Star Wars: 10 Times A Character Died In Someone's Arms
A death scene in Star Wars always packs an extra punch when one character dies in another's arms. Here's are the best scenes in which this happens.
There have been countless deaths in the Star Wars franchise over the past four-plus decades. From mass genocide on a destructive space station and sons killing their fathers to purges of entire organizations, death is prominent. So many of these deaths affect fans, and one technique often used to pack a punch is to have one character die in another's arms, adding more emotion to the moment.
These deaths often feature a heartbreaking conversation between two close individuals, which adds a lot of tragedy for the character holding their fallen friend, relative, or even lover. This has made for some memorable scenes in Return Of The Jedi, The Clone Wars, and more.
10 L3-37 - Solo: A Star Wars Story
After freeing her droid brothers and sisters on the spice mine of Kessel, L3-37 found herself at the mercy of multiple blaster shots that she simply could not survive. Despite his efforts, Lando could merely drag her broken body away as she shuts down in his arms.
Like just about every aspect of Solo, the relationship between Lando and L3 is an underrated droid-on-protagonist relationship. The two have a close bond, which is fun to watch together through Solo. And thanks to Donald Glover's excellent portrayal, L3's death actually had some impact. On top of that, she adds to the rich history of the Millennium Falcon, making her death more meaningful.
9 99 - Star Wars: The Clone Wars
Fulfilling his role as a soldier during the Battle of Kamino, 99 finds himself unable to survive multiple blaster shots to the back. His death is one of the most heartbreaking Star Wars TV moments, both for the clones and for the audience.
Surrounded by brothers, 99 dies in Echo's arms. The character remains a fan favorite many years later, with his death still registering as upsetting to many. Despite being deemed unable to fight in battle, 99 becomes a soldier and is a crucial reason that the Separatists never got to take over Kamino.
8 Jyn Erso & Cassian Andor - Star Wars: Rogue One
After beaming up, the Death Star plans go to the rebels above the planet, and Jyn and Cassian, the last remaining members of Rogue One, limp to the beach of Scarif and accept their fate. The Death Star blast quickly submerges the planet, killing everyone on the beach.
The two holding each other as they wait for the blast is harrowing but beautiful in a way. They know what they have done. They believe in the rebellion's ability to use the plans to take down the Empire and have peace in that knowledge. The two and the rest of Rogue One are the unsung heroes of the Galactic Civil War. Without them, the rebellion would not have won.
7 Shmi Skywalker - Star Wars: Attack Of The Clones
After being captured by a clan of Sand People on Tatooine, Shmi Skywalker eventually gets found by her son, and before he can do anything to help her, she dies in his arms, breaking his heart.
Pernilla August's performance as Shmi is an underrated one, and she helps make this death scene all the sadder. Knowing what it does to Anakin and the role it plays in his progression to the dark side makes it one of the franchise's most essential deaths, and seeing an already volatile Anakin holding his dead mother in his arms is distressing.
6 Qui-Gon Jinn - Star Wars: The Phantom Menace
The Duel of the Fates is not only incredible for the action, but for what it meant for the characters involved. Maul goes on a journey of hatred and vengeance, Obi-Wan gets thrust into the role of Jedi Master, and Qui-Gon dies in his Apprentice's arms.
The death was spoiled before The Phantom Menace came out in 1999 due to the song title "Qui-Gon's Noble End," but that didn't remove the meaning behind his death. Qui-Gon is a fascinating character, and while it is not fun watching him die, it is crucial for so many reasons. Not just for the effect it has on Obi-Wan, who holds his Master as he takes his dying breath, nor Maul, who would appear to die soon after. Anakin's life changed when Maul impaled Qui-Gon, and Qui-Gon would become the first known Jedi to become part of the Cosmic Force as a presence who could interact with people in the Living Force.
5 Fives - Star Wars: The Clone Wars
After uncovering the conspiracy of the inhibitor chips, Fives bravely scrambles to get the information to people who can make a change and stop it all, those people being Rex and Anakin. Before fully convincing them, he is shot by Commander Fox and dies in Rex's arms.
His death is brutal. Fives was the last surviving member of Domino Squad (this being before Echo got revealed to be alive) and had finally uncovered the secret that could help the Jedi defeat Sidious, but nobody believed him. Thankfully, Rex half-believed him and recorded his findings that would later save his life. That does not make Fives' death any easier to watch, though, especially with how heartbroken Rex was, having already lost Echo and countless other brothers.
4 Ben Solo - Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker
The end of The Rise Of Skywalker shockingly saw Rey die, only to be brought back to life by Ben Solo, who used his life Force to bring her back and heal her. The two shared a kiss before he died in her arms, a controversial narrative decision for many fans.
It is hard to say whether or not giving up his own life so Rey could live was enough to redeem Ben from all he did as Kylo Ren fully. However, there is no doubting it was a heroic act and one that adds a lot of emotion and power to their final scene together for fans of the sequel trilogy, especially after they had shared so many amazing scenes across the three movies.
3 Maul - Star Wars: Rebels
After years of seeking revenge on Obi-Wan, Maul finally met his greatest rival for the last time on Tatooine in Star Wars: Rebels. Maul falls in Obi-Wan's arms and dies in peace, free of all his pain at the end of a quick, brilliant, and poetic duel.
The entire episode "Twin Suns" is outstanding, in large part to this beautiful lightsaber battle that is subtler and quieter than most, with little choreography, which is excellent. Maul had spent his whole life suffering, and in many ways, he was a tragic character. To finally get peace, an end to it all was almost a relief for him, and those final moments where the two talk about Luke are poignant.
2 Anakin Skywalker - Star Wars: Return Of The Jedi
At the end of Return Of The Jedi, Anakin Skywalker finds his redemption and kills the Emperor, saving the life of his son in the process but sacrificing his own. After a final face-to-face conversation with Luke, Anakin dies in his arms.
The sequences of Luke, Vader, and the Emperor on the second Death Star are the highlight of the film and some of the most brilliant Star Wars content fans have ever gotten. This many years later, after seeing his journey, his suffering, to see Anakin die is painful, but at least he got to do so with his son loving him, seeing past all the atrocities he had inflicted on the Galaxy. Anakin not only got to see his son with his own true eyes but got one last look at one of the final remnants of his and Padmé's relationship.
1 Satine Kryze - Star Wars: The Clone Wars
After capturing Satine Kryze (twice) and Obi-Wan Kenobi on Mandalore, Maul found himself in a position to inflict infinite punishment and pain on Obi-Wan by making him watch as he murders Satine. She falls in Obi-Wan's arms and dies after being impaled by the Darksaber.
It is undoubtedly one of the most heartbreaking deaths in Star Wars. It was a whole new layer to Obi-Wan's life when Satine got introduced as his one love and romantic attachment. It added so much to the tragedy of Obi-Wan, knowing that he would have given up everything for her. When she limply falls into his heartbroken arms and breathes her last breath, it is enough to make any Clone Wars fan cry.