What If Qui-Gon Jinn Survived - Star Wars Explained

Composer: Whitesand (Martynas Lau)
Year: 2017
Title: Eternity Additional Music Terminus by: Scott Buckley
Released under CC-BY 4.0.

[hughesd.mungus]

Does anyone else think that Anakin would not have turned to the dark side if Qui-Gon had survived, or is it just me?

[lonewanderer]

Actually, I believe that Qui Gon would have been the one to prevent Anakin from falling to the dark side. See, originally, Obi-wan was a poor choice of master for Anakin. They are too different with Anakin having a deep rogue streak and Obi-wan being the poster child boy scout of the Jedi order. Qui Gon, on the other hand, was roguish like Anakin and thus could understand and reach him better. True, Anakin would still fall in love with Padme and would slay Ventris and Opress, but he would have came to Qui Gon for advice as, over the years, he would have earned more of Anakin's trust than Obi-wan ever could as he would have, more likely than not, came to Anakin's defense in all matters and always had his back. Not to mention that Anakin would have trusted Qui Gon with his secret marriage to Padme and even the fact that she was pregnant, whereas Obi-wan, being the ardent follower of the Jedi ways, would have turned him in.

What pushed Anakin to the Dark Side the most, more than ever slaying a Sith could, was his fear of Padme dying and his vision of it coming to pass. He would have gone to Qui-Gon, as he always had, for guidance and he would have helped Anakin traverse this turbulent time, even going as far as to swear to protect Padme and the unborn Luke and Leia, possibly getting her off of Courasant and some place safe, thus allaying many of Anakin's fears and allowing him to remain clear minded.

Thus, when Palpatine attempted to sway Anakin to the Dark Side and revealed that he was a Sith Lord, Anakin would have turned to his trusted master, Qui-Gon and told him of what he had learned and the two, along with other Jedi, would confront and kill Palpatine, thus eliminating the Sith forever.

Eventually the Jedi would learn of Anakin's marriage to Padme and of their two children, it would then take the Order into new territory as their strongest Jedi would be married and have a family. They would most likely oust him from the order, but with the Clone Wars over with the death of Palpatine/Sidious, Anakin would accept their ruling and move away with Padme and their children, possibly back to Naboo. There I see Anakin raising and teaching Luke and Leia about the force and how to use their abilities, most likely with the help of Qui-Gon who would also be ousted from the order for keeping Anakin's secret. With Padme's political connections as well as Qui-Gon's in the council, they would prevent the Jedi from taking Luke and Leia, leaving their education in the force completely up to Anakin and Qui-Gon, both of whom would gladly assume the task. This could, potentially, give birth to a new Jedi Order, one that rivals but does not clash with the original, leading to an even greater story in Episode 4 and completely changing the course of Star Wars history.

One of the biggest problems I saw with the canon story line is that Anakin never fully trusted Obi-wan or the Jedi Order. Sure, he would have laid his life down for them, but when it came to his deepest secrets and thoughts, he truly never felt as though he could turn to anyone, hence his loner attitude. However, Qui-Gon was much like Anakin and would understand him better and be able to reach him in ways Obi-wan or any other member of the order could. This is also why Palpatine has such an easy time manipulating Anakin. Anakin wanted to have someone who understood him and whom he felt as though he could truly trust. Palpatine played on this by placating Anakin, agreeing with him and encouraging his rogue behavior, even rewarding it. The order, Obi-wan in particular, never did this. They always butted heads with Anakin on seemingly everything, always correcting him or telling him he was wrong. However, with Qui-Gon, he would understand how Anakin felt and, using his own experiences, would instead guide Anakin, teaching him how to follow the rules of the Order while at the same time still find a way to do what he felt was right, even if it conflicted with the orders of the Council. This would cause Anakin to bond more with Qui-Gon and trust him completely, as both a mentor and a friend.

Anyway, that is how I see things going if Qui-Gon had survived the duel with Maul on Naboo.

[dejuaneberhardt]

Its Qui-Gon's grey nature that would have been better for Anakin imo. He would have supported Anakins love for padme.  He goes back for Anakins mother too something he wanted to do in the first place. Anakin wouldn't have seen him as a rival/brother in his teens/early twenties like he did Obi-Wan. Qui-gon was way more patient and wise then obi-wan and would have been more of a respected father figure. Anakin like Qui-Gon wouldn't have given two flips about being on the Jedi Council which was one of Palpatines major leverage points over him. Anakin in this scenario has a MUCH higher chance of staying good IMO.

