Hayden Christensen will make his Star Wars comeback as Darth Vader, reuniting with Ewan McGregor for the Obi-Wan Kenobi miniseries on Disney+, but his role as Anakin should take the spotlight. With master and apprentice destined to clash once more, it's intriguing to learn how Vader will factor into the spinoff show. However, while the prospect of another outing for the Dark Lord is exciting, it’s Anakin who carries far more importance.
The prequels remain deeply flawed, and one element they struggled with was defining Obi-Wan and Anakin’s relationship. Their dynamic was inconsistent throughout the trilogy, from considerable frustration to cheesy bantering to mutilation. Star Wars: The Clone Wars accomplished the considerable feat of improving the prequels and strengthening Obi-Wan and Anakin's bond, but general audiences are unlikely to be aware of these plot developments. Fortunately, the prequels' reputation has improved over time, with many fans forgiving Christensen for his oft-derided performance and now optimistic about his return.
Steering the focus on Anakin rather than Vader is where Obi-Wan Kenobi can truly succeed. Spending almost a decade in exile offers plenty of time for introspection, and what better way to improve the Jedi’s arc than by focusing on his greatest failure. Vader is an iconic villain, but it’s the man beneath the mask who holds any emotional connection to Obi-Wan. Through ignorance and heartache, Obi-Wan was implicit in Anakin’s sins, and the miniseries should capitalize on his guilt and not get lost in the superficial pleasures of Vader.
Obi-Wan’s reluctance to kill Anakin enabled Vader to rise, and he must surely be racked with guilt over what transpired. Their climactic battle on Mustafar offered visual spectacle and one harrowing moment for Obi-Wan. Still, he never made a significant attempt to save Anakin from fully committing to the dark side. Obi-Wan considered Anakin his “brother” – a sentiment that doesn’t entirely ring true with the prequels’ stilted writing. The miniseries can remedy this by incorporating flashbacks to fill in the gaps between films, having the pair recall pivotal memories of camaraderie while depicting Anakin’s mounting conflict with the Jedi Order. This would benefit both characters’ narrative journeys, especially offering insight into Obi-Wan’s regrets and how they impact his future. One regret that should be addressed is his implied knowledge of Anakin’s romance with Padmé, teased in The Clone Wars season 7. The subplot could greatly emphasize his love for Anakin, while his effort in turning a blind eye was arguably a gift and a betrayal.
By remaining silent during his friend’s struggle, Obi-Wan became guilty of contributing to Anakin’s fall. Therefore, the miniseries could feature Obi-Wan questioning his own belief in the Jedi’s rules. In refusing to intervene, Obi-Wan effectively abandoned Anakin before their fateful duel. Vader, who watched Obi-Wan literally turn his back on him, is likely to share these feelings of abandonment. The show should conserve its lightsaber battles and focus on Vader’s humanity. Anakin was never truly gone, regardless of what Vader claims. If the series could show his attempts to rid himself of painful memories by eradicating all ties to his past, the story can set up a confrontation that is a battle for Anakin’s soul before Vader fully takes hold.
Obi-Wan never once tried to save Anakin after the young man became Darth Vader. Maybe he felt his friend was irredeemable after the Jedi Temple massacre, but this has yet to be explored onscreen. The memory of Anakin Skywalker gives both Obi-Wan and Vader one more chance to reconcile themselves with their mistakes and expand on who Anakin truly was and why he fell to the dark side. Forget Vader – Anakin is more important to Obi-Wan Kenobi's success, holding the potential to fully realize their relationship. Recognizing Obi-Wan’s failure could lead to Star Wars’ greatest achievement.
