Warning! This article contains spoilers for Obi-Wan Kenobi episode 5.

Through five episodes, Obi-Wan Kenobi has included plenty of Star Wars' most iconic creation, the lightsaber–though unfortunately in a way that has diminished the weapon's meaning. Naturally, with the titular Jedi and his former padawan turned Sith Lord Darth Vader being huge elements of the series, the show has featured the iconic weapon of Star Wars' Force-users to a great extent. However, one unfortunate trend of Obi-Wan Kenobi has lessened the lightsaber's meaning within the wider context of the universe.

Obi-Wan Kenobi centers around the titular character as he prepares to face his former "brother," Anakin Skywalker, once again. In Obi-Wan Kenobi episode 1, the former Jedi travels into the deserts of Tatooine to retrieve his lightsaber from beneath the sands. Given how recent Star Wars shows such as The Mandalorian or The Book of Boba Fett have placed a focus on non-Force-senstive characters, they haven't featured the famous Star Wars weaponry outside of a few instances, such as the Darksaber.

Related: Why Darth Vader Didn't Use His Own Lightsaber In His Reva Duel

With Obi-Wan Kenobi, though, Lucasfilm promised a rematch between Kenobi and Vader, leading many to rightfully expect plenty of lightsaber action. On that front, Obi-Wan Kenobi delivers with Obi-Wan, Vader, Reva, the Grand Inquisitor, and the other Empire Inquisitors all possessing lightsabers in the series. However, one unfortunate way in which the lightsabers have been shown has led to them feeling somewhat meaningless, on top of a few other instances from the wider Star Wars universe.

Star Wars Has Had Too Many People Survive Lightsaber Stabbings Now

Maul Inquisitor retcon clone wars

One of the first characters in Star Wars canon to survive a seemingly fatal lightsaber wound was Darth Maul. At the end of Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace, Obi-Wan Kenobi cuts Maul in half with his lightsaber. However, as revealed in Star Wars: The Clone Wars, Maul survived and was fitted with a prosthetic lower half. Similarly, Obi-Wan Kenobi has featured not one, but two different lightsaber stab victims surviving. In Obi-Wan Kenobi episode 2, Reva, the Third Sister, stabs the Grand Inquisitor in the stomach in order to hunt Kenobi herself. As the Grand Inquisitor was a character originally introduced in Star Wars Rebels, set four years after Obi-Wan Kenobi, many suspected that the Grand Inquisitor wasn't dead. At the end of episode 5, it was revealed that this was the case, shortly after Reva herself is stabbed by Darth Vader.

On top of Reva being the second character to survive a lightsaber stabbing in the show, as she is alive at the end of Obi-Wan Kenobi episode 5, it is also the second time that singular character has been stabbed. The show established that a young Reva was also attacked with a lightsaber by Anakin Skywalker during Order 66, meaning she has survived the same attack twice now on top of the Grand Inquisitor's survival. It is worth noting that there is a story reason behind these survivals, however. The Grand Inquisitor states that revenge does wonders for the will to live, indicating this is how he, and Reva, survived their multiple stabbings. It is also established in The Clone Wars that this is how Maul survived after The Phantom Menace, fueled by his need for revenge against Kenobi.

However, every time a new character is given this reason for surviving a seemingly fatal wound, it lessens the impact. This reasoning only becomes increasingly weaker when attributed to so many different survivals. Granted, this isn't to say the reasoning doesn't work for the story, as it certainly does given what is known of dark side users in Star Wars. However, it remains the case that Star Wars of late has a problem, especially with Obi-Wan Kenobi, with people surviving lightsaber attacks that were originally supposed to be lethal.

Related: Why Jedi Train With Real Lightsabers (& Why It's Safe)

Why Star Wars' Lightsaber Survivals Are A Problem

Obi Wan Kenobi Grand Inquisitor Death Scene

While, again, the reasoning behind the lightsaber survivals is relatively sound, too many are still an issue. One reason is due simply to the iconic status of the weapon. Since 1977, the lightsaber has been synonymous with Star Wars and has become one of the most popular pieces of media history. A narrative overreliance on survival diminishes its fearsome reputation in the Star Wars universe. Another reason that too many characters surviving what should be fatal lightsaber blows is an issue is the narrative depth gets undercut. The deaths of characters often have massive implications on the narrative/emotional context of a story. By having characters survive too often, not only does it lessen the impact of such an iconic, powerful weapon as a lightsaber, but it can make the narrative stakes, or lack thereof, of a story feel less impactful due to the uncertain nature of whether a character will survive or not.

Also, if dark side users are continually shown to be able to survive fatal injuries simply by clinging to their revenge, another issue will be created in terms of audiences doubting the apparent deaths of dark side characters in the future. While it remains to be seen what comes of Reva in the Obi-Wan Kenobi season finale, it is clear she survived the latest attempt on her life. While it remains the case that she still may be killed by a lightsaber in episode 6, the problem still stands. From both Reva and the Grand Inquisitor's fake-outs to Sith Lords like Maul or Palpatine surviving fatal injuries due to the dark side, Obi-Wan Kenobi will need to portray lightsabers as the incredibly powerful weapons they were intended to be going into the series finale to reverse the damage done to the weapons' legacy.

Next: How The Rebels Have So Many Jedi Lightsabers

New episodes of Obi-Wan Kenobi release every Wednesday on Disney+.

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