Obi-Wan Kenobi Double Take: Part III

“He’s coming, Master.” The third chapter of Obi-Wan Kenobi commenced the halfway mark for this incredible series in a bold and powerful way. If Part I and II were the return of Obi-Wan Kenobi, then Part III is without doubt the return of Anakin Skywalker/Darth Vader. Director Deborah Chow created an absolute masterpiece—orchestrating arguably the Dark Lord of the Sith’s greatest, most mysterious entrance of all time. Every shot of Darth Vader being assembled is extremely exciting and terrifying at the same time, with the ominous score by Natalie Holt further adding to the importance of the character—especially as the viewers get a peak at Hayden Christensen under the mask.

Part III continues with another incredible scene, showcasing the scorching lavas of Mustafar and a view of the legendary Vader’s Castle—which is now a recurring location in other mediums, from comics to video games since its first appearance in Rogue One. The scene finally shows a fully assembled Vader sitting at his throne, having a holo-conversation with Reva. James Earl Jones returned as the iconic voice of Darth Vader; however, the cadence and tone of the character’s voice is subtly reminiscent of Hayden Christensen’s performance as Anakin Skywalker from the prequel trilogy (especially later in the episode). From now on, Vader is going to be front and center of the episode, but Chow does an excellent job at balancing the two main characters’ presence.

“Have you ever been afraid of the dark? How does it feel when you turn on the light?” Obi-Wan’s explanation about the light side of the Force to Little Leia is so refreshing and honest—and it really represents the show’s main theme. Deborah Chow knows how to hit the viewers right in the heart. This scene, which preludes the arrival at Mapuzo, the mining system, is a nice way to prepare the audience for Obi-Wan and Vader’s eventual reunion.

Next we get the first live-action introduction to Fortress Inquisitorious, the lair of the Inquisitors which originated from Jedi: Fallen Order—definitely making this reviewer (and most likely many fans) feel like it’s time to revisit the video game. Following Reva, the Third Sister along her epic stride toward the Inquisitors’ headquarters is fun and exciting—Holt’s dramatic music once again hitting the mark with steady drums and quick, sharp strings with a subtle nod to the Imperial March. Reva continues to push her way through the Inquisitorious’ ranks, now taking on the lead to hunt down Kenobi despite the Fifth Brother’s disagreement (Sung Kang’s performance, makeup, and modulated voice make him such a badass character).

The rest of Part III takes place on Mapuzo, where once again Obi-Wan and Little Leia’s character dynamics truly shine. The chemistry between the two actors is so genuine that it really helps the viewers immerse into the story. “You knew her, my real mother, didn’t you?” This quote carries so much weight, and Obi-Wan’s decision to not tell Leia the truth forever shapes the history of Star Wars. This whole conversation is just incredibly revelatory, especially Obi-Wan’s remembrance of his mother, father, and even a baby brother. Will we eventually get more of this intriguing backstory, like we did with Rey Skywalker?

After Obi-Wan and Leia’s dangerous encounter at the stormtrooper guard post, we get to the droid maintenance hideout, where the two get to know their unexpected savior, Tala—who was disguised as an Imperial officer. “Quinlan was here.” Obi-Wan was not the only one surprised at this revelation, as The Clone Wars fans are probably screaming of joy even hearing the Jedi’s name in live action. The Disney+ show creators are really doing an amazing job at bridging the gap with the animated series—hopefully we’ll actually get to see Quinlan Vos to some capacity in Obi-Wan Kenobi!

The last 10 minutes of Obi-Wan Kenobi Part III are probably the most emotional and epic moments prequel fans have had since 2005. No one expected Obi-Wan and Vader’s reunion to come so soon (although this is in fact the mid season finale). Clearly, Obi-Wan is far from ready for this confrontation, and Vader is not here to end the life of his old master. He wants to make him suffer, to feel what he felt back on Mustafar, when Obi-Wan’s last lightsaber blow forever crippled Anakin. “I am what you made me.” Vader’s response to Obi-Wan’s question about what he has become hits the fans (myself included) right in the gut—bringing painful flashbacks of those final moments by the shores of Mustafar. Vader chasing down Obi-Wan in the darkness of Mapuzo is incredibly effective, with the viewers only catching glimpses of the Dark Lord’s mechanical breathing module lights and hearing his eerie breathing. This leads to a pitiful lightsaber fight that describes the state of the two characters—Obi-Wan clearly out of practice and Vader holding back, disappointed in his old master not being the worthy opponent he’s been searching for ten years. The scene reaches its peak when Vader drags Obi-Wan right into the fire, which is an incredibly powerful parallel to Revenge of the Sith as Anakin lights up in flames after being defeated by his master. Each frame, along with a painfully effective ADR performance by Ewan McGregor (very similar to Hayden Christensen’s in the last prequel) create the perfect revenge (no pun intended) for the Dark Lord of the Sith. Luckily, the fire torture gets interrupted by Tala, whose efforts ultimately rescue Obi-Wan from certain death.

Obi-Wan Kenobi Part III is by far one of the absolute best Star Wars moments in television. With only three episodes left, how much more epic can this show get? How will Obi-Wan manage to rescue Leia from the Third Sister? How will he regain his strength in the Force to confront Vader once again? We will definitely find out next Wednesday. What did you think of Part III? Let us know on our social media channels.