[qui-gone]

I think that if Qui-Gon survived, the following things could have happened:

1. Qui-Gon would have helped Anakin free Shmi from slavery at the earliest as that was Anakin's easiest trap to fall into the dark side. If he knew his mother lived a safe / comfortable and not a slave, he would be more balanced, focused Jedi.

2. Qui-Gon's survival would reaffirm Anakin's larger than life belief about Jedi that he initially has - his first interactions with Qui-Gon when he says that Jedi can't be killed. Qui-Gon's death in the real timeline made Anakin lose his first father figure and led to his rebellious / roguish attitude.

3. Dooku wouldn't leave the order as shown and would help the council detect and track down Palpatine more easily.

4. Obi-wan would still have got his knighthood i think, because he helped his master bring down a Sith lord. He could then go away to Mandalore for some R & R or pair up with Quinlan Vos to infiltrate the Sith ;)

And I agree with +Lone Wanderer that Anakin's personality wouldn't be as rogue as it was, with Qui-Gon's mentoring. Look how Obi-wan turned out to be :P

And also, one final musing - if his mother and his father-figure / mentor Qui-Gon lived, would Anakin really have reached out to Padme's love or be content with her friendship?

[gutz]

This seems a bit off as one of Anakin's main problems that led him to the darkside was that of issues with Obi-Wan. I believe since it was Qui Gon who saved and freed Anakin from Tatooine, and since Qui Gon was a bit of a rule breaker himself (unlike straight arrow Obi-Wan) Anakin and Qui Gon's bond would be that much stronger and Qui Gon would have been more of a father figure to Anakin and help him when he needed it the most. Thus, I feel Anakin would not have been so easily swayed to the Darkside had Qui Gon lived.

[Mario-fvzs]

What if  George Lucas hadn't sold  Star Wars to Disney...

[jthememeking]

I think you're missing one important fact.
Qui-gon would have gone back for Anakin's mother. The reason why he didn't before is because he had no money. If she was back then Anakin had his mother and would totally wouldn't turn to the dark because he has more family and he cares about Family more than anything. Also remember that Qui-gon is more grey than Obi-wan and he fell in love and would have left the order for a women, so Qui-gon would have told Anakin its okay to have feelings and be in love. Qui-gon and Anakin (Maybe ashoka) would have left the order.

[brahmas]

I think Qui-Gonn's influence would have the opposite effect. A gray, less strict code/teacher would allow Anakin more freedom to deal with his emotions more freely instead of hiding them in order to stick with the traditional Jedi ways. That could mean his rage and hate stay in check and Palpatine would never sink his hooks in so deep.

[realBatman-]

What if the council refuses Obi-wan's request to train Anakin Skywalker but allows Master Dooku, who stays in the order to fulfill his former padawan's dying wish.

[abrakadabra]

at least dooku in this version died a noble and more heroic death. ^^

[DYLANJJK]

It sucked that Liam Neeson only got to be in EP I.

[kevinthunder]

No way would Anakin have Fallen to the Dark Side with Qui-Gon Jinn as his teacher.

[mr.bigzy]

What if leia and Luke were switched at birth?

[SLVMBERs]

What if Han knew he was "scruffy lookin?"

[spiderxand]

No disrespect intended, but if Qui-Gon were to live? I do not believe that Anakin would turn to the darkness. Part of the reason why he fell was Kenobi's teaching style. He ridiculed Anakin. He never showed any respect. Whereas Qui-Gon nurtured Anakin from day one. And he would fully support his student's relationship with the beautiful senator.

[paulheenan]

One thing that I've questioned is that, before his death, Qui-Gon studied how to become one with the Force and become immortal, and then reaches out to Yoda through the Force to train him in the technique. With this, why couldn't Jinn reach out to Anakin and console him on his hates and fears and guide him through them? He could have possibly helped Skywalker save his mother and warn him of the dangers of trusting Sidious and succumbing to his emotions.

[devastator]

Anakin was attached more to Palpatine because he felt different and isolated somewhat from Obi Wan. He seemed to like and respect Qui Gon more than Obi Wan. I think when he was at first tempted by the Dark Side, he would go to Qui Gon instead of Palpatine for advice.

[Jirosj]

I don't think Analin would have turned to the dark side if he was trained by Qui-Gon

[coreyhedberh]

what if the clones didn't follow order 66

[younglingnumber]

What if darth Vader survived in episode VI