Star Wars

Obi-Wan became the first Jedi to defeat a Sith in 1,000 years. He didn’t have to face the trials, and he trained the chosen one in Anakin Skywalker. Afterwards, he was able to understand his failure as he watched Anakin succumb to the dark side. Obi-Wan’s dedication in ensuring Luke’s future as a Jedi—knowing that he could either redeem or defeat the monster that Anakin had become—is a shining example of a life spent trying to right wrongs....

However, for many, there’s no other answer in the expansive Star Wars universe for the greatest Jedi Knight than Obi-Wan Kenobi. Our first meeting with Obi-Wan came in the form of Alec Guinness, who conveyed extensive wisdom without breaking his calm demeanor. Kenobi guided Luke with the air of a Jedi who had a grand plan in mind, even sacrificing himself to keep Luke from the grasp of his father. Then, Ewan McGregor stepped into Obi-Wan’s shoes in the prequels....

The recent Star Wars movies have proven divisive among hardcore fans, so The Mandalorian was a sort of final beacon of hope for many who wanted to see Favreau and Filoni pull off something special. And they did. The Mandalorian is critically acclaimed and adored by fans. It has introduced new technologies to filmmaking, and even restored faith in Disney’s ownership of the Star Wars franchise as a whole. The series has been nominated for six Emmy awards and one Golden Globe for Best Television Series Drama, and became one of the most-watched TV series in the world in the process....

From the space dust that was once Alderaan to the deserts of Jakku, the Star Wars universe has been expanding for over 40 years with input from all manner of creative minds and storytellers. But between all the fascinating lore and history, Star Wars is best known—and will always be most known—for its amazing characters. There have been so many cool ones over the years. Our question is: who are the best, the most popular, the most iconic?...

Most of these otherworldly critters are nothing like the adorably marketable races that we’re more familiar with. (I’m looking at you Ewoks and Gungans! But I get it. Cute species work well to sell merchandise, and Jar-Jar Binks brings in the dough.) But nothing piques an audience’s interest like dangerous bad guys whose attitudes and capabilities aren’t fully defined. From extra-galactic nomadic marauders to giant self-replicating space spiders, there are plenty you’ve missed if you’ve only seen the movies....