The backbone of the Star Wars saga is built on the never-ending battle of the Light Side and Dark Side of the Force. The ongoing war of the Jedi and the Sith has spawned some of the most epic battles the galaxy has ever known, as well as some of the deadliest rivalries.
Masters and apprentices alike have been crossing lightsabers since the saga began, resulting in brutal duels and fights to the death where sparks fly and limbs and lives are lost. The drama, the spectacle, the swordplay, and the nail-biting action are just a few reasons fans fell in love with this incredible series.
Obi-Wan Kenobi Versus Darth Maul
A New Hope, truly a saga in its own right.
Darth Maul is easily one of the most-patient Sith Lords out there, especially since he ends up playing the long game before his final confrontation with Obi-Wan Kenobi. Being bisected with a lightsaber will definitely fuel the desire for carnage and vengeance to last a long while.
Anakin Versus Ventress
"Always two there are, master and apprentice." One such parallel of this rule is the apprentices of each side clashing repeatedly during the Clone Wars. As Anakin climbed the ranks from Padawan to Jedi Knight, so did Asajj Ventress rip and tear her way into the shadows of the Sith. It was only a matter of time before these two crossed sabers in true Star Wars fashion.
The confrontation on Yavin 4 between the two apprentices was one of the most unforgettable scenes of the Clone Wars. Ventress singlehandedly decimated Anakin's troopers before destroying his ship. Cornered and with only one way off the planet, Anakin engaged her in a duel for the ages before subduing her and escaping off-world in her ship. But it would not be the last time they met or fought.
Yoda Versus Count Dooku
The conflict between Master Yoda and Count Dooku is one that strikes more than a few sensitive chords for the old Jedi. Although Jedi are not supposed to form attachments, the bond between a student and a teacher is still one that plays as a recurring theme through the saga, and it's very keenly felt between these two masters.
While it's further explored in the extended universe, the conflict between Yoda and Dooku is more complex than it appears. Even in the duel on Geonosis, the expression on Yoda's face as Dooku flees into his spacecraft is more of sorrow than defeat, showing that he still has some pity for the loss of his former Padawan to the Dark Side.
Obi-Wan Versus General Grievous
Out of all the Jedi Masters, Obi-Wan Kenobi is perhaps the most refined and elegant of the group. He's calm, collected, and as gifted in his social graces as he is with his lightsaber. That all being said, his encounters The Clone Wars bring out a different side to the "Great Negotiator" that is a little out of character.
The rivalry with Grievous makes Kenobi a deal more vengeful and prone to anger at times, but those are the moments when he's perhaps his most human. While his rage is nowhere near a Sith-level threat, it's interesting to know that there is indeed a touch of darkness to an otherwise benevolent and mystical character.
Rey Versus Kylo Ren
A rivalry so rich it borders on romance a time or two, the rivalry that runs through the entirety of Disney's additions to the Star Wars saga is easily one of mythic proportions. United as the last of both the Jedi and the Sith, both taught by Skywalker, and both gifted in the ways of the Force, the fall of one marks the rise of the other.
While Ren does attempt to seduce Rey to the Dark Side, Rey is still able to fuel Ben Solo's call towards the light in both an internal and external struggle. The only thing that outdoes their intense relationship on the opposite sides of the Force is their uncanny ability to work together as they slaughter the guards in Snoke's throne room.
Yoda Versus Palpatine
Though not a rivalry in the usual sense, the two masters have been fighting against one another for years. The greatest Jedi Master and the Dark Lord of the Sith have been dueling for the fate of the galaxy long before the first shots of the Clone Wars were ever fired. Their battle in the senate in Revenge of the Sith was the title fight for the Force.
Two extremely powerful Force-s, each on opposite ends of the morality spectrum, there's no way these two wouldn't clash eventually. Although Palpatine claims victory for a while, a new hope was soon well on the horizon for the galaxy.
Obi-Wan Versus Darth Vader
Calling back to the important imagery of the student and the master, the fight between Kenobi and Anakin spawned on the fiery shores of Mustafar only burned further into the later lives of both characters. As Anakin Skywalker died and Darth Vader was born, so did Obi-Wan watch his brother and friend fall to the ways of the Dark Side.
Anakin's heart, mind, and soul has been turned by the Sith, leaving him blind to the ways of the Jedi. As the plight of the Empire spreads across the galaxy, Obi-Wan can only look on and watch until their final confrontation in A New Hope.
Luke Skywalker Versus Darth Vader
To quote the great Lord Vader, "the circle is now complete." As Obi-Wan saw the tragic fall of Anakin Skywalker, so did his son see the rise of the former Jedi's soul rise from Vader's cybernetic shell. After witnessing the death of Obi-Wan, Luke makes it his mission to become a Jedi Knight to take on Darth Vader and defeat the Empire, a mission that becomes more complex when Vader's identity is revealed.
Luke goes from trying to combat Vader to trying to save him from the Dark Side, having more than a couple of duels along the way. Ultimately, Luke is able to save his father and Vader is able to look at his son through his own eyes, bringing his journey to a close.
