Star Wars – The Story So Far

Episode 1

Supreme Chancellor Valorum – Leader of the government, known as the Galactic Republic – assigns a pair of Jedi to negotiate the end of a blockade by the Trade Federation of the planet Naboo. Naboo is home to a peaceful, respectful culture that values the arts, the environment, education and science, but has become the subject of the blockade, leaving the residents of Naboo no choice but to fight back.

The Trade Federation is an organization that has a monopoly on interstellar trade, and therefore wields vast influence with the Galactic Republic. The Jedi ambassadors tasked with the negotiation are Jedi Master Qui-Gon Jinn, and his Padawan (student) Obi-Wan Kenobi. Qui-Gon Jinn is something of a controversial figure within the Jedi, since he is extremely powerful but operates outside the accepted leadership of the movement. He is unorthodox in his personal belief that there is good in all people.

Unbeknownst to the Jedi, the Sith Lord Darth Sidious is posing as an advisor to the Trade Federation, and is manipulating the situation from the inside. He commands an invasion of Naboo and orders the death of the Jedi negotiators, but they manage to escape – rescuing Queen Amidala in the process. Queen Amidala – the recently elected leader of Naboo – plans to head to Coruscant in the hopes of negotiating a truce in the trade dispute with the Supreme Chancellor of the Galactic Republic. However, her Royal ship is damaged in their escape – despite the efforts of androids, including R2D2 – and they land on Tatooine to make repairs.

Here, they encounter a young boy named Anakin Skywalker, who is a capable pilot and talented engineer, having built a droid named C-3PO. Qui-Gon Jinn begins to believe that Anakin may be the individual described in an ancient Jedi prophecy, which talks of a powerful Jedi Master that is destined to bring balance to The Force. He continually makes the case for the training of Anakin, but meets resistance from all quarters as the Jedi are concerned that Skywalker’s abilities may also leave him vulnerable to manipulation by the Dark Side.

Anakin leaves his mother, Shmi, and travels onward with the Jedi and Queen Amidala – who still seeks an audience with Supreme Chancellor Valorum. As the situation comes to a head, Amidala is manipulated by Naboo Senator Palpatine into proposing a vote of no confidence in Valorum – enabling Palpatine to take control of the Galactic Republic Senate.

As they return to Naboo, a battle begins and Queen Amidala appeals to the underwater dwelling Gunguns – including Jar Jar Binks – for assistance. As the fight unfolds, Anakin plays a vital part in the defeat of the invading droid army, but Qui-Gon Jinn is mortally wounded by the sinister Darth Maul. Dying, he makes Obi-Wan promise to train Anakin as a Jedi, and Obi-Wan himself achieves the status of Jedi Master.