We have seen a large expansion in stories being told in the Star Wars universe and some very tragic ones at that. With that in mind, let’s take a look at the five most tragic deaths in Star Wars.
Criteria
Many factors make for a sad death. My list will only include deaths that take place in movies and TV shows and will not include comics or books. It will look at how it happened, the situation it happened in, its impact on fans and other characters, and its implications for the galaxy. And, of course, this is my opinion.
Honorable Mentions
Because there were so many options to choose from, I had to include an honorable mention list. The deaths of Maul, Kenobi, Han Solo, Padmé, Hardcase, Commander Thorn, Tech, Princess Leia, and Kanan Jarrus. All of these characters’ deaths pulled at our heartstrings and had every fan shedding a tear.
- Duchess Satine
Satine is a lesser-known character, but still an important one. She was the lover of Obi-Wan Kenobi and was a very well-known pacifist. Despite being peaceful, she created many enemies during her time as Duchess of Mandalore. Many nationalists wanted Mandalore to go back to its old culture of constant war and fighting. She was stabbed in front of Kenobi’s eyes by Darth Maul and died in his arms. What made this scene so heartbreaking was that Satine and Obi-Wan never truly got to share a life. Her death also had lasting effects on Mandalore, as the planet was at war for years.
- Clone 99
The death of 99 showed how truly tragic the Clone Wars were. 99 was a clone trooper who had a genetic defect and was forced to be a maintenance clone on Kamino. While he wasn’t enhanced genetically, he was probably the wisest clone on Kamino. He helped so many clone cadets make it through their training, including the famous Domino Squad. When General Grevious invaded Kamino, 99 was right there to help, supplying the clones with weapons and ammunition. When he tried to retrieve more grenades to fight the droids, he was shot and killed. His death symbolized the cruelty of both sides of the war. He was cloned and forced to serve, just like every clone was.
- Darth Vader
This one goes out to all of our OG fans. Vader proved that everybody has good in their heart somewhere. So many people tried to bring Vader to the light side, but it took his son to finally change him. He not only saved Luke from Palpatine, but he saved the entire galaxy. Vader had such a tumultuous past, from being a slave to a Jedi to turning to the dark side, that it meant a lot when he chose good in the end. There is a lot of nostalgia that goes into this death, but it was heartbreaking all the same.
- Qui Gon Jinn
While it might not be a character that jumps to the top of fans’ lists, Qui Gon’s death had a lasting impact on the rest of the series. He was just about to train Anikan Skywalker, who he believed to be the chosen one. No offense to Kenobi, but Qui Gon would’ve likely done a much better job of training Anikan as a Jedi. On top of this, he had just been learning how to become a force ghost, which he could’ve taught to the entire Jedi Order. It also symbolized what was to come in the galaxy. The galaxy hadn’t seen a Sith Lord in over a thousand years, let alone one killing a Jedi. It marked a turning point towards a dim future for the galaxy.
- Fives
When ARC Trooper Fives died, every fan shed a tear. He was a very loyal fighter and was scapegoated for the conspiracy that was the inhibitor chips. He tried so hard to tell the Jedi what was going to happen to them but wasn’t able to get the word out before he was gunned down by his own brother, Commander Fox. If he was able to tell somebody about the chips, he might’ve been able to end the Clone Wars, expose Darth Sidious, and save the galaxy from what was to come. Instead, he was killed by his own brother and died in vain. It was truly the saddest moment in Star Wars media.
