Top 10 Best Moments in the Original Trilogy – Dagobah Day #15

Last month, Dagobah Day focused on the best moments in the prequel trilogy. It wasn’t always easy to point out what moments were good, in three movies that aren’t that great. Today I didn’t have trouble finding good moments. Instead, my biggest problem was to rank the greatest moments of the original trilogy. The original trilogy is one of the best trilogies of all-time. So, today I want to single out ten of the greatest moments in the original trilogy, to remind Star Wars-fans how lucky we are to have these films and these characters.

#10 – A New Hope: Medals!

Even though we didn’t see Chewie get a medal, it’s still a great moment. The smuggler is a hero to the Rebel Alliance, and beside him stands a farm boy.

#9 – Return of the Jedi: Farewell, Anakin

Seeing Anakin for the first time is so… Weird. Anakin looks tortured and hurt, but Darth Vader is just a frail old man. Great moment.

#8 – A New Hope: ‘Ben’ disappears!

Obi-Wan Kenobi’s ‘death’ is a really great moment. He could’ve just been killed, but the fact that he disappears sets up his ‘return’ later.

#7 – Return of the Jedi: “The Force is strong in my family.”

One of the big trailers for The Force Awakens was a callback to this exact moment.

#6 – A New Hope: “Use the Force, Luke.”

It didn’t quite get into my top five, but it’s still a great moment.

#5 – The Empire Strikes Back: “A Domain of Evil, it is.”

The moment Luke enters the ‘Domain of Evil’ or ‘Cave of Evil’ is so great. You see him up against ‘Vader’ for the first time, and you get a hint of the big reveal.

#4 – Return of the Jedi: “Someone who loves you.”

My favorite Leia moment, for sure. This could’ve easily been the second best moment of the trilogy, but the fact that Leia’s plan fails hurts the moment a little bit.

#3 – Return of the Jedi: “I am a Jedi […]”

Probably the most important Luke Skywalker moment. He makes a pretty clear choice here. The Emperor’s answer is pretty great too.

#2 – The Empire Strikes Back: “I know.”

This is such a cool line. Han and Leia’s interactions are great, but this is their best moment. So good. And come on, this is one of the most quotable Star Wars-lines of all-time too.

#1 – The Empire Strikes Back: “No, I am your father.”

This is the Star Wars moment. What I am saying, of course, is that this is the moment everyone knows. Even people who’ve never seen any of the films know what this moment is all about. They know about the lost hand, about the reveal. This is the moment. It may be misquoted by some people, some time, but this is the best moment in the original trilogy. It might be the best moment in the franchise.

– I’m Jeffrey Rex