Obi-Wan blocking lightning

This has to have been discussed before but did Obi-wan block Dooku's lightning with the force? Or did he just move his lightsaber in the way of the blast?

I think that he used the force, much like yoda did, because if he hadn't, couldn't the lightning just arc right around the light saber blade?

What do you all think?

 

I'd imagine Obi-Wan used the Force, but as we've never seen Force Lightning arc, I can't say that it can. Most Force abilities seem to be one-direction anyhow.

 

As far as I can tell, he just blocked the blast w/ his lightsaber.

 

In a Jedi's initial training, they learn to use the lightsaber in ways to block blaster bolts and usually for nothing more (lightsaber vs. lightsaber duels, ect). Obi-Wan applied the same maneuver here as to blocking blaster bolts.

Going further, a regular being can't use a lightsaber in the ways of the Jedi, it takes using the Force to do that. So Obi-Wan did use the force to use his lightsaber, but overall he just moved it in the way of the blast.

 

Thats very true, but if Obi-Wan wasn't using the force to draw the lightning into his lightsaber, then why didn't it just go around it? Look that bolt of lightning was thicker than that blade, so even if it was just in the way... it wouldn't matter, some of the electricity would pass right through into Obi.

Or am I wrong? Perhaps lightsabers attract electrical current?

 

I assume that would go to the technical side of things. Here's a snippet of the definition of "lightsaber" in the Star Wars Encyclopedia.

Lightsaber: The powerful yet elegant weapon of the Jedi Knights for thousands of years, these swords of power use blades of pure energy to cut through nearly any animate or inanimate objects.

I might be wrong here, but i figure if the blades are pure energy, i assume that they would attract pure energy, such as lightning.

 

The lightning did seem to "collapse" into the blade...

 

I believe the blade had a attracted the lightning like a magnet does on metal.
Simple and makes sense.

 

I find it hard to buy the idea that if, say, Han Solo held a lightsaber up if someone shot Force-lightning at him, he would be able to absorb it. So based purely on that gut feeling, I think Obi Wan used the Force.

Whether he used it to focus the lightning onto his lightsaber, or to keep hold of his lightsaber when a "mere mortal" wouldn't have been able to, I don't know...

 

He used his Jedi instincts to put the lightsaber right where the lightning would go(just as he would with a laser beam). Once he caught the core of the lightning, the rest of it was drawn into the blade.

 

I think he used the Force to do it, with the lightsaber as a focal point.

 

i think that ob1 kinda just came up with on the fly. He put 2 and 2 together.

he's clever like that. I'm sure that it wasn't taught, implied...perhaps...but that is probably this first time its been done.

 

I find it hard to buy the idea that if, say, Han Solo held a lightsaber up if someone shot Force-lightning at him, he would be able to absorb it. So based purely on that gut feeling, I think Obi Wan used the Force.

As i said, the Jedi do use the force to control the lightsaber, but he does not add anything to make it more powerful.

 

No way did he block it with the force! If Yoda had such a hard time, Im pretty sure so would OB1.

 

Well Yoda absorbed it with his bare hands, he did not have his lightsaber out. We've heard some great interpretations. I still think Obi-wan channeled the lightning into his blade but I could be wrong....

I might be wrong here, but i figure if the blades are pure energy, i assume that they would attract pure energy, such as lightning.

and..

He used his Jedi instincts to put the lightsaber right where the lightning would go(just as he would with a laser beam). Once he caught the core of the lightning, the rest of it was drawn into the blade.


But this point does still concludes that Obi-wan used the force to block the blast, even if he didn't channel it into his lightsaber.
Which I think had to do with it some what because Dooku could have stopped and shot around his saber some how, there would be a way to avoid the pull of the saber.

I think he shocked Obi-wan and realized it was useless because Obi could channel it harmlessly though his blade of pure energy.

 

Kenobi used his natural reflexes and the lightsaber to combat Dooku's lightning from what I saw.

 

I would have to agree.

 

His lightsaber absorbed the lightning by itself, without any help from the Force.

 

I'm assuming he just used the saber to absorb it. It would be interesting to see how that kind of tactic worked against a much stronger blast, from say, the Emperor.

 

I don't think Obi-wan was using the Force to funnel the lightning.

If you watch the lightning attack on Yoda, the lightning seems to impact on a small section of his hand. This could be used to reason that that lightning had a small "punch" area, and a large crackling "energy sheath".

The Lightning Palpatine used in RotJ seems to strike Luke in multipul locations at once, though. Maybe there is diffrent forms of attack lightning.

 

I think Obi-wan must have used the Force to some extent because Dooku says "now back down" and Obi-wan blocks the lightening and replies "I don't think so" . But he says it in such a way as to say I'm not as weak as you think. Sure he knew it was coming after just seeing Anakin getting zapped, but I really think there is a little more to it that just sticking a light saber in the way.

 

The Lightning Palpatine used in RotJ seems to strike Luke in multipul locations at once, though. Maybe there is diffrent forms of attack lightning



Or maybe Dooku just isn't as powerful at the tecnique, and has to concentrate the bolts to one area to make the blast as effective as the Emporer's

 

The Lightning Palpatine used in RotJ seems to strike Luke in multipul locations at once, though. Maybe there is diffrent forms of attack lightning.

Maybe it's because the Emperor used two hands and was able to spread it around easier? Dooku only used one hand if I'm not mistaken.


Or maybe Dooku just isn't as powerful at the tecnique, and has to concentrate the bolts to one area to make the blast as effective as the Emporer's


It's been a long time since I saw AOTC but when I watched it I thought Dooku's lighting looked more powerful.

 

Dooku's lightning attack on Anakin also strikes in multiple places at once, both in the initial strike and as he force pushes Anakin into the wall. But, when Dooku attacks Obi-wan and Yoda with force lightning, both jedi seem to focus the lightning to a single point to deflect it - Yoda to his palm, Obi-wan to his lightsaber.

Clearly, Yoda is more powerful than Obi-wan, and does not need the lightsaber to serve as an intermediary between him and the force lightning. However, both seem to use the force to direct the force lightning to a focal point where they can dissipate it.

 

It's been a long time since I saw AOTC but when I watched it I thought Dooku's lighting looked more powerful


Probably just the special effects.


Dooku's lightning attack on Anakin also strikes in multiple places at once, both in the initial strike and as he force pushes Anakin into the wall


I haven't seen this scene in a while, so point me out if I'm wrong, but it could have just spread out when it hit Anakin.




There is also the possibility that Palpatine was just being sloppy with his lightning.