The Appearance of Lightsabers in the Star Wars Movies – Lore and Loss
Here is a brief history of key Jedi and Sith lightsabers, their appearances and how they were lost.
Darth Maul
Darth Maul appears as the mysterious Sith Lord's henchman throughout, and engages Qui-Gon Jinn and Obi Wan Kenobi on multiple occasions. He is the only Jedi or Sith before or since to be seen with the deadly double lightsaber, which is only revealed to be as such during the epic battle on Naboo. During the fight, half of the double lightsaber is disabled, and as Obi Wan struggles to survive, is finally able to dispatch Darth Maul, with he and his double lightsaber being lost to the depths.
Obi Wan Kenobi
Obi Wan Kenobi carries multiple lightsabers throughout the early trilogy as well. Just as with Darth Maul and his lightsaber, Obi Wan's is lost down a deep pit during the ultimate fight. It is only after recovering Qui-Gon's lightsaber that he is able to finish off Darth Maul. Neither blade is seen again.
By Episode III, Obi Wan Kenobi has a new lightsaber which is featured throughout the fight with Count Dooku, again against General Grievous and finally against Anakin. This same lightsaber is tucked away not to be seen again until Ben Kenobi is found on Tatooine, where he disarms a thug in the cantina at Mos Eisley, and finally meets his end against Darth Vader on the Death Star. It is not shown what happens to Kenobi's weapon, but it is assumed that his former student kept it or disposed of it, and it is never seen again.
Anakin Skywalker/Darth Vader
Speaking of Anakin from Episode III, his lightsaber is taken from him at the end of the fight against Obi Wan Kenobi. Obi Wan saves this lightsaber, eventually giving it to Luke Skywalker in Episode IV.
Presumably, when Anakin is rebuilt into Darth Vader at the end of Episode III, he is given his new mostly black, red-bladed lightsaber which he uses throughout Episodes IV, V and VI to dispatch Kenobi, dismember Luke, and is lost when he duels with Luke again on board the second Death Star, dismembered in turn by Luke. Darth Vader's lightsaber falls from the platform they are fighting on, never to be seen again (and presumed destroyed when the Death Star explodes).
Luke Skywalker
Luke's lightsaber, by way of Anakin in Episode III, serves him well in Episode V against the Wampa on Hoth and is finally lost (as are so many in Star Wars) from a high height in Cloud City when it is cut from his hand by Darth Vader.
Luke builds a new lightsaber between Episodes V and VI (this one green instead of blue), which he uses to fight his way from the Sarlacc in Episode VI and uses in his final battle against Darth Vader and the Emperor. When the Emperor tells him to finish Vader, Luke throws his lightsaber away on the platform, but does not retrieve it.
Count Dooku
Count Dooku's uniquely hilted lightsaber makes its first appearance in Episode II as he takes on Obi Wan, Anakin and finally Yoda and again in Episode III against Obi Wan and Anakin, and finally used against him at his death at Anakin's hands. It is presumably lost during their escape from the ship they are on board.
Yoda
Yoda gets to show his mastery of the Force in Episode II against Count Dooku and again in Episode III opposite Darth Sidious. His blade is green and considerably shorter than other Jedi's weapons, but packs the same punch. It is lost on Coruscant during the battle with the Emperor, and we never see Yoda with it again in Episodes V or VI.
Mace Windu
Mace Windu's uniquely purple colored lightsaber is used to great effectiveness in the arena on Geonosis in Episode II and against Darth Sidious in Episode III. He is disarmed by Anakin and Windu's lightsaber disappears to the streets of Coruscant below, followed soon by Windu himself.
Common Themes
Lightsabers have common tendencies throughout all six movies including loss from high places (Darth Maul/Kenobi - Episode 1, Yoda/Windu – Episode III, Luke – Episode V, Darth Vader – Episode VI).
Oftentimes, dismemberment of the weapon hand or arm (cho sun) is also a common method of loss or defeat for Jedi and Sith alike. Anakin loses a hand to Dooku in Episode II, then returns the favor by cutting off both of Dooku's hands before killing him in Episode III. Windu also loses a hand to Anakin before being dispatched by the Emperor.
Anakin's dismemberment is shadowed in Episode V when Luke loses a hand to Darth Vader, and then returns the favor in Episode VI by cutting off Vader's hand. It is this action that keys him into the potential downward spiral of his father, and he falls short of following his destiny as the Emperor sees it.
For lightsabers of your very own and footage of lightsaber duels from the movies, check out the Star Wars Lightsabers page.
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