Star Wars fans know what happened between the ill-fated brothers in the Force, Obi-Wan Kenobi and Anakin Skywalker, in 2005's prequel trilogy conclusion, Revenge of the Sith. We also know the ending that Darth Vader doled out in return to his old teacher, friend, and long-time nemesis, Ben Kenobi, in A New Hope. But nobody knows what happened in the middle, in between those two tragedies, and that is what Disney Plus' most emotionally charged show yet, Obi-Wan Kenobi, looks to fill in.
There are reasons to speculate that when Ben Kenobi met his fate at the hands of his padawan, the newly reunited Luke and Leia finally in his sights, he was more at peace with the trajectory his life took, and his relationship with Anakin, than we thought. Our evidence for these reasons is simply that it just makes sense. It is hard to match up the heart-rending pain in Obi Wan's voice as he cried out to a burning, suffering, fallen Anakin with the rather stoic, resigned death portrayed by the great thespian Alec Guinness. Obi-Wan Kenobi might bridge that gap through a different kind of character study, perhaps even a return to the camaraderie between the long alienated Jedi.
What Will it Be Like for Obi-Wan to See Anakin Again?
Obi-Wan, firstly, will have to make the transition to calling Anakin by his new title, Lord Vader, as he has by A New Hope, although it is fair to say that maybe Ben Kenobi only refrained from calling Vader by his given name to protect Luke from the truth. The most important point to furnish with rhetoric is that Obi-Wan, according to the little bit of the show we've seen in these past two trailers, is clearly traumatized by Anakin's turn to the dark side, Padme's death, and the slaughter of nearly all the Jedi. He is also weighed down by the relentless Jedi hunters stalking his tracks, the young Luke Skywalker's unprotected condition in the Tatooine desert, and any other burdens we have yet to see an exiled Jedi grapple with. Still, it is difficult to erase the near lifetime of kinship and brotherhood that Obi-Wan and Anakin once had, despite the ensuing tragedies. It is difficult to see how Obi-Wan Kenobi won't show us some shred, or even rekindling, of that old brotherly affection for each other when we see Obi-Wan somehow reunited with Anakin.
Ewan McGregor has already teased a rematch, presumably a lightsaber duel, between Obi-Wan and Anakin, but what else will be repeated? We know that both the participants survive. Otherwise, A New Hope would have had a very different existence. Do they both survive due to error, or one thinking that the other is dead, some kind of externally motivated separation mid-fight, or maybe, just maybe, do they come to some sort of understanding?
Undoubtedly, Obi-Wan will continue to love Anakin as a brother no matter what happens, based on their relationship through the prequel movies and Ben Kenobi's ongoing care and protection of Anakin's children. But most of all, based on his submission to him in their final lightsaber battle in A New Hope. Kenobi sacrifices himself not just for Anakin's children but for Anakin himself, and that reasoning might rear its head in this new show.
Just a Lightsaber Duel, or Something More?
We know we will see a reunion between Obi-Wan and Anakin as Darth Vader, but that reunion might be more emotionally and nostalgically satisfying than we expect. There is no turning Anakin away from the dark side anytime soon, but the history between the two former Jedi cannot be erased so easily. In their own unique, though poisoned, way, the two old friends might make peace with that. This duel, this impending rematch, might not consist solely of venom, anger, disappointment, or dread. It might end with them letting each other go to work toward their mutual goal of a better, more righteous galaxy in their own ways.
Anakin, after all, doesn't consider himself evil. He rather thinks of himself as a martyr for a cause requiring the highest self-sacrifice. He considers Obi-Wan a traitor who crushed him just for trying to do the right thing merely because the Jedi Council disapproved of his methods. Obi-Wan, meanwhile, believes Anakin is part of the Force of darkness that destroyed the entire old society. If in no other way, perhaps these two can find traumas and sadness in common and somehow come together in a strained understanding and acceptance of each manifesting in mutual mercy, in dual survival. If nothing else, mutual hate might not prove to be the opposite of indifference to each other's well-being.
We hope that Disney does this not just because it would make for compelling drama or teach audiences about forgiveness, toleration, and patience. But because it would absolutely tear our hearts up and make us weep bitterly, accessing parts of our geeky hearts and souls we haven't met since we were children. No matter what the show does, it will be a thrill a minute to see Ewan McGregor as Obi-Wan again.