Obi-Wan Kenobi Episode 5 review, thorough analysis, and breakdown of important moments, references, and more!
This episode was one of my favorites; flashbacks, plot twists, lightsaber fights, and many characters showing what they’re capable of. Remember that this review contains heavy spoilers, I’d recommend that you watch the episode before reading it.
The Story so far Recap
In the last episode, we learned more about the Fortress Inquisitorius, the Inquisitors’ base of operations, and the place where the Third Sister took Leia. Tala and Obi-Wan decide to infiltrate using Tala’s officer clearance. She was almost caught a few times but she’s sharp and quick when it comes to improvising.
Kenobi got in using an underwater entrance that had minimum security. He was heading to Leia’s position when he learned what this place truly is, a vault where they keep the bodies of enemies of the Galactic Empire. Tera Sinube and Coleman Kcaj, two distinguished Jedi Masters from the Clone Wars era were among the victims.
When Reva was about to torture Leia, Tala managed to buy Kenobi time. He rescued Leia and they headed to the rendezvous point but a probe droid spotted them, triggering the alarm and alerting all forces inside.
The series had a “Jedi: Fallen Order moment” when Obi-Wan uses the Force to momentarily keep the water outside of the hallway they were in. Against all odds, they manage to get to the landing platform but Reva is aware of this. They’re surrounded but two of Roken’s pilots create a distraction, allowing them to escape.
Darth Vader is furious and is very close to choking Reva, but she claims that this was her plan all along. A tracker was put inside Leia’s droid, soon, they’ll know where Leia, Obi-Wan, and the entire rebel cell are located.
Be mindful of your thoughts Anakin, they betray you
The first scene we see is a flashback of Obi-Wan and Anakin doing combat training in the Jedi Temple, the same place where the first scene of the series took place.
In my Episode 3 Review, I reflected on Anakin’s Djem So style and how it is an incredibly aggressive combat form that relies on overpowering its opponents. We can appreciate that aggression in this duel. Kenobi is fully aware of this, that’s why he reminds Anakin that the goal of a Jedi is to save a life, not take it.
Being the stubborn padawan that he is, Anakin refuses to acknowledge the wisdom his master is sharing with him. There are many instances in Anakin’s life where his refusal to use methods other than brute force backfired, his first encounter with Count Dooku being the perfect example.
It would be unreasonable not to recognize that his unusual love for violence is one of the things that has saved him and many others in critical moments, especially in the Clone Wars. He’s an incredible warrior and one of the best strategists in the Jedi Order, but when facing more experienced or skilled opponents his weaknesses have been exposed and emphasized.
I love how the different moments of their duel reflect their lives as master-apprentice and then enemies. As Kenobi points out, Anakin is so eager to prove that he is stronger, braver, and more powerful than anyone else. It’s almost as if to him, being a Jedi is a mean to an end and not the end itself.
Obi-Wan knows Anakin probably more than himself, his tunnel vision has blinded him several times and this occasion is not the exception. This allows Kenobi to be one step ahead of him even in disadvantaged positions.
That lesson resonates throughout the episode. It’s like watching a couple of friends re-playing a chess game from 15 years ago, play by play. With the apprentice becoming smarter and more experienced, and yet, learning nothing from the previous encounters.
No one’s left behind
Roken might be a new character but he has shown to be a real leader for the people he’s protecting. He and the refugees could have left Jabiim without risking themselves getting caught by the Empire. But they stayed to help Obi-Wan and Leia.
What would be the purpose of the entire operation if they leave one child behind? I’m certain that he wouldn’t be able to sleep. After all, he knows exactly what the Inquisitors are capable of doing.
I like that since the early days of the Empire people know where to draw the line. They’re willing to risk everything if that means saving one more life, some might call that foolishness but I believe that mindset is necessary when facing tyranny.
All these people and their sacrifices are planting the seeds that will turn Leia into the defiant and brave leader that the Rebel Alliance needs. She’s obviously already defiant and brave but learning firsthand what the Galactic Empire is willing to do is certainly a life-changing experience. I wouldn’t be surprised if by the end of the season Leia expresses her desire to become the future representative of Alderaan.
