Obi-Wan Kenobi’s emotional stakes were huge – even though much of the outcome was already known. Throughout the Disney + Star Wars mini-series, it is not the threat of life or death that makes viewers’ hearts beat faster, but the journey to better understand the deeply broken relationship between the teacher, Obi-Wan (Ewan McGregor ) and his padawan. Anakin Skywalker turned Darth Vader (Hayden Christensen). And Obi-Wan Kenobi gives much more information about Anakin’s tragic existence. With the release of the original George Lucas trilogy, Star Wars chronicles the journey of classic hero Luke Skywalker, a young boy who embarks on a mission to save not only the galaxy, but also his father, from the evils of the Dark Side. . Only with the release of the prequel trilogy 16 years later did fans learn that the Star Wars epic was not just about Luke, but in fact a larger, interrelated story of Darth Vader’s rise, fall and redemption. In just six episodes, Obi-Wan Kenobi adds more oil to the endless fire of the Star Wars narrative as it deepens the tragic ends of Anakin’s bow. As the series follows Obi-Wan on his journey to free the remnants of guilt and trauma from the events of Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith, he paints an even more desperate portrait of Anakin himself – the chosen one who became ruthless bad man-machine. A special moment comes to mind, brought to life by the fans’ expected return scene in “Part V”. It’s a short sequel that serves an even bigger purpose, as viewers take on an educational duel between Obi-Wan and Anakin, which takes place before Star Wars: Episode II – Attack of the Clones. Throughout the flashback, it is clear that despite Anakin’s talent and strength, his master always seems to be one step ahead. This feeling is paralleled throughout the fifth episode, as Obi-Wan once again surpasses Vader, who seems unable to overcome his impatience. Remember two exchanges between Anakin and Padmé Amidala’s future wife (Natalie Portman) in Attack of the Clones. In the first act of the film, and also later after Anakin retaliates by killing a Tusken Raiders camp, the padawan expresses his frustration with Kenobi, calling his master “overly critical” and misunderstood. “I’m really in front of him,” a young Anakin tells Padmé. “I’m ready for the tests, but he feels I’m very unpredictable. He does not let me go. “ If fans were wondering exactly how “Obi-Wan was holding [Anakin] back “, is clearer now than the flashback to Obi-Wan Kenobi. Aside from being an outsider, Obi-Wan is wise in his decision to delay Anakin’s promotion. Anakin is reckless, aggressive and very confident. As his master, Kenobi sees this – not yet realizing that he will lead the young Skywalker to the Dark Side, but as an obstacle to Jedi’s growth. “You are a great warrior, Anakin, but your need to prove yourself is to overthrow you. “Until you get over it, you will still be a padawan,” says an aging McGregor to Christensen as a young Anakin in Obi-Wan Kenobi. It is these personal shortcomings that never allow Anakin to really defeat Obi-Wan. With this in mind, “Part V” restates even the couple’s last showdown at A New Hope, where Vader beats his master once and for all. One step closer to the end, Obi-Wan clearly lets Sith Lord win. According to Lucas’s affinity for the general issues that constantly arise in each film, it will always be Anakin’s destiny to come with Obi-Wan in a short time, until he can finally be redeemed and return to the Light. In “Part VI”, the series end battle between Obi-Wan and Vader strikes a more emotional chord, as fans see Anakin completely transformed into Vader, not only physically, but also mentally and emotionally. “I failed you, Anakin,” Obi-Wan told Anakin at the Sith Revenge. And it’s the fault of that – that sense of being a monster – that Obi-Wan has been carrying ever since. As seen in the first episodes of the limited series, Jedi-in-hidding carries the weight of the galaxy on his shoulders, feeling responsible not only for the loss of Anakin, but also for the downfall of the Order of the Jedi and the Republic as a whole. And as expected, it is heartbreaking to see the emotion in Obi-Wan’s eyes as he tells Anakin what he has been holding for 10 years: “I’m sorry,” he says, finally being able to see the face of his padawan under Vader’s helmet. . With a voice that is an amalgam of both the costume and Christensen, Vader delivers the lines that Obi-Wan finally needed to hear to get rid of his guilt. “I’m not your failure, Obi-Wan,” says Vader. “You did not kill Anakin Skywalker. With this closure, Obi-Wan is able to walk away from the meeting, recognizing his old friend as “Darth” and leaving behind his attachment to Anakin. And while it’s a triumphant moment for Obi -Wan, it’s another tragic time for Anakin, trapped in the shell of Vader’s suit, he has lost everything – his old life, his body, his wife, his friends and his children. even Obi-Wan. It is these moments of the show that bring the characters of Anakin Skywalker and Darth Vader even closer. While we usually see them as two separate beings (with 20 years to pass between episodes III and IV), the limited series gives a better picture of the man – or what is left of him – in the suit. As Padmé says in her last words to Obi-Wan, “There is good in him.” And while Darth Vader may not have realized it yet, the public is well aware that Anakin is indeed still buried somewhere deep inside the monster.
