Every time an episode of Obi-Wan Kenobi lands, Fantha Tracks will be giving their responses, and here are our initial gut feelings, deep dives and thoughts on the third episode of season one – Part 3. Beware of spoilerific elements in here.
Eric Onkenhout
There are moments in a series or a movie that each fan considers one of the best in Star Wars. Part III of Obi-Wan Kenobi has now joined that list for me. Vader’s presence in the series has been known for a while now, but I never expected to see this much of him, and to know Hayden Christensen is back under the suit is just how it should be. All is right with the world again. Not only that, but hearing James Earl Jones’s baritone voice is icing on the cake. And! The first appearance of Vader’s Castle and the Fortress Inquisitorius in live-action. This pleases me (said in my best Vader voice).
There is only one absolute must-do in writing this review: discussing the rematch between Kenobi and Vader. For decades we’ve heard stories about Vader’s brutality. It’s mentioned in Lords of the Sith, it’s demonstrated in Rogue One for a hot minute, and it’s on display here when Vader arrives on Mapuzo looking for Kenobi, literally breaking necks of innocent beings minding their business. Vader is very strong when they meet, while Kenobi is “weakened by the years.” Vader dragging Kenobi through a field of fire is the darkest Star Wars has been since Revenge of the Sith. And the way Vader’s helmet looked through the flames was mind-blowing. Ugh! So good! On a side note, it was interesting to see a random alien citizen, Frek, in favor of the Empire. And another example of an early rebellion happening in Indira Varma’s character, Tala. Stormtroopers are as dumb as ever. Part III is just a spectacular episode that showcases the Empire’s brutality and how dark things have gotten. Oh! And a cool nod to Jabiim, which first appeared in the Dark Horse series, Republic #55.
Daniel Lo
I will be blunt here. Part III of Obi-Wan Kenobi felt like a Star Wars fan film. This may sound negative, but it’s not completely so. Fan films have skyrocketed in quality over the years, and I have seen many that I’ve thoroughly enjoyed. However, this episode wasn’t made by mere fans. Or another way to put it is the fans that did work on this episode had the backing of Lucasfilm. I’m familiar with the exceptional standards that Lucasfilm is capable of, and it’s for this reason that the midway point of the series has fallen short of my expectations.
It feels really strange to say this but in my opinion we got way too much Darth Vader, and way too quickly. There was no real build up or suspense to this proverbial T Rex; no missing goat, no foreboding water ripples in the plastic cup (I know Steven Spielberg did something similar in Jaws, but I’m way too terrified to rewatch it for its details). Yes, we got to see a teaser shot at the end of the second episode which was rather well done. However, the montage of parts being attached to him felt a little rushed and it concluded with a clear and awkwardly framed shot of his unobstructed face. It all had a vaguely low budget feel to it.
The settings in which Vader appeared also seemed off to me. The look of the throne room felt off, possibly due to the white balance. His later scenes in the village where he was indiscriminately killing people to tease out Obi-Wan should have been terrifying, but was somewhat undermined by the framing and editing in ways I can’t quite put my finger on. The cat and mouse dynamic between Vader and his former master wasn’t believable because it all took place in such a wide open space with nowhere to hide. Contrast that with Vader’s scenes with Luke in The Empire Strikes Back, which benefited from mostly taking place in perilously confined locations. Lastly, the fire scene. Vader turning the tables on Obi-Wan since their last meeting was a pretty epic concept, but once again the execution struck me as vaguely awkward for some reason. Having Vader stoop slightly to ignite the ground was a particularly odd choice, given that his lightsaber blade was more than long enough to have done the job without compromising his commanding posture.
Was it all bad? Of course not. While none of it really saved the episode for me, there was still plenty to like: Vader’s silhouette was completely spot on, despite Hayden Christensen being a much smaller guy than David Prowse was. Obi-Wan and kid Leia continued to shine within the confines of the dialogue and story. I liked the interiors of the Inquisitor’s underwater base. The idea of Jedi safe houses and escape tunnels was pretty cool. The visuals of modern lightsaber effects on familiar characters was also great to see. Last but not least, the lightsaber duel itself did not disappoint and was well choreographed to reflect Vader and Obi-Wan’s respective mental states and skill levels.
Carl Bayliss
With the cliffhanger from Episode 2 hanging over him, Ben attempts to contact Qui-Gon, again without success. Meanwhile on Mustafar we see Vader ‘assembled’ and speaking to Reva about the pursuit of Kenobi – and offers her the position of Grand Inquisitor if she finds him but warns her of the price of failure….
Upon landing on the Imperial-occupied mining planet of Mapuzo, Ben and Leia make their way to the coordinates given to them by Haja. On the way Obi-Wan sees a vision of a cloaked figure, who turns toward him and reveals the face of Anakin. Upon reaching the coordinates there is no-one to meet them – Obi Wan believes this is because Haja lied to them, but Leia decides to flag down a passing transport and get them to the nearest space port. Using a cover story that they are farmers from Tawl they board the truck, driven by an alien named Freck who seems friendly towards them. He the stops to pick up some stormtroopers and when the engage Obi-Wan and Leia in conversation he inadvertently uses Leia’s real name – hastily covered up by a story of it being the name of her deceased mother whom they miss very much.
