‘Obi-Wan Kenobi’ Episode 3 Recap: An Early Preview of an Epic Showdown

One of the main things that the Obi-Wan Kenobi trailers have been teasing is the eventual rematch between Obi-Wan (Ewan McGregor) and Darth Vader (Hayden Christensen). It’s sure to be an epic moment that many Star Wars fans are looking forward to, but few were expecting to see an early preview in episode 3 of Obi-Wan Kenobi. SPOILERS AHEAD!

Obi-Wan and Leia are on the run from the Empire

In episode 2, Leia and Obi-Wan narrowly escaped Reva (Moses Ingram) and are now trying to return to Alderaan. Episode 3 opens with Obi-Wan attempting to contact his former master, Qui-Gon Jinn (Liam Neeson), to help guide him. He made the shocking discovery that Anakin Skywalker is still alive and is now Darth Vader and is struggling to accept it. 

We then get a lot more interaction between Leia and Obi-Wan. The Jedi explains how The Force feels to Leia, comparing it to turning on a light in the darkness. The two arrive on a mining planet called Mapuzo, where they are told they can find help. However, after growing impatient, Leia and Obi-Wan hop on a transport piloted by a character named Freck (voiced by Zac Braff). Freck sells out the two to the Empire, causing Obi-Wan to have to take down a whole group of stormtroopers.

Leia and Obi-Wan are saved by Tala (Indira Varma), an undercover Imperial Officer who leads the two to an underground bunker in a village used to transport Jedi secretly. Unfortunately, a probe droid sent out a signal of Obi-Wan’s location to the inquisitors before they could escape. 

Darth Vader makes an epic return and is as frightening as ever

At the beginning of the episode, we finally see the return of Darth Vader. While Christensen is in the suit, the voice comes again from James Earl Jones and is a delight to the ears. Vader is hunting for Obi-Wan and arrives in Mapuzo at the end of the episode to find him. He shows up in the village and begins to choke out and kill random villagers savagely. 

He and Obi-Wan have their first confrontation since Obi-Wan left him to die on the fiery plains of Mustafar in Episode III — Revenge of the Sith. This time, Vader has the high ground regarding power level as Obi-Wan has been out of practice for a while. The fight is exciting, but the highlight of the battle comes as Obi-Wan is cornered. Vader lifts him in the air using the Dark Side and creates a sea of fire in front of him. 

Vader puts him down in the fire, recreating the tragic moment from Revenge of the Sith, only this time, the tables are turned. Stormtroopers arrive to capture Obi-Wan, but Tala saves Obi-Wan and helps him escape before that happens.

Meanwhile, Vader has created a power struggle between Reva and the Fifth Brother (Sung Kang) as the two compete for Vader’s favor. Reva didn’t have much screen time in episode 3, but she makes an impact at the end as she sabotages Leia’s escape route and kidnaps her, meaning Obi-Wan’s mission is still not over. 

When will Obi-Wan and Darth Vader meet again?

Not many fans expected the first confrontation between Obi-Wan Kenobi and Vader to be in episode 3, but it’s an early tease of what will come later. Vader may have won round one, but Obi-Wan could win round two as he becomes more in tune with The Force. 

Obi-Wan Kenobi is now streaming on Disney+.