Okay, I'm Finally Convinced

Warning! This post contains SPOILERS for Phantom Menace 25th Anniversary Special #1

Summary Qui-Gon saw potential in young Anakin Skywalker as the Chosen One, and could have prevented his dark fate.

Marvel's new Phantom Menace Special issue further confirms Anakin needed Qui-Gon's guidance to control his emotions and remain on his Jedi path.

Qui-Gon's death was tragic, and this new issue further proves he could have altered Anakin's destiny and dark side corruption had he lived.

A new look at the events of The Phantom Menace further cements the idea that Qui-Gon Jinn could have saved Anakin Skywalker from the dark side in the Star Wars canon. Discovering the young boy and his powerful Force connection on the desert world of Tatooine, Qui-Gon believed Anakin to be the prophesied Chosen One, destined to bring balance to the Force itself. Despite his intentions to train the boy himself, Qui-Gon was tragically killed by Darth Maul. However, a new canonical moment during the events of The Phantom Menace further points to the idea that Qui-Gon would have prevented Anakin's corruption by the Sith.

As seen in Marvel Comics' new Phantom Menace 25th Anniversary Special #1 by Greg Pak and Will Silney, new interactions between Qui-Gon and Anakin are shown, including a moment where the Jedi Master makes sure Anakin knows just how much discipline and sacrifice the Jedi path requires. Likewise, there's also a key moment where Qui-Gon both understands and offers guidance regarding Anakin's conflicted emotions following his testing by the Jedi Council.

Understanding that Anakin has already had nine years of life experience and emotional attachment to his mother uncommon for those beginning the Jedi path, this issue confirms that Qui-Gon would have taken careful steps to help Anakin control his emotions and hone his connection to the Force as a Jedi, rising to meet the high expectation demanded upon the guardians of peace and justice.

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Qui-Gon Knew Exactly What Anakin Needed

The secret was controlling his emotions, and Qui-Gon knew it

Refusing to write off Anakin as his apprentice and the Jedi Council had, Qui-Gon believed Skywalker simply required training. While the majority of the Jedi saw Anakin as dangerous, Qui-Gon saw the potential of an exceptionally gifted young boy who very well could be the one fated to bring balance back to the galaxy. To that end, Qui-Gon was more than capable of addressing any unique challenges and unorthodox struggles Anakin would face during his Jedi training, especially after this new issue where Qui-Gon is more than sympathetic concerning Anakin's conflicted emotions.

Having long been viewed as a maverick, Qui-Gon would have been on the Jedi Council himself were it not for his penchant for defying its will. As such, his unique commitment and heightened desire to follow the will of the Living Force compared to his fellow Jedi would have made him uniquely suited to train Anakin as well. A Jedi student as unique as Anakin and his great power and special circumstances would have been best suited for a master as unorthodox as Qui-Gon. It stands to reason that Qui-Gon could have kept Anakin away from the dark side through his training.

There's A Reason It's Called "The Duel of The Fates"

Qui-Gon Would Have Saved Anakin From His Dark Fate

Qui-Gon's ability to drastically improve and point Anakin's destiny toward the light had he lived is exactly why the final lightsaber battle of The Phantom Menace is called "Duel of the Fates". It's quite literally a deal that decides Anakin's fate in the Star Wars galaxy. Because he lost out on Qui-Gon as his teacher, Anakin immediately became at risk for the dark side's corruption in the years that followed, even though Obi-Wan Kenobi carried out his master's final wish and trained Skywalker himself.

Nevertheless, seeing Qui-Gon helping Anakin navigate and control his emotions in this new Phantom Menace issue further confirms how he could have altered the entire course of Skywalker's life. Naturally, it also makes Qui-Gon's death even more tragic at the hands of Darth Maul.

The Phantom Menace 25th Anniversary Special #1 is available now from Marvel Comics.