REVIEW: ‘Obi-Wan Kenobi’ Episode 6

Obi-Wan Kenobi Episode 6 brings the series full circle, in more ways than one. Obi-Wan (Ewan McGregor), along with Leia (Vivien Lyra Blair) and the rest of the insurgents, attempt to evade Darth Vader (James Earl Jones) after the battle of Jabiiim. In order to protect the others, Obi-Wan decides to confront Vader in order to give Roken (O’Shea Jackson Jr.) and the other insurgents time to escape. Meanwhile, Reva (Moses Ingram) travels to Tatooine to find a young Luke Skywalker (Grant Feely).

Throughout the series, Obi-Wan has been dealing with his guilt over Vader’s fall to the Dark Side, as well as reconnecting to his Jedi training. McGregor has taken the opportunity to explore the many layers of Obi-Wan as a character, and in this finale, he finally brings the Jedi Master closer to his characterization in Star Wars: A New Hope. Part of that is embracing the Jedi code of letting go of attachments – but in this case, it’s his attachment to his grief, as well as the person that Anakin Skywalker once was. His willingness to sacrifice himself to protect others also taps into the core of a Jedi and shows how far he’s come from the beginning of the series.

The same is true of Ingram, who is neck and neck with McGregor for “best performance throughout the series”. She brings fury and sorrow in equal measure to Reva, who is struggling to deal with her own past and the feeling that she failed her fellow younglings during Order 66. Unfortunately, she thinks that the way to redemption is to strike down Luke as she feels he’ll follow in his father’s footsteps. I won’t spoil how this confrontation turns out, but it cements Reva’s status as one of the most complex characters in Star Wars canon. And it all wouldn’t have been possible without an actor of Ingram’s caliber.

What also makes the finale so satisfying is the involvement of director Deborah Chow, as well as showrunner Joby Harold and returning writers Andrew Stanton and Hossein Amini. Stanton helped bring an emotional touch to last week’s episode, and Amini was responsible for shaping the original pitch for Kenobi so it only makes sense for them to return to shape the finale. Most of the episode is split between Vader and Obi-Wan’s clash and Reva’s pursuit of Luke, with Chow putting her all into directing the former clash. She chooses to place it on a shadowy, cavernous planet – with the only sources of light being Obi-Wan and Vader’s lightsabers.

Unlike their battle on Mapuzo, Obi-Wan is at the top of his game and is able to hold off his former apprentice. And it leads to the most emotional moment in the series, thanks to McGregor and Hayden Christensen’s performances. While Christensen has suited up as Vader, this is the first time he voices the Dark Lord of the Sith – with his and Jones’ voices mingling together into a hypnotic, haunting fashion. This battle also adds more depth to the duo’s final clash in A New Hope, as they both learn to let go of the past and grow closer to the characters we see in that film. And that isn’t the only Star Wars film this episode pays homage to – fans should stay tuned until the final scene.

Obi-Wan Kenobi Episode 6 puts a cap on one of the best Star Wars stories to hit the small screen and adds even more depth to the titular Jedi Master. In my book, this should be the bar that all prequels aspire to. I also hope that Chow and/or Harold return to deliver more stories from a galaxy far, far away as they clearly understand the Star Wars universe as well as how to build upon expanded lore.

All episodes of Obi-Wan Kenobi are now available to stream on Disney+.