There aren’t many similarities between Star Wars and Game of Thrones, but if you look close enough you might notice some parallels.
A surprising comparison was made between two of the most impacting characters in either franchise, sparking a discussion among fans. A post to Reddit’s Star Wars sub asked users for their thoughts on the similarities between Game of Thrones‘ Ned Stark and Star Wars‘ Qui-Gon Jinn, and quickly sparked a passionate discussion. The original poster notes that both characters are “selfless, amazing” men whose deaths set off “a chain of events… felt throughout almost every moment in the rest of the story.”
Commenters aren’t necessarily in agreement. The top comment on the post notes that user Gunnersteele’s question massively oversimplifies both characters, by ignoring their many nuances and instead relying on just the obvious. Their similarities, on a surface level, at least, are undeniable, however, and the conversation intrigued a number of fans. One commenter summed up what was likely the original post’s meaning, noting that “they are similar in that they are both honorable men whose unjust deaths hang over the entirety of their respective stories, and people, both in universe and in real life, often wonder how different things would have been of they had lived.”
Both Qui-Gonn and Ned are killed early in the story, leaving fans to wonder if what followed would have been altered by their continued presence. Ned is killed due to his stringent compliance with the law of the land, and unshakable loyalty to his own morals, leaving the country to tear itself apart in a war sparked by his death. Qui-Gon, meanwhile, was almost a polar opposite to Ned. He often disagreed with the Jedi Council, and his determination to teach Anakin could have put him at odds with the leaders of the Jedi Order.
His death at Darth Maul’s hands isn’t a betrayal like Ned’s is, but it does have impacts across the galaxy. Most notably, many fans feel that the events of future Star Wars stories would have been thoroughly different had Qui-Gon lived long enough to teach Anakin. His more reckless relationship with the Jedi Order, and refusal to follow the letter of the law, might have perfectly suited the blossoming Sith and may have even prevented his turn to the Dark Side.
Ned’s death, on the other hand, is a necessary element in the Game of Thrones story. Had he survived, the war might never have started, and things could have proceeded peacefully. Qui-Gon’s death is also necessary, of course, but it is not the only element that drives the story onward. Ned’s death is arguably the primary ingredient in the lead-up to the War of the Five Kings.
With this in mind, many fans disagreed with the idea that the men share many similarities. Their deaths are lynchpins in both stories, but that’s essentially where any parallels end. Sure, they are both inspirational men whose early deaths inspire and drive the story onward, but at their core, Qui-Gon and Ned couldn’t be more different.