Obi-Wan Kenobi is back and fans have been spoiled with new content every week thanks to the series airing now on Disney +. But perhaps most shocking and exciting of all is the return of Hayden Christensen as Anakin Skywalker.
It's been years since Anakin and Obi-Wan have shared the screen together, but that hasn't changed their friendship. Viewers have relished seeing the old friends turned rivals interact again, with discussions and memes about the two becoming popular again.
Old Friends
Obi-Wan and Anakin have a long and decorated history together. Obi was Anakin's Jedi Master and saw him through his training ready to join the Jedi, until his turn to the Dark Side.
Seeing Anakin and Obi-Wan interact again, not as enemies, but as friends, was an emotional moment for many fans. It was reminiscent of the prequels and the days before everything changed. The two have had many happy moments, and to see them smiling was too much it seems for certain viewers.
Pain
Episode 5 of Obi-Wan saw the most flashbacks in the series so far. Although it was revealed early on that Christensen would be reprising his role as Anakin, there was no telling how much fans would see of him in the series.
Given that these flashbacks were primarily about Anakin and his friendship with Obi-Wan before his turn, it's easy to see why viewers watched the episode with a bittersweet feeling. Knowing what happens at the end of Obi-Wan episode 3 makes watching the lighthearted scenes even more painful.
Growing Up
A lot of younger fans have expressed their happiness at seeing Obi-Wan and Anakin reunite on screen. For those who grew up with the prequels as their Star Wars movies, seeing these two battle it out again is both nostalgic and familiar.
While Obi-Wan and Anakin's meeting in the Obi-War series is less fiery than their last on-screen duel, it's still a treat to see the now-infamous duo battle it out again.
Poor Obi-Wan
A lot happened towards the end of the prequels, especially when it came to Obi-Wan. Focused on his own mission, he must have been taken by surprise at what he came back to.
Not only did Obi-Wan have to deal with his fellow Jedi being murdered, but he also had to reckon with losing his Padawan and close friend, Anakin. It's a lot for anyone to deal with, even someone as powerful as Obi-Wan.
Obi-Wan Knows Anakin Best
Anakin has always been on the rebellious side. Take one look at his childhood and it's clear that he's never been a rule follower. Ultimately, it leads him down a dark path, but fans have poked fun at this side of him for years.
Perhaps no one knows this better than Obi-Wan, who has spent years cleaning up Anakin's messes. It seems that all Obi-Wan needs to find Anakin is to follow the trial of chaos he's left in his wake.
Anakin's Speeches
Anakin is no stranger to the odd bit of speech or monologue. But some of the stuff he says is a little questionable to most fans. A sentiment echoed by viewers and Obi-Wan alike, who struggle to come to terms with some of the downright embarrassing stuff he says.
Obi-Wan has expressed his disagreements with Anakin before, although he always tries to make sure his opinions come from the right place. Sometimes, Anakin needs someone to knock some common sense in him. And most of the time, that's Obi-Wan.
Rocky Start
Obi-Wan wasn't the biggest fan of Anakin in the beginning. Technically, Obi-Wan has Qui Gon Jinn to thank for bringing Anakin into his life.
Despite their rocky start, and Obi-Wan's initial dislike of the young Padawan, the two of them grew a close bond. They were really the perfect Jedi Master and Padawan duo, for a little while at least.
Reminiscing
While Anakin's turn to the Dark Side was something viewers saw coming, it still left a lot of questions. What were his first few days like as Darth Vader? How did he cope with the damage he left behind? Did he think about Obi-Wan?
Fans have theorized for a while that Anakin often thought of his old master in moments alone, even yearning for the days before his turn to the Dark Side. Anakin certainly had plenty of time to reminisce.
The Entire Prequel Series Summed Up
Obi-Wan and Anakin's friendship is one of the central points of the prequel series, and a key part of the Obi-Wan series, as well. However, despite having countless interactions and conversations, their entire friendship (and the prequels) can be summed up in one quote.
Obi-Wan's job as Jedi Master often went further than Jedi formalities. He was responsible for keeping Anakin out of trouble and level-headed, which was easier said than done. Most of his time was spent reminding Anakin of the ways of the Jedi and to keep calm. Unfortunately, he wasn't able to keep Anakin level-headed for long.
Anakin's Always Looking For Obi-Wan
Even after Anakin made his move to the Dark Side and became Darth Vader, he still spends most of his time looking for Obi-Wan. Obi-Wan, who goes into hiding after Order 66, spends years on Tatooine keeping an eye on Luke Skywalker, but there's no doubt he still thinks of Anakin.
Vader's motives in the latter half of the movies are determined by Obi-Wan and his actions, making it clear to fans that he never stopped thinking about Obi-Wan. At the end of the day, Darth Vader was still Obi-Wan's Padawan and is still seeking that reassurance deep down from his old Jedi Master.