Obi-Wan Kenobi Double Take: Part VI

The finale of Obi-Wan Kenobi was something truly special. The series as a whole has introduced new iconic moments into Star Wars canon, often bridging the gap between the prequel and original trilogy—but nothing like the series finale. From start to finish, Part VI was probably the most powerful and meaningful piece of Star Wars television, reaching the same level of emotions, sadness, and eventually hope that Revenge of the Sith brought to the silver screen seventeen years ago. The episode bounced back and forth between two storylines, Obi-Wan and Vader’s epic rematch and Reva’s search for young Luke Skywalker.

Before we dive into the duel, let’s explain why Reva’s storyline was so important. First of all, seeing Uncle Owen and Aunt Beru in action was truly delightful. Obviously, Reva not being severely wounded would have changed the final outcome of the assault, but nonetheless Luke’s adoptive parents can surely keep him safe without Ben Kenobi. The highlight of this part of the episode is without a doubt Reva’s redemption—which came at the last second, but left the viewers with lots of questions about her future. We can only speculate that she will return in one way or another—perhaps in book/comic format, or even in season two of the show, shall that ever happen.

“I will do what I must.” Obi-Wan and Vader’s rematch is everything Star Wars fans would have hoped for. It’s hard to put into words the importance of this duel, the meaning it has for these two characters and for the prequel fans. This is the moment of resolution for Obi-Wan and Anakin’s relationship, the moment where both characters have to let go of their past. Obi-Wan needs to know if Anakin is still there, behind the mask (Padmé’s dying words, “There’s still good in him” still resonate in him). Vader wants revenge for what Obi-Wan has done to him on Mustafar (which could be considered a weakness) and for still being the Master amongst the two (his obsession for being the best still haunts him). Although it seems like the two fight to the death, it seems like neither want to finish the job—with Vader finally taking the high ground as Obi-Wan gets buried by his former friend, which eventually triggers the Jedi Master’s motivation to protect the twins. That’s when the battle reaches its peak, with Obi-Wan on the offense and Vader ultimately ending in defeat after a lightsaber blow that slashed his mask—exposing the scarred face of Anakin Skywalker (a striking parallel to Rebels Season Three finale, Twilight of the Apprentice).

“You didn’t kill Anakin Skywalker. I did.” “Then my friend is truly dead.” Every word of this dialog between Vader and Obi-Wan hit this reviewer right in the guts. As a Revenge of the Sith fan, this probably hit you hard. Getting a glimpse of Hayden Christensen behind the mask of Darth Vader, the same anger and hate in his eyes and voice (the mix between his and James Earl Jones’ truly bridging the gap between the prequels and the original trilogy) was powerful and heart wrenching, and Ewan McGregor’s sobbing apology finally brought every viewer in tears. The scene had so much meaning for Star Wars canon, especially for the later events in A New Hope—explaining the reason why Ben Kenobi told Luke that his father was killed by Darth Vader (which felt like a lie, until now) and creating a subtle connection to the two’s final confrontation, with Obi-Wan saying goodbye to “Darth” (he would later greet him as such in the movie).

Little Leia’s safe return to Alderaan beautifully closed the circle of her daring adventure with Obi-Wan. Tala’s holster was definitely a symbol of Leia’s future as leader of the Rebel Alliance, and her sweet exchange with Obi-Wan was yet another nice connection to A New Hope, which means the two will probably not meet again until the iconic holo message, “Help me Obi-Wan Kenobi, you’re my only hope.” Also, her journey with Obi-Wan, or Ben Kenobi gives much more weight to Leia’s decision to name her son Ben. It seems like Obi-Wan Kenobi truly answered plenty of questions as promised.

If these moments weren’t enough to make Obi-Wan Kenobi Part VI a must rewatch episode (and let’s not forget the “Hello there” one as Luke meets Ben for the first time), then the final cameos, Ian McDiarmid’s return as Emperor Palpatine and the much anticipated appearance of Liam Neeson as Force ghost Qui-Gon Jinn as the icing on the cake. Both felt very organic, and never like fan service—they served the story well and added to the Star Wars authenticity of Obi-Wan Kenobi. All and all, the episode felt very complete in terms of storytelling, and even left room for a potential second season. With the incredibly positive response from fans around the globe and the publicly stated desire from Ewan McGregor to return for more Kenobi, it’s only a matter of time before we will know if there will be more coming our way. What did you think of this unforgettable season finale? Share your favorite moments with us on our social media channels, and if you want to listen to an even deeper breakdown of the season finale, then make sure to check out the latest episode of Comically Caffeinated—where Nicole, Mike, and Fabio discuss the show while sipping on some interesting beverages.