth to suit the mission.
Elementary's Joan Watson also had an occasionally reckless companion. Joan worked with Sherlock Holmes and often expressed how Sherlock could improve areas of his life and become less reckless. Yet, Sherlock merely points out to her: "You make an effort to appear conventional, but I know, Watson, that you share my love of all that is bizarre and outside the humdrum routine of ordinary life." In that regard, Joan is just like Obi-Wan.
9 Tenzin Respects His Reckless Student
Being Anakin Skywalker's teacher wouldn't be easy for anyone. Not only is Anakin constantly told how he is The Chosen One, but courtesy of Palpatine, he struggles with misinformation as he drifts towards the dark side. Still, Obi-Wan teaches Anakin as best he can and demonstrates his love and respect for his padawan.
Like Obi-Wan, The Legend of Korra's Tenzin deals with an occasionally temperamental student. In temperament, Korra is the complete opposite of the last Avatar – Tenzin's father, Aang – which makes understanding her a struggle for Tenzin. But he never wavers in his respect, admiration, and desire to teach Korra valuable lessons.
8 Uncle Iroh Is A More Successful Obi-Wan
Obi-Wan tries his hardest to make sure Anakin becomes a great Jedi. And to Obi-Wan's credit, until Anakin falls to the dark side, he's one of the best Jedi that's ever existed. While Anakin turning to the dark side isn't Obi-Wan's fault, his fall is a failure Obi-Wan never gets over.
The relationship of Uncle Iroh and his nephew, Zuko in Avatar: The Last Airbender could have easily have gone the same way as Obi-Wan and Anakin's relationship. Zuko, like Anakin, is frequently unwavering in his quest. Like Anakin's desire to avenge his mother, Zuko's desire to appease his father could have driven Zuko towards an irredeemable path. But instead, Iroh's mentorship wins out and Zuko becomes a hero in his own right. Uncle Iroh and Zuko's story is a more successful Obi-Wan and Anakin relationship.
7 Man-at-Arms Keeps Secrets For The Greater Good And Faces Exile
Obi-Wan is, unquestionably, one of the kindest Jedi to ever exist. Wild animals and younglings alike adore him. But he's also capable of manipulating the truth and keeping secrets, which earns him a reputation as "The Negotiator." For this reason, the Clone Wars depicts him faking his own death and going undercover without telling Anakin or Ahsoka about his plan.
Duncan, or Man-at-Arms, from Masters of the Universe: Revelation, understands the need to keep secrets for the greater good. He keeps the identity of Teela's biological mother from her and also keeps Prince Adam's identity a secret. Duncan keeps these secrets because he believes they're necessary to protect the royal family and Castle Grayskull. Like Obi-Wan, Duncan is forced into exile. However, for Duncan, the exile is a direct consequence of the secrets he keeps.
6 Jonathan Kent Offer Life Lessons To A Chosen One
Although Obi-Wan is a very powerful Jedi in his own right, his greatest task as a Jedi is teaching both Anakin and Luke the ways of the force. While there is some debate about whether Anakin is The Chosen One, as Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan believe, or if it is Luke instead, Obi-Wan excelled in his tutelage.
Smallville's Jonathan Kent knows a thing or two about being responsible for someone with a greater destiny. As the adoptive father of Clark Kent, Jonathan is responsible for creating the character that will enable Clark to become Superman. Like Obi-Wan, Jonathan also has the dark side constantly whispering in his charge's ear. For Clark, that whisper takes the form of a young Lex Luthor. Fortunately for Jonathan, Clark chooses truth and justice instead of succumbing to the dark side the way Anakin does.
5 Shadowsan Fights An Almost Unwinnable War
In both the prequel trilogy and Clone Wars, Obi-Wan fights an increasingly unwinnable war. When the Jedi do lose, Obi-Wan must comfort himself with the knowledge that Luke may help him overcome the Empire. No matter the unwinnable nature of the war, Obi-Wan does not lose hope. He believes in Luke's ability to win to such an extent that he sacrifices his own life to enable Luke's survival.
In the Netflix series, Carmen Sandiego, the character of Shadowsan also fights a seemingly unwinnable war. As part of the criminal organization, V.I.I.L.E., he encounters a young Carmen Sandiego and saves her. As she grows up and turns against V.I.L.E., Shadowsan also defects and joins her team. Together they fight a criminal empire that spans the globe, albeit with a much smaller resistance. Like Obi-Wan, Shadowsan maintains hope that the right side will win in the end.
4 J'onn J'onzz Was A Survivor Of A Brutal War
When the audience first meets Obi-Wan in A New Hope, very little is revealed about his past. Over time, the expanding Star Wars universe reveals that Obi-Wan was one of the very few survivors of a brutal war that wiped out almost all of the Jedi.
In Supergirl, not much is initially known about J'onn J'onzz either – only that he was saved by Kara Danver's father, Jeremiah. But as the show progresses, J'onn reveals that he is a survivor of a war between the White Martians and the Green Martians. Obi-Wan lost the people he loved when the Empire took over, and J'onn lost his wife and daughter in the war. Furthermore, J'onn keeps on fighting the good fight, even after such devastating losses, just like Obi-Wan.
3 The Ninth Doctor Has To Deal With Harsh Decisions He's Made
As a general in the Clone Wars, Obi-Wan is tasked with making tough decisions. He has to lead troops of clones to their potential death while struggling with the fact the clones have little choice but to follow. As the war ends, he also has to fight someone he loves like a brother, which almost kills him. These regrets, combined with the knowledge that his student has fallen to the dark side, linger with Obi-Wan for the rest of his life.
Doctor Who's main character also experiences grief over the decisions he's had to make, especially in the modern era. Following the Ninth Doctor's debut in 2005, The Doctor becomes a character who is greatly affected by The Time War. Just as Obi-Wan's trauma is masked by his kindness, the Ninth Doctor masks his pain through humor and determination to help others.
2 Jean-Luc Picard Would Prefer Peace But Fights When He Needs To
When describing Obi-Wan, author Matthew Stover comments in the book edition of Revenge of the Sith that he is: "A devastating warrior who’d rather not fight." It's true that Obi-Wan prefers peaceful resolutions and believes the Jedi are not meant to be soldiers. Yet, when he is forced to do so, Obi-Wan makes an excellent general.
Star Trek: The Next Generation introduces the audience to Jean-Luc Picard, a captain who is more interested in archaeology and "exploring strange new worlds" than fighting in alien wars. Yet, "Yesterday's Enterprise," Insurrection, and Picard all demonstrate how Jean-Luc is a devastating warrior if he needs to be – just like Obi-Wan.
1 Rupert Giles Embodies Everything That Makes Obi-Wan Special - Except the Lightsaber
Many characters embody certain aspects of Obi-Wan's character. Some are wise mentors while others are traumatized, former soldiers. Still, others crave adventure the way Obi-Wan does, are willing to make hard choices, or demonstrate true love for their students in the midst of an ongoing war. A character who embodies all these traits is Buffy the Vampire Slayer's, Rupert Giles.
As a Watcher, Giles' first mission is to teach Buffy how to be a good Vampire Slayer. As he grows into that role, he begins to care for Buffy like a daughter, even defying the Council that employs him to protect her. During the time that Buffy and Giles fight vampires together, Giles demonstrates past trauma from murdered loved ones and his time as the violent "Ripper." Ultimately, he chooses to leave Buffy because he thinks it'll force her to become a better leader, only to come back when the apocalypse demands it. Giles remains kind but also tries to kill one of Buffy's closest friends for the greater good. This complicated combination of personality traits makes Giles exactly like Obi-Wan.
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