Warning: Spoilers for Obi-Wan Kenobi episode 3
As seen in Obi-Wan Kenobi, Darth Vader still had a presence on Mustafar years after Star Wars: Episode III: Revenge of the Sith. Introduced into the Star Wars franchise by the prequel trilogy, Mustafar is a volcanic planet and the site of one of the most important moments in Star Wars history. It was on Mustafar where Obi-Wan famously defeated Anakin Skywalker in Revenge of the Sith.
Not only did Anakin nearly die in that fight, but he suffered intense and long-lasting pain that his body never recovered from. After being cut in half, the villain landed in lava, thus making the scene of his defeat even more gruesome. Disney+’s Obi-Wan Kenobi show has skipped a few years ahead to a point where his Darth Vader transformation is complete, but the franchise hasn’t moved on from Mustafar – nor has Anakin. Obi-Wan Kenobi has brought the planet back into the picture with Darth Vader’s story. The character was confirmed to be residing on the planet in the beginning of Obi-Wan Kenobi episode 3.
Despite his painful history there, Mustafar was Darth Vader’s headquarters for several years. There, he ran Fortress Vader, which was his main base of operations in the Star Wars universe. His decision to build a home for himself at a place that holds so many painful memories has raised questions about his reasons for staying there. The villain’s lingering connection to Mustafar can be attributed to a few factors that are discussed in other Star Wars media. It was established in Marvel’s canon Darth Vader comics that he originally returned to the planet while acting on orders given to him by Palpatine. He later chose to stay because he came to believe that the planet hid a power source that he could use to his benefit.
At Darth Vader’s request, Palpatine agreed to let the Sith Lord rule it as his own personal domain. An ancient Sith cave found on Mustafar emanated with power which Darth Vader believed could be used to dramatically increase his strength in the Force. Given that the villain is clearly an important part of Obi-Wan’s story in the series, it’s entirely possible that his personal interests in Mustafar will be touched on the episodes to come.
Regardless of whether or not Darth Vader’s obsession with Mustafar’s secret power becomes relevant to Obi-Wan Kenobi, his link to the planet is a reflection of who he is as a character. Making a permanent residence on Mustafar, a place that exists as a constant reminder of the worst moments in his life, shows that he has no interest in moving on. Instead of trying to forget what happened, Darth Vader has decided to live in a place where he can wallow in his anger and hatred toward Obi-Wan.
Obi-Wan Kenobi releases new episodes on Wednesdays on Disney+.
