Meet Owen And Beru Lars – Luke Skywalker and his twin sister, Leia, were separated at birth to protect them from their father, the newly christened Darth Vader. With their mother, Senator Padmé Amidala, dead, the girl was adopted by Bail Organa and his wife, Queen Breha of Alderaan. The boy, meanwhile, was raised by his step-uncle, Owen Lars and step-aunt, Beru Whitesun Lars, on Tatooine, his father’s home planet. But, who were this couple, and how do they factor into the Obi-Wan Kenobi series?
As we continue our Obi-Wan Kenobi coverage in the lead up to the May 27 premiere, we’ll be diving into a selection of characters who fit into the story. We’ve covered Anakin/Vader and the leading man himself, Obi-Wan Kenobi. Also, we’ve dived deeper into the Inquisitorius, who will play a significant role in the show.
Like always, we will only be jumping to the history prior to the events of Obi-Wan Kenobi. We will not involve the comics, books or games in this post either. Be warned that this post will contain spoilers for Attack of the Clones.
Who Is Owen Lars?
According to his Wookieepedia page, Owen Lars was born on Tatooine to Cliegg Lars and his first wife, Aika. Owen’s mother died when he was young, leaving him without a mother and his father a widower. At some point before the Clone Wars, Cliegg freed and fell in love with Shmi Skywalker. They married and settled into the Lars Homestead. Joining them was Owen’s partner, Beru Whitesun.
Owen adored Shmi, and she came to think of him as a second son. He could see her sadness whenever she thought of her son, his stepbrother, Anakin. Despite knowing his stepbrother might never return, Owen didn’t give up on meeting him.
When Tusken Raiders kidnap Shmi, Owen is upset by this as they’d become close but accepts that she might be dead. It wasn’t until Anakin returned to Tatooine did he have some hope Shmi is alive.
Owen was present as Cliegg explained to Anakin and Senator Padmé Amidala what had happened to Shmi. Skywalker, refusing to give up on his mother, goes looking for her. Owen and his family keep Padmé safe.
Anakin returned sometime later to the homestead with his mother’s body.
The Larses say their goodbyes to Shmi as she is buried at the Homestead. Sometime after Anakin and Padmé had left with C-3PO, the Protocol droid Skywalker had constructed as a child, Cliegg died, leaving Owen in charge of the moisture farm.
After the Clone Wars, Owen and Beru were given an essential task by Anakin’s former friend and Jedi Master, Obi-Wan Kenobi. Padmé had given birth to Anakin’s twin children, Luke and Leia and had left them orphaned upon her death. Leia was sent to Alderaan with Senator Bail Organa, while Owen and Beru were tasked with raising Luke.
Who Is Beru Whitesun Lars?
Beru Whitesun Lars is the third generation in a line of moisture farmers. She was a member of the White Suns, a group that aimed to combat slavery and was partially responsible for freeing Shmi Skywalker from the clutches of Watto. She started dating Owen Lars and was a frequent visitor to the Lars Homestead, where Owen’s father, Cliegg, warmly welcomes her.
The young Whitesun dreams of opening a restaurant where she would serve her speciality; Blue milk cheese. This came after Beru took a cooking class and wowed the teacher with the cheese.
After Cliegg and Shmi marry, Shmi is kidnapped by Tusken Raiders. Shmi’s son, Anakin, arrives looking for her a month later. However, he returns from his search with her body. After the funeral, Anakin and Padmé leave for Geonosis.
Three years later, Anakin’s former friend and Jedi Master, Obi-Wan Kenobi, arrives at the Homestead with Anakin’s infant son, Luke. Their dream of having children had come true as they had been unable to conceive a child of their own. Neither Owen nor Beru knew what had truly happened to Anakin, but Owen held a grudge against Kenobi. However, Beru did not and seemed to know where to look whenever the former Jedi left small gifts for the boy.
Beru adored Luke, as did Owen. She became his maternal figure and someone who often backed him up in disagreements with his uncle.
