Top 5 Tuesday- Mentors

    While mentors as a character archetype are usually associated with mythology and fantasy, mentorship happens to be an important part of real life experience. Back when we discussed Bible sidekicks, I talked about discipleship. Discipleship would be a bit challenging if there was only a willing disciple and no one there to lead them. Nevermind that, it would be impossible. Even outside of a spiritual growth context, mentors are indispensable. Without the influences of parents, teachers, coaches, older siblings, and others, we would never have become the people we are today. So, since mentorship is so deeply ingrained into humanity, science fiction couldn’t leave all the good mentors to fantasy.

    Here are some of sci-fi’s best guides and supporters, who have shaped its best heroes.

5. Wilf (Doctor Who) -

  

 The grandfather of the Tenth Doctor’s companion, Donna Noble, Wilfred Mott always believed that there was more to life than meets the eye. It can be safely assumed that his influence on his granddaughter caused her to give up her ordinary life and dash through space and time with an eccentric alien.  

4. Bra’tac (Stargate SG-1) -

    Bra’tac was Teal’c’s Jaffa teacher and father figure while he lived on Chulak. After Teal’c joined the SGC, the two men remained loyal to one another, and aided each other in the fight against the Goa’uld, and for Jaffa freedom.

3. Yoda (Star Wars) -

    In his 900-some years, Jedi master Yoda trained just about every Jedi in the Star Wars saga at some point. This is impressive, due to the fact that he can be a bit hard to understand. Don’t get any preconceived notions about his stature, however. Though wars do not make one great, Yoda knows how to fight one when necessary.

2. Alfred (Batman) -

After the death of Bruce Wayne’s parents, Alfred became a father-figure to the boy. When Bruce grew up and became a crime fighter, Alfred contented himself to remain his butler, taking care of the mansion, and offering sage advice about life. Though this selfless mentor could have asked much more for himself from the millionare-by-day-crime-fighter-by-night, he maintained his post in order to offer quiet but vital support.

1. Obi-Wan Kenobi (Star Wars)-

When most people think of mentors in science fiction, Obi Wan Kenobi is probably one of the first to spring to their minds. He encouraged, trained, and empowered Luke Skywalker to fight against the oppressive empire, and stand for the light side of the force. He was such faithful mentor that he continued offering guidance even after his own death. Though some of his flaws were revealed in the prequel trilogy, he was still an essential teacher figure throughout all of Star Wars (so far, that is. But I am sure Old Ben’s influence will still be felt in the next installments.)

So, how did I do? You may notice that I geared this article towards my Star Wars-loving side. You may also notice that no one on this list is from Star Trek! Impressed? I don’t see many established mentors for the main characters of Trek. Though, the main characters do serve as mentors for others. That was not my list, however. This was. I hope you enjoyed it. As always, I’d love to hear from you.

Keep on glowing in the dark,

Elora