Warning! SPOILERS for Obi-Wan Kenobi episode 3.
Darth Vader and Obi-Wan Kenobi’s fight in Obi-Wan Kenobi episode 3 couldn’t be the pair’s hyped rematch. Not long after Ewan McGregor was officially confirmed to reprise his Star Wars character through a Disney+ series, Lucasfilm announced that Hayden Christensen is also returning as Darth Vader. With both of them appearing, Lucasfilm president Kathleen Kennedy promoted their inevitable interaction in the Obi-Wan Kenobi series as the “rematch of the century.”
Being a limited series with only six episodes, there was an expectation that Lucasfilm would save Darth Vader’s appearance towards the end of Obi-Wan Kenobi. Instead, it would focus first on the titular Jedi Master in his darkest days, laying low in Tatooine and struggling with his faith while he looked after young Luke Skywalker. After Darth Vader’s debut in Obi-Wan Kenobi episode 2, the Sith Lord made his proper appearance in episode 3. Not only that but the same outing also saw the villain’s first encounter with Obi-Wan since their falling out in Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith.
As nerve-wracking as Obi-Wan and Darth Vader’s fight in Obi-Wan Kenobi is, it’s quite underwhelming. Instead of an intense fight, it’s clearly lopsided, with the Jedi Master struggling to defend himself against the Sith Lord. Darth Vader, on the other hand, aggressively attacks his former mentor. Although it’s clear that Darth Vader overpowers Obi-Wan, the villain doesn’t go for the kill right away. Instead, he prolongs the whole ordeal in an attempt to make his ex-Jedi Master suffer.
When Will Obi-Wan & Darth Vader’s Real Rematch Happen?
Given how this whole thing played out, it’s safe to say that this isn’t the “rematch of the century” that Kennedy was talking about. Chances are that later in Obi-Wan Kenobi, Darth Vader and Obi-Wan’s paths will cross again for a more eventful battle. Based on the trajectory of the Disney+ show thus far, chances are that at the end of Obi-Wan Kenobi, the titular Jedi will regain his connection with the Force, effectively making him a better fighter. In turn, Obi-Wan Kenobi‘s finale can finally deliver a satisfying duel between him and Darth Vader.
In the meantime, Obi-Wan Kenobi can shift its storytelling to focus on the Jedi Master as he processes what just happened between him and Darth Vader. It’s clear that he still harbors a lot of guilt about what happened to Anakin Skywalker. Without any means to contact Yoda or Qui-Gon Jinn, he is left to process this on his own, and he is really struggling with it. If Bail Organa (Jimmy Smits) didn’t personally travel to Tatooine to ask him to find the kidnapped young Leia (Vivien Lyra Blair), Obi-Wan would have stood on the sidelines. Aside from Obi-Wan, the Star Wars series can also shine a light on Third Sister/Reva (Moses Ingram) and her relationship with the other Inquisitors. Given her seemingly personal grudge against Obi-Wan, there’s a chance that there’s a secret link between them that hasn’t been revealed yet. With three more episodes to go, that gives plenty of time to tackle her story on top of Obi-Wan’s. After all, she is billed to be the primary antagonist of the story.
While unexpected, staging an initial encounter between Obi-Wan and Darth Vader in the Obi-Wan Kenobi series is actually a great creative decision. It effectively highlights just how much both characters have changed since their last encounter in Mustafar. From there, the show can finally deliver on the much-hyped fight between the former allies.
Obi-Wan Kenobi airs new episodes Wednesdays on Disney+.
