Warning: Spoilers for Obi-Wan Kenobi episode 3!
The Obi-Wan Kenobi series features the long-awaited rematch between Ben Kenobi and Darth Vader, but it proves that the titular Jedi Master is failing his self-imposed mission. Obi-Wan Kenobi is a legendary warrior whose strength and skill in combat are as infallible as his devotion to the Jedi ways, and both led him to lie low with a specific purpose. Unfortunately, Kenobi’s character arc in Obi-Wan Kenobi the series depicts him as having lost his way and fails to coincide with his other cinematic and canon-universe non-movie appearances.
As with all Jedi, Obi-Wan Kenobi trained for the majority of his life, becoming one of the order’s finest combatants even before attaining Knighthood. As a padawan, Kenobi bested the Sith Lord Darth Maul and as a Jedi, he bested General Grievous and his own pupil when Anakin Skywalker became Darth Vader. Kenobi is perhaps the galaxy’s greatest practitioner of Form III (Soresu), a defensive form that allows Kenobi to outlast his opponents.
Although Obi-Wan bested Darth Vader on Mustafar, he’s shown to be no match for the Sith Lord in the third Obi-Wan episode, “Part III.” While this is consistent with his depiction in the previous episodes as having lost confidence, drive, and perhaps even his connection to the Force, it’s dissonant with his depictions in Star Wars Rebels and A New Hope, which show Kenobi to be skilled and battle-ready in spit of his age. This is because Obi-Wan is determined to protect Luke Skywalker at all costs as he waits for the right moment to begin training him. Kenobi’s depiction in the Obi-Wan series, unfortunately, doesn’t seem to be in the right condition to protect either of Anakin Skywalker’s children.
While seemingly in exile, Obi-Wan Kenobi, like Yoda, has a purpose. Allowing the Empire to become complacent in their search for surviving Jedi and waiting for Anakin’s children to foster their respective connections to the Force, the two Jedi would have no reason to let their abilities wane. It’s in the best interest of the greater good for both Jedi Masters to be ready to defend themselves, Luke, and Leia, if necessary, as they’re all needed to eventually defeat the Sith and free the galaxy from the Galactic Empire’s oppression.
In all canon and Legends material before Obi-Wan Kenobi, this is the case. When the former Sith Lord Maul unexpectedly returns to Tatooine to kill Obi-Wan, the venerable Jedi draws his lightsaber the moment that Luke is threatened. This is also the case in A New Hope, where Kenobi doesn’t hesitate to strike down Ponda Boba and Dr. Evazan when the two criminals attack Luke. Obi-Wan, unfortunately, isn’t shown as being a capable defender of Leia or a skilled combatant against Darth Vader in the Obi-Wan Kenobi series, and while his character arc seems to be that of regaining his sense of hope and duty, it comes at the expense of consistency with his other appearances.
New episodes of Obi-Wan Kenobi release Wednesdays on Disney+.
