The funny thing about reviewing a weekly series is how wrong you can be. Not in regards to your actual opinion, those are open and free. How you find the show is entirely down to you. However, our reviews for the previous two episodes featured raving comments like “at its best” and we talk about the series as if it has reached its optimum, or its peak. There’s no possible way it can get better, right? Suddently, Part III arrives and you realise that Obi-Wan Kenobi has only just started. We’ve reached the half way point already, but Part III went above and beyond to create something truly special. It made a statement.
Landing on Mapuzo, Obi-Wan and Leia make their way to the coordinates given to them by Haja. However, Kenobi seems certain that no will arrive to help them since the good in the Galaxy is fading, and fading fast. Meanwhile, Reva’s quest for power and recognition ensues, but Reva is the least of Obi-Wan’s concerns when a familiar face comes knocking.
Review
What can be said about this episode apart from simply wow. Everything that transpired in the previous episodes has been leading up to this very moment, and it came a lot earlier than originally expected. Of course, the major selling point of this series has been the inevitable conflict between Obi-Wan and Darth Vader. So, of course Vader was going to play a role. However, at first it was assumed that he would just appear especially this early into the series. But the creators and writers of this show came in swinging, and swinging hard. At its core, this episode is Vader at his worst. We’ve seen what Vader is capable of thanks to Rogue One, but this single episode transformed the villain entirely.
Part III presents us with a Vader that we have only seen glimpses of, unless you explore beyond his live-action appearances. He is powerful, vengeful, angry, and cruel. They’re traits that Darth Vader has carried since his inception, but Part III took those to new heights. Darth Vader is absolutely terrifying, not just to us but also to Obi-Wan. His reaction to seeing his damaged and corrupted Padawan further highlights how lost he is. Looking back at Revenge of the Sith, for example, where Obi-Wan jumps down to face General Grievous in front of a droid army, Kenobi emanates this strong confidence and grace. Yet, when Vader arrives… It’s the complete opposite. He runs, he hides, he wields his lightsaber like it’s the first time he’s ever set eyes on it, and Vader manipulates that weakness in a harrowing way and it’s actually incredibly hard to watch. With the booming voice of James Earl Jones, Vader isn’t simply a character. He is a shadow of malice that effects everything around him. When Vader steps into frame, the show changes and there aren’t many characters who have that presence.
Outside of the presence of Vader, this episode builds upon the relationship between Obi-Wan and Leia. It seems as though, while still definitely cautious, Kenobi is gradually lowering his defences. He seems a lot warmer, and the duo share some very sweet moments. Some moments even explore Obi-Wan’s past from before he joined the Jedi Order as a youngling. These little moments really help expand on what we know and it was great to see Obi-Wan develop in a way that many of us may not have anticipated. While we do see Kenobi at his weakest, there is also an underlying strength. In a short period of time, Obi-Wan has lost his family, friends, loved ones, the Galaxy is in disarray, and he is understandably bitter and angry. Yet, he has not fallen to the Dark Side as Anakin did. Our beloved Obi-Wan may be different, but he’s as strong as ever… He just doesn’t know it.
This episode also focused heavily on evolving Kenobi’s expectations. Trust has been his enemy, and it is this belief that the Galaxy is no longer good that corrodes Obi-Wan’s spirit. However, the arrival of Indira Varma’s Tala starts to change things. It’s difficult to pinpoint the exact moment the rebellion was born, but this was Obi-Wan’s first experience with it. He was so certain that everyone would bow down to the might of the Empire that he never stopped to think of individuals fighting back, let alone an imperial officer. Tala was a brilliant addition to the cast, she definitely has a bigger role to play in Obi-Wan Kenobi, but in the grand scheme of the Star Wars universe, it actually looks as though Tala further inspires Leia’s rebellious attitude and fighting spirit. Unfortunately, given the hopeless tone of the show and the sheer power of the Empire, Tala’s attempt to defy the new rulers of the Galaxy may not end well.
Verdict
Part III is simply fantastic. There’s this brilliant combination of both hope and dispair that creates a chilling atmosphere that remains constant. The arrival of Darth Vader, however, takes the series to an entirely new level in the best way possible. This episode highlights just how lost Obi-Wan is, and just how corrupt Anakin is. While their conflict doesn’t measure up to their duel in Revenge of the Sith, it serves a greater purpose that exists outside of just being cinematic. There is pain, suffering, and torment riddled throughout their confrontation and their deep exchanges. This episode easily climbs the ladder in regards to the best Star Wars moments because it defied expectations.
This is where the fun begins. We have now seen all of the footage that has featured in every trailer. That means we are well and truly flying blind now. What happens next is an absolute mystery. However, the one thing that is an absolute certainty is that Vader is not done with Obi-Wan Kenobi just yet.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Have you watched Part III yet? Let us know your thoughts in the comments. Episode three of Obi-Wan Kenobi is available on Disney+ right now. The series will stream weekly on Wednesdays, until the finale on Wednesday 22th June. We only have three episodes left, isn’t that utterly devastating?
