The relationship between Anakin Skywalker was pivotal to the final two Star Wars prequel films. In both instances, the two already had an established master-apprentice rapport. An existing comic series that highlights their early days as teacher and student provides a perfect basis for a live-action series.

The 2001 comic miniseries Jedi Quest--written by Ryder Windham and illustrated by Pop Mhan--focuses on a period shortly after Episode I: The Phantom Menace. Obi-Wan is only just learning how to act as a successful master to a young apprentice, as Obi-Wan is quite young himself. Anakin has only been away from Tatooine and his mother for a short time, creating inner turmoil he struggles to make sense of.

A live-action series delving into this early time between Obi-Wan and Anakin would give deeper meaning to their relationship and show how they became the Jedi fans see in Episodes II and III.

The Series Fills The Period Between The Phantom Menace and Attack Of The Clones

Jedi Quest; Written By Ryder Windham And Illustrated By Pop Mhan

Jedi Quest, published by Dark Horse Comics in 2001, is part of Legends continuity, meaning the story is technically not canon in the larger Star Wars universe. However, the events and characterization in the series do not contradict anything in the established Star Wars lore, thus it is an easy piece of media to adapt to live-action without having to rewrite the narrative. The series delves into the early apprenticeship of Anakin Skywalker under Obi-Wan Kenobi’s mentorship, highlighting just how much Anakin struggled with adhering to the Jedi Code, even as a child.

The series starts by immediately showing Anakin’s struggles with keeping the dark side at bay, establishing a fact that Yoda foresaw in The Phantom Menace. Obi-Wan brings Anakin to Ilum--a planet rich in kyber crystals--so that Anakin can create his first lightsaber. This sort of pilgrimage is a rite of age for young padawans, acting as a spiritual retreat as much as a scouting adventure. While on Illum, Anakin has visions of Darth Maul taunting him and pointing out that Anakin craves his power--a statement that would ultimately come to .

In the middle of their pilgrimage, Obi-Wan is called back to Coruscant in order to accept a mission that comes straight from Palpatine himself. Obi-Wan and Anakin must escort a ship as it travels along a path that is known for pirate hijackings. The pirates are led by Krayn--an alien who kidnaps any human cargo on the ships he intercepts to press them into slavery in his spice mines. Obi-Wan is rightfully concerned about his and Anakin’s suitability for the mission, considering Anakin’s traumatic past as a slave on Tatooine. Anakin, however, insists that they accept.

It takes little time for Obi-Wan to realize that his gut reaction was correct and that Anakin’s sensitivity regarding slaves clouds his judgment, causing him to act in ways that are not befitting of a Jedi. When Anakin insists he and Obi-Wan go after Krayn, Obi-Wan reminds him that it is not their mission and that Anakin must be careful not to seek revenge or be controlled by his emotions. Anakin--being Anakin--does the opposite and finds himself in one of Krayn’s mines alongside other slaves. Ultimately, Anakin succeeded in killing Krayn, despite Obi-Wan’s shouts of protest.

A Live-Action Adaptation Could Highlight Obi-Wan's Grief Following Qui-Gon's Death

Obi-Wan Was A New Master While Still Processing His Master's Death

Jedi Quest captures the complexities of Anakin’s youth as he navigates the challenges of Jedi training while also showing the developing dynamic of Anakin and Obi-Wan’s relationship. A live-action adaptation would perfectly build on the events directly following The Phantom Menace, showing the growing pains that both Anakin and Obi-Wan go through. By Attack of the Clones, Obi-Wan and Anakin are more-or-less a well-oiled master-padawan machine. Adapting a Jedi Quest storyline into live-action could delve into the early days of how they eventually got to that point in Attack of the Clones.

A television series based on Jedi Quest would provide an excellent platform to explore the pressure, guilt, and grief Obi-Wan was experiencing.

Additionally, it would be a perfect opportunity to explore the theme of grief, and how Obi-Wan--who is no more than a young boy himself--has to step into the role of a master after losing Qui-Gon Jinn so suddenly. Obi-Wan did not take Anakin on as a padawan because he wanted to or because he believed in Qui-Gon’s notion that Anakin was the chosen one. In fact, Obi-Wan was of the complete opposite persuasion. A television series based on Jedi Quest would provide an excellent platform to explore the pressure, guilt, and grief Obi-Wan was experiencing.

There Is A Chance To Explore Anakin's Adolescence and Palpatine's Early Attempts At Manipulation

Palpaine Has Been Aware Of Anakin's Faults Since The Beginning

Regarding Anakin, Jedi Quest puts Palpatine’s obsession with manipulating Anakin on display. If adapted into canon, a Jedi Quest series highlighting Palpatine’s nefarious plans would be the first time audiences see such duplicity in the chronological Star Wars timeline. Palpatine pushes for Anakin to be assigned a mission for which he was clearly too emotionally compromised. At the end of the series, Palpatine praises Anakin for taking a life, something Obi-Wan explicitly told Anakin not to do. The soon-to-be Emperor sees Anakin’s immense power is constantly at odds with his underdeveloped emotional maturity.

Anakin’s turmoil and Palpatine’s acute awareness of such are given center stage in Jedi Quest, and would make Anakin’s fall to the dark side in Revenge of the Sith even more heartbreaking if adapted into the live-action canon Star Wars universe. Anakin struggles with discipline, impatience, and deep-seated fear of loss stemming from his traumatic past on Tatooine. These anxieties are often glossed over in the films, but reveal that Anakin is nothing more than a child who is constantly battling his own demons. Palpatine’s well-laid plans are already enacted in Jedi Quest, showing that he is well aware of the internal conflicts Anakin struggles with.

The fact that Anakin’s struggles create friction in his relationship with Obi-Wan is another tool Palpatine would eventually use to sway Anakin to the dark side. The comic shows instances where Obi-Wan’s attempts at guidance are met with resistance, illustrating Anakin's growing distrust of authority, and the Jedi Order as a whole. A Jedi Quest live-action series wouldn’t just fill in the blanks in Anakin and Obi-Wan’s early relationship and Anakin’s adolescence; it would be a crucial piece of the puzzle that shows how the seeds of Anakin’s eventual descent to the dark side were sowed, and the heartbreak Obi-Wan would inevitably face.

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  Obi-Wan Kenobi

  The Padawan of Qui-Gon Jinn, Obi-Wan Kenobi became a Jedi Knight after his master's death. Obi-Wan trained Anakin Skywalker as a Jedi, with his own apprentice knighted after the Battle of Geonosis. The Jedi Master became a key player in the Jedi during the Clone Wars, and was heartbroken when Anakin turned to the dark side; Obi-Wan critically wounded Anakin before taking to the shadows, watching over the young Luke and Leia for years. He sacrificed himself for his two charges, becoming a Force Ghost and continuing to mentor them.
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  Anakin Skywalker/Darth Vader

  Conceived by the will of the Force itself, Anakin Skywalker was the prophesied Chosen One, destined to bring the Force into balance. Anakin struggled to balance competing attachments to the Jedi Order and his wife Pé Amidala, and ultimately fell to the dark side, becoming Darth Vader. For years he served as Palpatine's right hand man, but he was ultimately redeemed by the faith of his son, Luke Skywalker. Now a Force Ghost, Anakin continues to act as an agent of balance.