I Want to Talk About “I Have the High Ground”
The Star Wars prequels are a much-maligned, almost universally panned trio of films. And with good reason — they’re kind of terrible. The general consensus from fans seems to be that they failed to capture the magic of the original trilogy for a number of reasons — either in terms of quality of characterization, visual style, or writing. Overall, the films represent a deep sense of disappointment that has only recently started to be assuaged, thanks to the critically and financially successful return of the franchise in both The Force Awakens and Rogue One.
I’ve recently had something of a falling-in with the prequels, thanks in no small part to the criminally underrated Clone Wars television series, which in many ways takes the strongest parts of the prequel trilogy and runs with them, while casting aside those parts that didn’t work at all. Seriously, give this series a shot — it’s on Netflix in its entirety. Plus, it includes an amazing arc about a planet populated almost entirely by badass Force Witches.
One of the key elements of the series is the detailed and ongoing interplay between Anakin Skywalker and mentor Obi-Wan Kenobi. While the prequel films don’t spend nearly enough time on the relationship between the two Jedi Knights, the serialized format of Clone Wars allows the them to share a good deal of screen time, either exchanging friendly banter or clashing ideologically over both battle and political strategies. Over the course of the series’ run, the audience is able to get a real sense of the contrast between the two, while their shared moments of understanding serve only to deepen the feeling of tragedy that will result from their eventual near-fatal duel in Revenge of the Sith.
Which brings me, at perhaps too much length, to the subject of this article:
What the heck is up with the line, “I Have the High Ground?”
I’ve been thinking about this line for years, if I’m being honest with myself. It’s always stood out to me as both significant and oddly disappointing. I’m obviously not alone — the sometimes brilliant, sometimes bizarrely motivated denizens of the /r/Prequelmemes subreddit have taken the line to its logical meme conclusion countless times.
The line comes at the fight’s climax, at the end of a scene that has gone on far too long by any cinematic standard. Anakin, now known as Darth Vader to his friends, has dueled Obi-Wan up and down the surface of Mustafar, a planet that seems to be completely covered in freely flowing lava. The fight reaches this moment (also pictured above):
And then Obi-Wan, exhausted and emotionally distraught at the thought of fighting his friend, grits his teeth, forces a smile, and says the line:
To which Anakin infamously responds:
Now, I’m not here to talk about the inadvisable spin-and-leap thing that Anakin attempts immediately afterwards (though it does warrant discussion). I’m here to talk about the line.
The way Obi-Wan says the line seems to indicate that there’s some inside joke between the two of them, as if they had at one point had a training session that had gone sideways because of a raised platform, or because they had overcome some difficult challenge by cleverly considering the elevation of their adversaries.
It feels like a playful jab between friends, a reference to more innocent days, a plea for a return to that innocence.
But, as far as I know, it’s not a reference to anything. Not the Clone Wars television series, not the novelizations, and certainly not the dialogue in the films. This line is well-delivered, memorable, and full of emotion — yet it comes completely out of left field.
Having the high ground could have been this film’s “cross the streams” moment, a revelation of character that plays on a setup that, initially, would have felt like a one-off joke.
Instead, the line comes off as a joke in and of itself, diminishing the tension in what should be an emotionally gripping scene between two lifelong friends and comrades-in-arms.
I’m fascinated by this line partially because I so desperately want it to mean more than it does, but also because it feels like an artifact of a completely different film. Perhaps, in an earlier draft, the scene that explains this moment exists. Perhaps, in that same draft, Anakin’s idea of romance isn’t boiled down to “the opposite of sand.” Maybe, just maybe, in this earlier draft, there’s a film that replaces stilted dialogue with witty banter, and overdrawn action scenes with meaningful character development.
As I said, I’ve warmed to the Prequels lately. They’re not my favorite films in the Star Wars canon, but they hold a certain nostalgic place in my heart that’s only grown with the consumption of connected media. That said, “I have the high ground,” for me, is simultaneously symbolic of everything the Prequel trilogy is, and everything that it could have been.
Now, please enjoy another meme:
Brad Decker teaches Theater, English, and Film to high school students in Northern California. When he has enough time on his hands, he runs The Synapse and Panel & Frame on Medium. If you like what you’ve read, be sure to check them out!
