PT Why Did Qui-Gon Lose to Darth Maul ?

So - in TPM all 3 fighters get separated , QG takes a stance of meditation (seems very sensible) Maul paces about anxiously, then the duel resumes and Maul kills QGJ.

Why did QGJ lose?

 

Because Maul punched him with the hilt of his saber and then stabs him faster than Qui-Gon can pull back his blade. So Qui-Gon lost because Maul was physically stronger and quicker than him.

Qui-Gon is skilled but not a prodigy. And he’s quickly worn down by Maul in both their encounters.

 

cuz meditation sux

or something

 

Well, getting punched in the face by something metallic, then stabbed through the chest a second later would do that.

Plus, the age difference.

 

Just wasn't as skilled. Maul was trained to kill jedi since he was a child.

 

Qui-Gon lost to Maul because Maul simply saw an opening and took it, and it killed Qui-Gon.

Skill level can be a vague thing, and it's kinda hard to tell who's the more skilled between these characters anyway. But IMO a win doesn't always mean one character is "better" than the other overall. Sometimes it can be that one just bests the other in a single moment, and a single moment is all it takes.

Also Qui-Gon became a Force-ghost and Maul didn't, so who really won in the end?

 

Because Qui-Gon is not in the OT. His insertion was a retcon, because Kenobi says “I thought I could instruct him (Anakin) as well as Master Yoda did me, I was wrong.” (ROTJ). We were suppose to believe Yoda was Kenobi’s Master till TPM changed that.

 

But there's usually a reason someone loses, did QG make an error , mis-judge something?

 

Sith tend to be better trained in lightsaber combat. They are willing to be aggressive, unorthodox, and go for the kill, Jedi on the other hand tend to be honorable and aim to wound, rather than kill. We have to remember Qui-Gon and the Jedi Council wanted these Sith Lords captured more likely than killed, to discover why The Sith had returned. Kenobi once his Master is stabbed becomes like Luke in the throne room, his attachment breeds aggression and he wins the duel; while he loses all other duels with Dooku, and only defeats Vader because he knows all his moves.

 

I mean, looking at what led up to it, Maul slapped him in the face with the lightsaber hilt and then stabbed him. I guess make of that what you will.

 

And I think, for the overall sake of a stronger story, to facilitate the trajectory of the characters, it was done.

 

I’d have enjoyed Yoda being Kenobi’s Master instead of Qui-Gon, I enjoy their banter in the missing Jedi files scene in front of the Younglings in AOTC and them fighting the Clones at the Jedi Temple together:

 

1. Maul used a cheap shot.
2. Maul is the more capable duelist, even if Qui-Gon is great.
3. Qui-Gon's stamina is worse than Maul's, even with the brief break.
Maul was so good for almost the entire fight. He choreographed the Jedi into the power complex and strategically separated them. His issue was playing with his food like an idiot when he had Obi-Wan in the pit. He should have force pushed him to death or thrown a saber down into him.

 

Well said. Maul could have just taken Qui-Gon’s saber and tossed it at Kenobi, or thrown Jinn’s body down on him.

 

I think Obi and Anakin having a brotherly dynamic, with the loss of Qui-Gon as a dad figure in Anakin's life that Palpatine fulfillls, because Obi simply can't, I think is a much more strong character and story wise.

 

Well Qui-Gon is in one movie, not able to make the impact as a father figure IMHO; too little screen time.

 

Kenobi and Anakin both went in with aggression which nearly got them killed, QG remained calm and focused but he got killed.

 

Unlike plot armor, plot defeat is less fun.

 

Loss of potential is more accurate in regards to the role as Anakin's dad figure that he's seeking that Palpatine fills, because Obi is Anakin's brother of sorts. Obi dies in ANH with barely really Luke knowing him, but that makes an emotional impact on him and he's a teen. A child losing that potential I think has more weight to it. Either way it doesn't rebut my point. Qui-Gon works because of his mentorship to both Anakin and Obi, and Obi taking on that responsibility in honor of Qui-Gon, placing him as a brotherly figure to a child whose seeking a parent, one that Palpatine offers the idea of. I think nothing in regards to Yoda being his main teacher does that. I say "main teacher", because I think it's suggested Yoda did train Obi still, with the idea that Yoda trains the younglings.

 

I'm pretty sure when he gave into his anger, he wound up dangling over a bottomless pit for his trouble. He had to calm himself down, summon Qui-Gon's lightsaber and go in for the kill.

 

His moves are so clean that it’s easy to forget he lost the duel

 

Technically cutting someone in half is considered not The Jedi Way..

 

Obi was acting in defense.

 

That's what they all say. Still won't hold up in court.

 

Really? Maul didn’t even attack and was standing there stunned.