Lightsabers...

[butterfly]

ie Something I Found Interesting

So, Qui-Gon has a green one, and Obi-Wan has a blue one, and then Luke makes himself a green one once he's lost his dad's old one. Obi-Wan carries a blue lightsaber for the rest of his life.

I find it interesting that, out of the small sample that we have, only Anakin chooses the same color 'saber as his Master. It makes me wonder about why some Jedi choose blue and some green. I'm sure that there's an EU explanation, which I'm equally sure that I care about only in the sense of collating data (as they say). The movies are canon, anything else is extra (the same way that I look at JKR's interviews -- "Yeah, it's nice that you want to explain the way that you see your world, but I still have a brain of my own, and it'll get fuzzy without use.").

So, lightsabers.

In the Imperial Trilogy, we only see four lightsabers over the course of the three movies. It's established here that Anakin's was blue, Obi-Wan's is blue, Vader's is red, and that once Luke needs to make his own, he chooses green.

In the Republic Trilogy, there are lightsabers all over the place. In the first movie, Qui-Gon has green and Obi-Wan has blue -- establishing the idea that Jedi don't change color over the course of their lifetime (Luke was always a green lightsaber person, he just didn't know it until he had to make one of his very own). What I find very interesting is that both Obi-Wan and Anakin choose blue, but each of them uses the 'wrong' color of lightsaber at the end of their respective tenures as Padawans. And then, of course, they go right back to their own color in the next movie.

In RotS, there's an intensely symbolic moment where Anakin has one blue 'saber and one red -- he's hovering on the edge, but he's not lost.

Mostly, I find it very interesting that Anakin and Obi-Wan have the same color -- they really are better at being partners and 'brothers' than being Master and Padawan. They're really very similar, except that Obi-Wan has better control. And he didn't have as much to lose as Anakin, because he was raised in the temple. He couldn't understand the strength of a bond of blood -- he still doesn't get it in the Imperial Trilogy, I think.

And now, I think I'll go watch Attack of the Clones.

Comments

[lakester.livejournal.com]

And Mace has a purple one and Yoda green. If you see Obi-Wan and Anakin as similar by the colour of their blades then what about Yoda and Qui-Gon?

an EU explanation, which I'm equally sure that I care about only in the sense of collating data
I think it's (theoretically) blue=combat/martial/guardian and green=knowledge/diplomacy/teacher, but the EU sprouts different coloured lightsabers frequently.

Imperial Trilogy I suppose that the Emperor must have discarded his blade in favour of the lightning at this point. Unless, he chose to pass it on to Anakin, and it is the Emperor's sabre that Vader carries - his weapon in his fist. And Yoda without his lightsaber - not teaching Luke any specific combat skills.

uses the 'wrong' color of lightsaber at the end of their respective tenures as Padawans.
The duels with Dooku in each film showing Anakin's drift - from fighting two-handed with blue and green sabers to executing him in RotS with blue and red.

He couldn't understand the strength of a bond of blood -- he still doesn't get it in the Imperial Trilogy, I think.
I think they know the strength of the blood bond. Although seeing the initial reaction of Luke following the deaths of Owen and Beru Lars might have swayed Obi-Wan. If you assume that Obi-Wan's (and Yoda's) actions are to fashion Luke into a weapon capable of destroying the Emperor and Vader then not telling Luke he's being set up to kill his (only) surviving relative, shows some understanding. Especially since once Luke knows who his father is/was he becomes more intent on Vader's salvation - something which could easily have proved disasterous were it not for Anakin.

[dlgood.livejournal.com]

And Mace has a purple one

Although that has more to do with Samuel L. Jackson wanting a purple lightsaber because he thought it would be badass, than any particular symbolism Lucas intended.

[butterfly.livejournal.com]

And Mace has a purple one and Yoda green. If you see Obi-Wan and Anakin as similar by the colour of their blades then what about Yoda and Qui-Gon?

I think that Yoda, Qui-Gon, and Luke all share certain interesting characteristics (they're all more gentle and less... fighty? Eh, bad explanation, but I do see a connection there). And I think that if Leia had been the one that Obi-Wan had taught, she would have chosen blue herself. And the Yoda --> Dooku --> Qui-Gon line matches up with my idea that Jedi don't generally seem to have apprentices that share their color. Of course, it's a very new and untested theory, as of yet.

As for Mace, I actually do think that the color for him is very telling -- he's the coldest and most ruthless of the Jedi that we know, closest to the Sith, but with an entirely different focus. So, blue tinted with red makes sense for him. It especially fits with his behavior in RotS.

I think it's (theoretically) blue=combat/martial/guardian and green=knowledge/diplomacy/teacher, but the EU sprouts different coloured lightsabers frequently.

I've also heard the idea that blue=better with unifying force and green=better with living force. I'm not entirely sure that I know the difference between the two, but there does seem to be a difference in the Jedi that we know.

Imperial Trilogy I suppose that the Emperor must have discarded his blade in favour of the lightning at this point. Unless, he chose to pass it on to Anakin, and it is the Emperor's sabre that Vader carries - his weapon in his fist. And Yoda without his lightsaber - not teaching Luke any specific combat skills.

Oh, how much do I love the idea that Anakin is using the Emperor's weapon? That would be so very appropriate.

I think they know the strength of the blood bond. Although seeing the initial reaction of Luke following the deaths of Owen and Beru Lars might have swayed Obi-Wan. If you assume that Obi-Wan's (and Yoda's) actions are to fashion Luke into a weapon capable of destroying the Emperor and Vader then not telling Luke he's being set up to kill his (only) surviving relative, shows some understanding. Especially since once Luke knows who his father is/was he becomes more intent on Vader's salvation - something which could easily have proved disasterous were it not for Anakin.

Except that Yoda says it's unfortunate that Luke found out the truth before he was 'ready for the burden', which does imply that they were planning on telling him eventually. And they didn't want him to leave to try to save his friends, they wanted him to complete his training. I do think that they would have told him before they sent him off to confront Vader.

Honestly, I don't think that Yoda and Obi-Wan really have a plan, as such. They're trusting in the Force, trying to do their best to guide Luke. They're aware of how dangerous trying to predict the future can be.

[rabidfangurl.livejournal.com]

Vader uses a 'sabre he built himself. If you look at the Emperor's 'sabre, you'll see it's radically different from any other 'sabre we see, whereas Vader's is almost identical to Anakin's, but with black covering most of the chrome.

[butterfly.livejournal.com]

Vader uses a 'sabre he built himself. If you look at the Emperor's 'sabre, you'll see it's radically different from any other 'sabre we see, whereas Vader's is almost identical to Anakin's, but with black covering most of the chrome.

Aw, it is kinda cute that Anakin mostly keeps the same design.

Of course, I am still in my honeymoon period with Anakin and am finding everything to do with him ever to be adorable.