Psychiatrist Breaks Down Star Wars Characters' Psyches | GQ

Psychiatrist and psychotherapist Dr. Eric Bender is back to explore and break down the mental health and psychology of Star Wars characters, including Emperor Palpatine, Obi-Wan, Darth Vader, The Mandalorian, Ahsoka, Jawas, and Kylo Ren.

00:00 ... a psychiatrist looks at some patients from a galaxy far, far away
00:15 Emperor Palpatine and Anakin Skywalker
04:09 Obi-Wan and grief
05:58 Darth Vader... the narcissist?
10:36 The Mandalorian, trauma, and Baby Yoda
15:19. Who can Ahsoka believe in?
18:39 Jawas aren't kleptomaniacs
21:28 No one listens to Kylo Ren

Director: Christopher Smith
Director of Photography: Florian Pilsl
Editor(s): Jimmy Chorng
Host: Eric Bender
Executive Producer: Traci Oshiro
Producer: Kristen Rakes
Associate Producer: Sam Dennis
Line Producer: Jen Santos
Production Manager: James Pipitone
Production Coordinator: Daniella Resto
Camera Operator(s): Lisa Fryklund
Audio: Simon Gordon
Production Assistant(s): George Anderson
Covid Coordinator: Erica Beedle
Post Production Supervisor: Rachael Knight
Post Production Coordinator: Ian Bryant
Supervising Editor: Rob Lombardi
Assistant Editor: Diego Rentsch


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[juliegolick]

I love how you can tell this guy is an actual Star Wars fan, in addition to being a psychiatrist – he clearly knows a lot about the entire opus, not just a small segment of clips that the producers might have shown him.

[oneannoyingwhiteguy]

Id love to see a sequel to this with more characters. Such as Han Solos fear of intimacy and attachment.

[shaggycan]

Anakin/Vader is an incredible case to study.
You first have fear, then anger on top of a broken personality brought on by loss. Then an almost assembled personality that is like a narcissistic scab over top of Anakin's shattered personality fragments.

[franciscagaete]

crazy how palpatine grooming anakin is actually canon

[razzle]

it's actually brilliant once you realize in the Obi Wan series, Vader is more quick to anger and aggression because he's still rather young and impatient. In the original trilogy, Vader is more calm and collected (and apparently narcissistic) because he's older and matured. Very smart how they portrayed him the show

[CainP]

I love how he explains that Ben felt during his childhood with his parents especially when he felt betrayed by his uncle. It's not totally explored in the film that's why a lot of SW fans just thinks he's a moody teen.

[julieporter]

This is why the Star Wars Universe needs a psychiatrist and a therapist. There are a lot of mental and psychological problems up there!

[chasestankievech]

Dr. Bender is someone that makes therapy welcoming and understanding. Always has great insight and comments

[alexoalex]

Please tell me wtf is going on in the mind of JAR JAR BINKS

[tris]

god i’m so glad he talked about ben/kylo because so many people don’t know/forget why he turned to the dark side. it wasn’t just because he wanted to be like vader and stuff but han, luke and leia weren’t there to support and be the help (light) he needed to battle palpatine (darkness) in his mind since childhood. people just assume he’s an angry moody teenager who wants to destroy things but no, he was a neglected child who wanted attention and when he found it in snoke, was then taught the wrong way to express his emotions

[OtakuAnime]

I’d like to see a psychological breakdown of horror icons. Freddy, Chucky, Jason etc

[thatrhcpfan]

If he hasn't already, I'd love him to analyse Boba, Maul, Han, Reva and Leia.

[shaggycan]

17:25 "This isn't about you" those narcissistic traits were always there. All Anakin can think of is how he didn't fail her. Not what her needs are.

[chetmcgovern]

I love this guy, he's got the whole thing going for him. He knows his craft, he knows the lore, and he can explain them all in a way that people can understand. If he had a show, I'd totally watch it.

[toobasaurus]

This man is a truly skilled psychologist and a fan. He breaks down these themes and relationships in a transcendent and understandable way.
Great video and content.

[its_dey_mate]

I can't wait for an Andor episode breakdown with him. Practically all the characters in there can have an in-depth explanation for trauma, aspirations and such.

[Throgman]

I never thought about Anakin and Obi Wan's relationship that way. Qui Gon treated him like a son and Obi Wan having his paternal instincts kick in for Anakin. Builds on that tragedy.

[teajay]

Love listening to Dr. Eric Bender's videos. He has such a gift for explaining complex psychological concepts in a simple way.

[irina.tano.]

I need 10 more of these, I would specially love an analysis on Padme and Leia

[eskaywai]

Woah... this is so cool. Incredible job. I think a deeper psychological look at the clones (Rex, Fives, Cody, and others) would be really interesting.