Warning: This article contains spoilers for Obi-Wan Kenobi!
Obi-Wan Kenobi may be named after its titular Jedi Master hiding out on Tatooine after the fall of the Republic, but it adds quite a bit to the story of Darth Vader who, at the time the series takes place, has spent the last ten years ridding the galaxy of the final vestiges of the Jedi Order. On the hunt for his former master ever since their duel on Mustafar, Vader is still wrestling with strong emotions, and a very different sort of Sith Lord is seen than any other previous live-action incarnations save for perhaps Rogue One: A Star Wars Story.
Seeing Ewan McGregor and Hayden Christensen clash sabers again for the first time since the prequel trilogy is undeniably thrilling, but the additions to Vader’s mythos are exciting in their own right. From incredible new Force abilities and more time spent in Castle Vader to scenes that solve plot holes generated in the original trilogy, these new additions to Vader’s story remind fans of the spiritual and physical turmoil that has made him so much more than a two-dimensional villain.
His Use Of The Inquisitors On The Jedi Hunt
Prior to Obi-Wan Kenobi, the Sith Inquisitors had only appeared in animated series and video games, making it the first time that they’ve seen answering to Lord Vader in live-action. Here, the Inquisitors are used to fight desperate Jedi and help the Emperor’s scourge hunt down the last of their kind hiding throughout the galaxy.
His relationship with them is filled with the sort of infighting that characterized the downfall of the Sith Empire and gave birth to the Rule of Two. Vader’s use of the Inquisitors seems to promote conflict, and their competitive nature perfectly reflects the corruptive nature of the dark side. It’s important to see that not all villains are created equal, and brash recklessness often leads to permanent demotions.
His Relationship With Reva
The Third Sister, also known as Reva, might be a new character in the franchise, but she has some old baggage. A former youngling at the Jedi Temple, she witnessed Anakin Skywalker / Lord Vader slaughter her peers. She pretends to be an Inquisitor in order to get close to him and enact her revenge, unaware that Vader has been two steps ahead of her the whole time.
There have been very few people who have known of Vader’s true identity, and they’re usually silenced before they can share it. Reva’s character, other than showing the ripple effect that Vader’s path of destruction had on countless lives, also reveals a new side to his methods. A subtle but important detail about Vader in this era is his ability to be calculating and manipulative; he’s learned to stabilize the anger that prevented him from seeing the bigger picture in his youth.
The Length Of His Healing Process
It seemed like his healing was done once Vader got put into his signature suit, but it’s apparent that the process might have taken quite a bit longer than fans were lead to believe in Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith.
This is an important new development because it highlights how much his life was impacted by his duel with Obi-Wan, and the extent of his brutal injuries. It’s not difficult to see why, with every soak in his bacta tank, he would become more obsessed with hunting down the man that turned him into a cripple.
Life On Mustafar
In Darth VaderMarvel’s Vader-focused comic series, his life on the molten planet of Mustafar is explored in great depth. Obi-Wan Kenobi not to the same extent, finds Vader lurking in his castle on Mustafar in more than one scene that really helps make Vader feel more like a real person.
Whether he’s communicating with his Sith Inquisitors and the Emperor or contemplating the irony of the universe, seeing Vader in his natural habitat (which also happens to be a place of great sadness for him) provides a nice juxtaposition of all the scenes of him peering through viewports in the cold darkness of space.
Formidable Force Powers And Incredible Cruelty
Animated series, video games, and comics have showcased Vader’s mastery of the Force, but Obi-Wan Kenobi is the first onscreen occasion where it leaves fans’ jaws on the floor. From tearing transport ships apart mid-take-off and making mountains crack, to breaking children’s necks with a flick of his wrist, Vader is an unleashed beast.
Were it not for the duel on Mustafar and Obi-Wan’s effective use of the high ground, who knows what Lord Vader would have been capable of. Fans lamented that his suit prevented him from truly accessing his powers as the Chosen One, but this series aims to show the true power of the dark side, and what his rage towards his former master can accomplish.
Anakin Still Viewed Obi-Wan Kenobi As His Master
The penultimate episode is framed by a flashback sequence involving Obi-Wan and his padawan Anakin sparring on Coruscant. Their duel mirrors the cat-and-mouse (droid) games they’re engaged in during the present, and Obi-Wan makes it clear that Anakin’s “desire for victory” is why he will always lose. By the time of their final duel, Vader is just as committed to crushing Obi-Wan as ever, but he makes a surprising tell; he refers to him as “master.”
One of Obi-Wan Kenobi’s greatest retcons to the franchise is having Obi-Wan and Vader duel again prior to A New Hope,, but this dialogue directly ties into their exchange in the film when Vader tells Obi-Wan, “When last we met, I was but the learner, now I am the master.” Fans naturally assumed he was referencing the time period of the flashback, but in actuality, he was giving even more weight to the fact that he still viewed Obi-Wan as his mentor, which only makes his inner turmoil more heartbreaking.
How Vader Got The Massive Scar On His Head
In a particularly compelling scene, Obi-Wan manages to strike a searing blow to Vader, slicing off a portion of his helmet. While a similar scene occurred between Vader and Ahsoka Tano in Star Wars Rebelsthis moment added a specific element to Vader’s story.
In Return of the Jedi, when Luke removes his helmet to reveal the human face underneath, a deep purple scar is visible on the left side of his head from Obi-Wan’s blow. While both Ahsoka and Obi-Wan were each able to peel away a piece of Vader, it took the son of Anakin Skywalker to reveal his true self beneath the mask.
Darth Vader Believes He Killed Anakin Skywalker
In the finale, Vader lets his mentor off the hook by assuring him of the guilt he’s carried for decades. With his mask cracked in half, he tells Obi-Wan not to view Anakin Skywalker as a lost cause or his greatest failure because he alone killed him.
Vader was responsible for Anakin’s death “from a certain point of view,” but Vader’s true identity was hidden from Luke by Obi-Wan for so long that it seemed like a gaping plot hole. Not only does Vader viewing himself as Anakin’s murderer solve that issue, but it also adds a layer of complexity to Anakin’s psyche. Is he helping erase Obi-Wan’s shame or his own?
The Meaning Behind “Darth”
One of Obi-Wan’s biggest fears involved his failure to prevent Anakin from turning to the dark side, and his guilt nearly cost him his own life when facing Vader again. By their next duel, however, Obi-Wan acknowledges that his friend is “truly dead.” When Obi-Wan calls him Darth (as he will go on to do in A New Hope) he is honoring the narrative Anakin has chosen.
Obi-Wan must forget the Anakin he knew because Vader sees himself as a prisoner of his own choices, and finally so does Obi-Wan. The way he delivers the address also suggests that Obi-Wan refuses to imbue it with any of the respect of the Sith title deserves.
The Complications With Continuing To Hunt Obi-Wan
After Vader’s disastrous final duel with Obi-Wan, he’s left nearly as crippled as he was on Mustafar, particularly emotionally. Even the Emperor has to advise his apprentice not to pursue the Jedi Master because it will only “weaken” him. Vader acknowledges this and declares, “Kenobi means nothing.”
With the knowledge that Kenobi is no longer a major threat to the Empire, Vader lets him go, bringing his tumultuous quest to destroy his former master to an end. It’s worth noting that the Emperor most likely knows that any further interaction with the Jedi might result in bringing back Anakin Skywalker. Underestimating Kenobi turns out to be one of the Sith’s biggest mistakes, as his bonds with Luke and Leia will plant the seeds that eventually result in his death.
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