A Jedi’s most dangerous weapon isn’t a lightsaber
When it’s clear that they are trapped, Obi-Wan decides that it’s time to turn himself in. Everyone thinks that he has given up hope, but what both Reva and Vader ignore is that even when surrendering, Kenobi is still planning his next move.
This is not the first time Obi-Wan uses this method to stall or find a weak spot in the enemy to be used later. In the Clone Wars animated show, he surrendered and use his masterful negotiation abilities to find an opening in the enemy’s strategy more than once.
The previous conversation he had with Reva where she confesses how Anakin killed all her friends gave Obi-Wan the information needed to complete the puzzle. She’s climbing the power ladder to have a position next to Darth Vader. Not to gain his favor or to replace him, but to cut him down for what he did to her.
Finally, we know the reason why she despises him so much, he was his master, and his duty was to stop him from killing the Jedi in the temple, or at least that’s what she thinks. We all know that Obi-Wan was fighting for his life in Utapau when Order 66 happened, but Reva’s point is very reasonable.
Obi-Wan offers his help to defeat him, I believe his offer is genuine but just like he has looked inside of Reva, she looked back into him. And Reva knows that deep inside of him he doesn’t want Anakin to die, so she refuses the offer, and a brief fight happens.
Once he’s in Imperial custody, he reveals his plan to the Third Sister. “You’re not bringing him to me. I am bringing him to you”. Again, he brings up the most traumatic moment in Reva’s life, the slaughter of the younglings who were her family. Appealing to her desire to stop Vader from repeating such a massacre, he tries one last time to convince her to work together.
She’s not fully on board until Kenobi tells her that Vader will have his whole attention focused on him. He’s sure Anakin’s tunnel vision will blind him from everyone else, or that’s what he thinks. One more time, Obi-Wan’s keen mind and negotiating abilities allow him to find an exit route in an inescapable corridor.
The Rogue One treatment
Rogue One is one of the most beloved Star Wars movies. There are many reasons why I personally like it but one of them is the characters that appear and we get to care about them, they’re not Jedi, one-man armies, or super badass bounty hunters.
Only regular people fighting for a cause that they believe in. Facing impossible odds and paying the ultimate sacrifice so that the galaxy is freed from the Galactic Empire.
The Mandalorian introduced new characters but aside from Din Djarin and Grogu I didn’t feel connected with most of them. The only ones I really cared about were previously introduced in the original trilogy (Luke, Boba Fett) or the Clone Wars animated show (Bo-Katan, Ashoka).
To me, the Obi-Wan Kenobi series successes where The Mandalorian fails. Introducing side characters that the audience really cares about isn’t an easy task, especially when there are only six episodes.
Tala has been such a key member of the story. From the moment she was introduced, it was clear that she is committed to helping force-sensitive people get a new life. It’s not that she’s just brave or such a badass, but the humanity she expires.
I’ve done some predictions in the past reviews, some of them have been accurate and others not so much. This time it felt so bad to be right, I really wanted to see her develop and maybe even appear in more Star Wars media. But the way she died perfectly embodies the kind of person she was.
She ended up dying because she returned to save a normal person. Not Leia the princess, not Obi-Wan the Jedi, not Roken the leader, just a lady that was injured and would have died otherwise.
Tala lived and died defending her beliefs, side by side with her loyal friend NED-B, a reprogrammed droid just like K-2SO in Rogue One. They both perished defending their friends in one last stand against imperial forces.
I’m sad that Tala and NED-B won’t be able to be in the final episode but I still enjoyed knowing them even if it was only for a few episodes.
So close, yet so far
Obi-Wan proved to be the superior mind in this game of cat and mouse. Just like in their training days, Anakin was so certain of his victory that Obi-Wan managed to outsmart him one more time.
Darth Vader is reflecting on this when Reva comes from behind. It is more than obvious that she’s frightened about what’s going to happen. It could be argued that the attack she chose gave Vader too much time to react, but nothing would have made a difference.
