(Tie) 3. Yoda – Aaron Sarnecky
Why I Ranked the Character so High: It’s almost hard to believe that Star Wars existed before Yoda, since he’s become such an iconic part of the franchise. To think a movie that focuses so much on Luke’s training in a deserted swamp could be as good as or even better than the original film. However, these scenes are not a weakness but a strength, and you can attribute most of their success to Yoda’s endearing personality.
Usually one of the first things about Yoda that comes to mind is his odd manner of speaking, in which he talks in an object–subject–verb order. Interestingly though, he doesn’t actually speak this way much in The Empire Strikes Back after Luke learns his identity (the scenes beforehand are quite funny, by the way). He only uses the word order heavily in Return of the Jedi and onward. Either way, it gives him an air of whimsy and wisdom, the latter being the other thing Yoda is often remembered for and why I really love the character.
While Obi-Wan does his best to guide Luke, he spends a rather limited amount of time with him in A New Hope, and it can be argued that he doesn’t push Luke hard enough because of his fondness for the boy. Yoda, on the other hand, does not care for Luke when he first meets him and challenges his ways of thinking. A lot of what Yoda teaches Luke while the film is following the Millennium Falcon is unknown, but we do know he tells Luke about how the easy path can lead to the Dark Side. Given the revelation later in the movie, that’s pretty good advice.
Favorite Line: “Do or do not. There is no try.”
Quintessential Saga Moment: The scene in which Yoda lifts the X-Wing out of the swamp is the clear choice for me. Not only does it display the insignificance of size, but Luke’s potential as well. Yoda knows that the biggest hurdle is just believing, which is why he says the “Do or do not” quote in this scene. It’s a powerful moment that strikes me every time I watch it or listen to the music, wonderfully composed by John Williams.
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