The troops then reach their stop and ask them to keep an eye out for the Jedi they are trying to locate. Leia asks Ben if he knew her real mother and if he is her real father – he replies that isn’t but he wished he could say he was. Leia says she tries to imaging what her real family were like, and Obi-Wan says he too has a fleeting memory of his parents and a baby, possibly his brother, but then he became part of the Jedi family.
They then reach an Imperial checkpoint, and Freck tells the troopers they might want to check out his passengers, and they duly summon Ben and Leia from the truck as a probe droid appears and scans Obi Wan’s face. He quickly destroys the droid and dispatches the troopers and knocks Freck out. As he disables the forcefield gate and they make they’re way through another Imperial transport arrive with 3 troopers and an officer – but as the troopers get them to lay down on the ground the office shoots – killing all three troopers. It is this office, Tala Durith, that they were supposed to meet but because of the increased activity she was unable to make it.
They make their way to Tala’s hideout where she explains that she is part of a network known as the Pathway, helping Jedi and force-sensitive children escape from the Empire. She has a pilot arranged to get them away, but as night falls Obi-Wan sense something and has a near panic attack as he looks outside to see Vader and the inquisitors making their way along the street, with Vader killing locals using the Force in an attempt to draw Obi Wan out. Obi-Wan tells Tala to get Leia to the transport and he will meet up with them but will try and distract Vader.
Heading for quarry area Vader appears and ignites his lightsaber – Obi Wan draws his saber but runs away. He then confronts Vader again and asks what he has become to which Vader replies ‘What you made me”. As Ben runs again, he is taken by surprise by Vader and a short saber fight ensues – Obi Wan clearly out of practice and Vader more akin to the fighting style we see in the OT films.
Leia convinces Tala to return to help Obi-Wan, and she continues to the pilot rendezvous. As Vader and Obi-Wan clash, Vader lifts Obi Wan using the Force and ignites some of the mined ore and drags Obi-Wan into the flames, saying his suffering has only just begun. He then extinguishes the flames and instructs a stormtrooper to bring Kenobi to him, but Tala shoots the trooper and blows up a nearby power generator which starts another fire, separating Vader and troops from Kenobi and allowing Tala’s loader droid to grab him.
Meanwhile Reva has discovered Tala’s secret hideout and the tunnel being used to get to the spaceport. Upon Leia’s arrival she says she will take her from here. With the pilot laying dead on the floor, Leia turns and runs – and the episode draws to a close.
As I’ve often said, I love the weekly release, episodic format that Disney Plus have adopted for many of these shows, as you get a week of speculation and conversation about what might happen next. Once again the script and acting are top notch, and Hayden as Vader (with voice by James Earl Jones) is really menacing – as Ewan said in a recent interview it’s no surprise that Vader scared the living daylights out of him on set.
As I write this there are many rumours circulating about the show’s success meaning that the ending has been recut to allow for a second series – I’ve said all along, I’m not against this but I hope there is a good story to be told and it’s not just been done because of the success the show has seen so far. But it’s almost half over already, and whilst I really want to know what happens next I don’t want it to end.
Mark Newbold
We’ve been building and building, ramping up the tension as Ben travels across the stars to rescue young Leia Organa, but the threat issued by Reva at the end of the second episode comes true as Darth Vader – Kenobi’s former apprentice Anakin Skywalker – arrives to wreak devastation on the people of Mapuzo, killing indiscriminately as he displays his power to a petrified Ben. It’s powerful engrossing, disturbing in a way Star Wars hasn’t been since Revenge of the Sith and completely thrilling (live action Darth Vader is now on television for the first time since The Star Wars Holiday Special!), but don’t be fooled that this is all Part 3 has to offer. Before a rematch decades in the making there are treasures to be found.
The relationship between the shrewd Leia and the circumspect Kenobi is a joy, both unfolding as they feel each other out, a friendship forming as they avoid adversity only to step right back into the path of danger. Her heartbreaking question to Ben, “Are you my real father?” not only reveals her own displacement, albeit in the beautiful surroundings of Alderaan, but an awareness and longing for a truth lovingly kept from her as she develops. Ben’s reply, “I wish I could say I was, but no I’m not,” is equally sad. The trauma of what he knows from a decade before – the death of her mother and the fall of her father – while concealed bubbles close to the surface, the only hint coming when he calls her Leia in error while they cautiously talk their way out of a spot with four Stormtroopers, her face clearly reminding him of the long lost queen of Naboo as he remembers his own family, something unheard of in 45 years of the saga. His mothers shawl, his fathers hands and a baby brother….