Darth Vader is perfectly aware of the emotions that haunt Reva. She fails to stab him with her crimson lightsaber, and now it’s too late to back down. The Third Sister unleashes her anger with every strike but it is obvious that she’s no match for the Sith Lord.
One hand is all that Vader needs to stop Reva from striking him, she’s not threatening enough for him to ignite his own lightsaber. It feels like he’s just toying with her, mocking the fact that she’s incapable of doing anything to him.
Reva is aggressive, impulsive, and full of hate. These traits are what drive Reva and have allowed her to climb in the ranks. It could be said that she’s a reflection of a young Anakin Skywalker.
I’m not saying that she rivals him in any way, but the way she acts, thinks, and fights are so alike that the similarities between them can’t be ignored.
I love the idea of Reva planning to join the Inquisitors, and acquire prestige and power within the Empire just to get close to the person that slew her friends during that horrible night.
It is too bad that she and Kenobi didn’t join forces to fight Vader together. It was a great plan but just like Anakin, the desire to be victorious blinded her and was her ultimate downfall.
Darth Vader defeats her without breaking a sweat, after all the years of training nothing has changed. Reva is as scared, desperate, and powerless as her younger self during the night of Order 66.
“Hello, Third Sister. Revenge does wonders for the will to live, don’t you think?” The Grand Inquisitor appears to claim his position back. This is the moment when she realizes that like everyone else, she’s been used to serve a purpose, and be discarded when the purpose is served.
In what appear to be her final moments, she finds Obi-Wan’s communicating device with a recording. “Children. Tatooine. Owen. Boy.” These are the keywords heard in the transmission, the key to everything.
It is uncertain what will happen with Reva but if Star Wars has taught us anything is that no one is really dead until you see the body.
Interesting Facts
A boy is credited as “Corran” (no last name). Fans have speculated that this boy could be Corran Horn, a force-sensitive human that would eventually be trained and serve under Luke Skywalker. He’s an ace pilot and Jedi Master of the New Jedi Order.
What is strange about this is that his story is part of the Expanded Universe, which is not considered canon because it was created prior to Disney’s acquisition of Star Wars. But with many characters being brought back to canon there’s a possibility that it is in fact Corran Horn.
Everyone is so happy to see references from other Star Wars media, you remember watching Vader pulling the escaping transport onto the ground.
This feature has been done to some extent by different force users; Ahsoka, Rey, and the most memorable one: Starkiller on The Force Unleashed. This isn’t the first time that there’s a visual reference to The Force Unleashed and I love that.
Predictions for Episode 6 and the End of the Series
The only thing I’m certain of is that Obi-Wan is going to fight Darth Vader one more time. From the concept art, I would think that the battle is going to take place on Mustafar, where Anakin and Obi-Wan’s friendship ended.
I don’t know what is going to happen to Reva but I’d love to see a redemption arc for her character, even if it doesn’t last too much. She’s a refreshing character and I believe she’d be a good addition to many stories. Imagine if we were to meet her in Star Wars: Jedi Survivor, that’d be incredible.
Luke is shown in the last shot of the episode and considering the message Reva saw there’s a big possibility that the young Skywalker has a small appearance in the final episode. Either way, I’m very excited to see how this story ends. I don’t know how true this is, but apparently, the last episode is going to last 1.5 hours. I hope that’s true!
Theatrical Release plans
A couple of days ago, news about a Theatrical Release flooded social media. Canadian movie theatre chain Cineplex will have a special screening being held at Toronto’s Scotiabank Theatre on Wednesday, June 22 (series finale day of airing).
Following the screening, there’s going to be a live Q&A with Deborah Chow and Hayden Christensen. So far, it’s unknown if there will be any other theatrical releases so be sure to check out your local theaters for any news regarding this topic.
If you are worried you have missed something from the series, I have analyzed and reviewed all of the Obi-Wan Kenobi episodes! There are great secrets and easter eggs to hunt and break down in each one of them!
