Spoiler Warning: Obi-Wan Kenobi on Disney+
Star Wars is one of few franchises in the entertainment world that can definitively say that it's always going to be one of the most popular. Even when it puts out movies or projects with fans torn on whether they liked them, the end result will always be the same -- fans will still see the next one. Star Wars, as a whole, has still released so much incredible content and given so much to the world that it receives the benefit of the doubt whenever a project can be described as hit or miss.
But then there are the moments when Star Wars reminds us exactly why we all love it so much. When a character or story plays out so perfectly, everybody watching holds their breath with anticipation. One such moment occurred during episode 3 of the Obi-Wan Kenobi series on Disney+. Darth Vader made his first appearance and dueled it out against his former master. Most fans weren't expecting a fight between Vader and Kenobi so soon, but what's certain is that the battle was easily the most anticipated Star Wars moment in the past several decades.
That being said, was it everything we hoped it would be?
Darth Vader Was Brutal and Horrifying
There's a reason that people who don't know anything about Star Wars are still familiar with Darth Vader. He's arguably the most famous antagonist in the history of entertainment. He has been the epitome of power and terror in the Star Wars universe since the very first scene of the franchise. This episode was no different. If anything, it only made Vader's reputation even more horrifying.
The man formerly known as Anakin Skywalker menacingly wandered into the town where Obi-Wan was hiding and started to wreak havoc on the local townspeople for no other reason than knowing it would draw Obi-Wan out of his hiding place. As if torturing one person wouldn't have been enough to do the trick, Vader went on an all-out killing spree, which included snapping the neck of a young boy trying to protect his father.
After Vader's ferocity drew Kenobi out, the moment finally came where Vader and Obi-Wan squared off in a lightsaber duel that (while short) was heart-wrenching and had every fan on the edge of their seat. Vader held nothing back during the fight and attempted death blows before ultimately choosing to burn Obi-Wan in a pit of fire, forcing Obi-Wan to suffer the way he had.
Obi-Wan Kenobi Was Weathered and Unpracticed
The once-great Jedi was out of his league, and everybody knew it. While fans might be upset with how easily Vader dispatched Obi-Wan (which is understandable as most fans watching want to see Kenobi succeed), it makes perfect sense, and we all know it. From the start of the show, it's been clear that Obi-Wan is not only physically less-gifted than he used to be, but his mental stability has also taken a huge hit. After all, Obi-Wan shoulders a lot of the burden for why the Jedi fell apart, feeling guilty for his mistakes with Anakin and has had ten long years to ponder those mistakes completely alone and wallowing in his self-pity.
Combine that with the fact that he hadn't touched a lightsaber in a decade and was shocked even to learn that Anakin was still alive in the first place, and fans should be grateful that Obi-Wan made it out with his life. However, the best part about this moment is knowing that there has to be some sort of redeeming moment for Obi-Wan in the coming episodes. He might not have the strength to beat Vader in an outright fight, but perhaps his knowledge and prowess in the Force could help him overcome his former pupil.
The Conclusion
So, was the reunion everything we wanted it to be? Did it live up to the hype of twenty-year anticipation? In short, yes. Again, arguments will be made by both sides, and there will always be people with differing opinions. Some people will think that they brought Vader in too quickly, while others believe that Kenobi would have done better during the fight. And some will think that the fight wasn't long or epic enough.
The only thing that truly matters in an instance as anticipated as this particular scene is whether or not the moment did the fans and the series justice, and the answer to both those questions is yes. With that being said, it would certainly be a shame if this were the only time that Vader and Kenobi square off against each other before the series concludes. Vader took Obi-Wan to the cleaners; now fans want a chance for Obi-Wan to do the same.