There are moments of drama, humour, action and awe, flitting from pure cinema to intimate moments in a heartbeat. While that already iconic fight feels small in scope, the iconography is clear; “I am what you made me” booms the impressive voice of Vader (how they have created the Empire era voice of James Earl Jones, surely utilising Respeecher, is incredibly effective) as he rakes Kenobi over the coals in a scene reminiscent of his own immolation on Mustafar, and while Kenobi manages to escape, surely a future confrontation will utilise every inch of the widescreen format, giving us a battle to dazzle the senses just as they did in the battle of the heroes at the climax of Episode III.
What’s become very clear is while there’s spectacle and drama, the show shines every bit as much in the intimate, kitchen sink drama nature of its relationships. Ben and Leia, Owen and Ben, Reva and her fellow Inquisitors, all peeling away layers of headcanon to reveal something thoughtfully crafted and eminently satisfying. Part 4 and the second half of the show sure has a lot to live up to after the opening half of the limited series.
Ross Hollebon
This was the first episode of the series I watched at home—and the edge of my seat was engaged the entire time. From the moment Kenobi and Leia landed on Mapuzo I was all nerves, fearful of what they were getting into next, and hoping Leia’s naïve trust wouldn’t land them in trouble. There were amazing parts of this episode but Darth Vader’s appearance and action stole the show.
The Sith Lord’s menacing walk through town, with the fiendish electronic breathing, and his heavy, measured paces are aspects of the nightmare the galaxy is becoming more familiar with. He ruthlessly ravages and kills villagers of all ages as he presses forward. Then Vader finally finds his prey and the red lightsaber ignites. Kenobi is terrified and continues to run until he has no choice but to engage his foe, lifting his blue lightsaber to block the electrified crimson stroke of Vader who taunts his former friend with the phrase, “I am what you made me.” Even as Kenobi appears to escape, after being literally raked across fiery coals by Darth Vader, the words stick with him as others come to his rescue. The reprogrammed loading droid and Tala, an Imperial-turned-Rebel who confirms she has also helped Jedi Knight Quinlan Voss travel safely through “The Path,” do what they can to ensure Kenobi’s survival, at least at the current moment.
Becca Benjamin
Part 2 of the Obi-Wan Kenobi series ended with a quick closeup shot of Hayden Christensen as Darth Vader inside a Bacta Tank. It’s devastatingly ominous, chilling, and yet, exciting all at once because Darth Vader is coming!
Once again, Joby Harold and Deborah Chow tug at our heartstrings with their storytelling and cinematography. That said, Part 3 of Obi-Wan Kenobi is (more or less) about Padme’ Amidala without telling us it’s about Padme’ Amidala. And ten-year-old Leia is (without a doubt) in almost every way, her mother’s daughter. From quick-witted, sass, and stubborn as a Bantha, Leia is everything we would’ve imagined her to be at this point, and it goes without saying that if Carrie Fisher were here, she’d most definitely approve of Vivien’s performance.
In addition to getting some way overdue heartfelt and meaningful Padme references, we are given a gift in the shape of a mirage of the Chosen One, Anakin Skywalker! Yes, I had to pause this and rewind on repeat for a bit until I could go ahead and continue the episode. It’s a surprise, to be sure, but a welcome one.
Not unexpected, though. After all, if you have Hayden Christensen on set, you might as well use all of him to tell the best story possible. Right? Right. And, sure, it was only for a quick bit, but it was so worth it!
Next up would be Tala, played by Indira Varma. Oh. My. Force! What a character and so unexpected, and in the best way possible. Tala is probably one of, if not the most compelling new characters from this series. Playing an Imperial Officer and a Rebel Spy who leads fleeing Jedi and Force-sensitives to safety through the way of “The Path” embodies everything that makes Star Wars a Star War. It echoes a sentiment by Shmi Skywalker (but spoken by Anakin) from The Phantom Menace, “Mom, you say that the biggest problem in this universe is nobody helps each other.”
And then, it happens, they happen. Darth Vader and Kenobi. The reunion we’ve been waiting for, for what feels like a lifetime now.
Darth Vader struts his stuff through the village and wreaks havoc on the villagers. He’s ruthless and reckless like we’ve seen in Rogue One and Paul S. Kemps’ novel, Lords of the Sith. And then pain followed by suffering. Vader hunts Ben Kenobi down and unleashes the sun-dragon from within as he seeks revenge on his former master.
Meanwhile, Leia pleads with Tala to go back and help Ben as she makes her way to their get-away ship. Reluctantly, Tala agrees, leaving Leia to fend for herself and eventually cornered by Reva. Reva’s been waiting for her, mulling over the discovery of “The Path” and a breach within the Empire. A rift allowing Jedi survivors, like Obi-Wan Kenobi, to slip through their fingers.
So now, with Ben injured, who’s going to help Leia? Quinlan Vos? Guess we’ll find out in Part 4.
Mark Newbold and Mark Mulcaster discuss Part 3 on Making Tracks Reaction Chat: Obi-Wan Kenobi Parts 1 – 3.
Brian Cameron and Mark Mulcaster discuss Part 3 on Good Morning Tatooine – Obi-Wan Kenobi Episode 3 – A Reaction.
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