Top Ten Tuesday: ‘Star Wars’ Moments

Yesterday was the first May the Fourth following the completion of the Skywalker Saga, so it’s only fitting that today’s Top Ten Tuesday goes over the top ten moments from the Star Wars films. We are only using moments from Episodes I-IX, so there’s no Rogue One or Solo in the list; but you might also enjoy Darth Vader going off at the end of Rogue One. Plenty of worthy moments (like the Han and Greedo scene and Vader utilizing the Force choke “I find your lack of faith disturbing”) didn’t make it, but the following ten are among Star Wars’ best. [This article has SPOILERS from the Star Wars films, so do not read if you are not caught up!]

 

10.Yoda’s Debut

 

 

Because he is such a critical and memorable character for Star Wars, it’s easy to forget that Yoda did not make his debut until the second movie, Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back. Yoda’s initial introduction—when Luke goes to Dagobah to be trained by him—is a surprise considering his size, stature, and demeanor, but the small green creature eventually brings usable wisdom before showing the power of the Force by lifting Luke’s X-Wing out of the swamp.

 

9. “The Duel of the Fates”

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0FyJe7mW_To

 

Say what you will about Episode I, but The Phantom Menace delivers an epic lightsaber battle between Darth Maul and Qui-Gon Jinn/Obi-Wan Kenobi. The dual lightsaber was an awesome addition to the Star Wars universe’s repertoire of weapons, and the death of Qui-Gon helped set up Episodes II and III. Furthermore, Obi-Wan eventually topping Maul was a huge step in him becoming a legendary Jedi Master.

 

8. The Final Scene (Episode IX)

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xo2pjiwh8pk

 

This is the lone moment from the prequel trilogy under Disney that makes the top ten. The Force Awakens had a number of exceptional nostalgic moments, along with the thrilling snow battle toward the end of the movie, but The Rise of Skywalker gets the nod for best of Star Wars’ moments from the final three installments of the Skywalker Saga. Rey’s acknowledgement that she is a Skywalker brings a new hope heading into the future following the conclusion of the story.

 

7. Vader vs. Obi-Wan Part II

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sq51w34Hg9I

 

The first Star Wars lightsaber battle might not have been as action-packed as those that would take place in the next eight films, but the underlying and mysterious background of the relationship between Darth Vader and Obi-Wan Kenobi before and during their duel was incredibly intriguing. And Obi-Wan giving himself up instantly became impactful, as his presence remained with Luke, as would similarly happen with other Jedi that would eventually pass throughout the series.

 

6. The Opening Scene (Episode IV)

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yHfLyMAHrQE

 

You could go with the “opening crawl”, the sheer pandemonium and laser-fire, or Princess Leia’s background presence, but A New Hope starts off about as well as a film can by jumping right into the action and masterfully introducing some of the key characters and sides in the battle between good and evil—including the trusty droids R2-D2 and C-3PO.

 

5. Vader Arrives In Cloud City; Han Is Frozen

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wxdLYWnSzpI

 

A couple of great moments are being grouped together here. Things were not going too smoothly in Cloud City for Han Solo, Princess Leia, and friends, but it was a surprise to see Lando turn on them and make matters worse. Darth Vader, whose presence on Cloud City the viewer was not aware of, appearing behind the dining room door—along with Boba Fett behind him—was a twist that was somehow topped later in The Empire Strikes Back. After Lando turned on him, Han was to be frozen in carbonite, but not before delivering the superb “I know” line in response to Leia telling him that she loves him.

 

4. Anakin vs. Obi-Wan

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D4UiQX-Rf3U

 

The entire final turn of Anakin Skywalker into Darth Vader throughout Episode III—including “The Tragedy of Darth Plagueis the Wise” as told to him by Palpatine and his chilling slaughter of the innocent younglings—could have made the cut, but the lightsaber battle between he and Obi-Wan on Mustafar is a stone-cold lock to be among any list of Star Wars’ top moments. It was an even battle between two of the best Jedi to ever live, but the attitude and arrogance of Anakin is what did him in after Obi-Wan warned that he had the high ground.

 

3. Luke vs. Vader In The Throne Room

 

 

The events from the original trilogy came to a head when Luke was brought in front of Emperor Palpatine by Darth Vader. Luke had built his own lightsaber, which Vader was impressed with ahead of their final confrontation, and he was dressed in all black, setting up a dark battle in the dramatic Emperor’s Throne Room on Death Star II. Palpatine taunted Luke regarding his friends on Endor, and he eventually tried to complete his plan by getting Luke to destroy Vader but was turned down. When the Emperor used his Force lightning relentlessly, Vader could not watch his son being destroyed any longer and completed his true destiny by turning to the light side overthrowing the Sith.

 

2. The Death Star Is Destroyed

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KuKqcfO31is

 

A New Hope was a fun adventure, and it culminated with the plan to blow up the planet-eliminating Death Star by bullseye-ing the thermal exhaust port (a known weakness thanks to Princess Leia obtaining the Death Star plans). Han Solo looked to be gone given that the Rebellion’s chances of winning were not high, but his arrival to the battle—shooting Vader out of the picture with the Millennium Falcon—helped give Luke the opening to hit the reactor system and destroy the Death Star.

 

1. “No, I am your father.”

 

 

Not much of an explanation needed here. Darth Vader revealing himself as Luke Skywalker’s father is arguably the biggest twist in the history of film, and the “No, I am your father” quote is one of the most famous quotes in movie history. The first battle between father and son helped make The Empire Strikes Back a more than worthy follow up to A New Hope, helping Star Wars become a titanic entertainment franchise.