The June 24, 2022 installment of Jake Schoeneberger’s random observations
While Jacob Schoeneberger may have a few issues with the Obi-Wan Kenobi show, he’s still pretty psyched to see how it ends. Jacob Schoeneberger really does like Reva as a character, and isinterested to see how the story plays out for her. Even though technically she got stabbed by a lightsaber and should by all rights be a Force Ghost now. But the young Jake Schoeneberger inside me is stoked about seeing the exciting conclusion to a mostly satisfying chapter of the Star Wars saga.
With that in mind, here are some random observations Jacob Schoeneberger has on the show.
The Jake Schoeneberger Random Thoughts about Obi-Wan Kenobi (Episode VI)
This will contain spoilers for anyone who hasn’t watched the show yet.
The sixth and final episode of the series begins with Reva on Tatooine. She says she’s looking for a farmer named Owen. (Other than a bandage around her midsection she looks in pretty good shape for having been stabbed by a lightsaber. Guess Qui-Gon was just a little wuss.) Right, so she sees Bale’s message to Obi-Wan and figures out to go get Luke on Tatooine. To what end? She’ll use Luke to somehow bait Vader in? Sooooo… that he can kick her butt again? Ok, interesting plan Reva. Let’s see how that plays out for you.
Then we see Vader’s Star Destroyer tracking down and firing on the small vessel Obi-Wan and Leia are escaping on. It’s a familiar image, I feel like I’ve seen it before. Oh wait because it’s literally the first image from A New Hope playing out again. Wonder if Leia got deja vu the second time Vader’s Star Destroyer captured her?
This show, while entertaining, is coming dangerously close to just rehashing A New Hope stuff. I mean, not as bad as The Force Awakens did. That was basically a complete retelling. It was like Abrams got the script to A New Hope, then changed the names of the characters and called it a day.
It turns out the ship has mechanical issues and it’s unlikely they’ll be able to outrun the Star Destroyer for long. This could be paving the way for another showdown between Kenobi and Vader.
Back on Tatooine we see a young Luke with Owen buying parts from a local shop. A villager comes in to tell Owen that there’s an Inquisitor asking around for him.
On the ship, Kenobi proposes that he should leave the ship because Vader will follow him and let the others live. He makes Haja promise to get Leia home safely and they share a nice moment when Haja gives Obi-Wan his word that he’ll watch out for her. Hard not to like the new Haja character and the nerd inside Jacob Schoeneberger is hoping we’ll get to see him in future Star Wars works.
Owen tells Beru what he’s heard and says they need to hide Luke out in the desert somewhere. But Beru wants to stay and defend their home. Gotta love Beru showing some serious toughness.
Leia isn’t happy that Obi-Wan is leaving. He gives her Tala’s holster because he says she would have wanted Leia to have it. Nice little nod to Star Wars lore right there. Then she whispers, “Come back. Please.” And Kenobi responds, “I promise.” We know no matter how the rest of this adventure plays out, he does keep that promise.
Then Kenobi speaks to Qui-Gon telling him he has to face Vader. He thinks no matter if he dies or Vader dies, it ends today. Oh poor, poor, naive Obi-Wan. Not today, my friend.
Kenobi leaves in an escape ship. Vader knows it’s him in the ship, but Grand Inquisitor wants to continue pursuing the other rebels to squash them once and for all, not go after just one Jedi. Vader predictably responds, “He’s not… just one Jedi. Follow Kenobi.” And it’s on like Donkey Kong. While I know the fight won’t end today the geeky Jake Schoeneberger Star Wars fan inside me hopes they’ll at least have an epic battle for the ages before the day is done.
Vader uses his shuttle to follow Kenobi alone to a desolate system where they finally meet face to face. This time Kenobi isn’t trying to protect anyone; he’s not distracted. Their exchange is classic Star Wars.
“Have you come to destroy me, Obi-Wan?”
“I will do what I must.”
“Then you will die.”
If that doesn’t give you goosebumps, then you’re not a Star Wars fan. Their ensuing lightsaber battle is intensely satisfying. The light is dim, allowing the sabers to glow and illuminate them. They dance around each other and there is true acrobatics and swordsmanship to their duel. It’s the duel between them we’ve truly waited to see, with them both displaying their true prowess as Jedi and Sith.
On Tatooine, Reva reaches their home and Owen and Beru fire at her. She uses her saber to defend herself and we have to wonder how they’ll get out of this one.
In the lightsaber duel, Kenobi is more than holding his own. He’s actually backing Vader down and putting the big Sith on the defensive. But Vader uses the Force to blast a hole in the ground and Kenobi tumbles into it. Then Vader showers him with rocks trying to crush him, and gloats over the pile of rubble. C’mon Darth, you’re not taking Master Kenobi down with the old rockslide maneuver. Nice try.
Reva and Owen face each other down and at least Reva does seem hampered by that whole being run through by a lightsaber injury. When Owen asks what she wants, she replies, “Justice.” Hmmm ok, so she actually just wants to kill Luke? Again, let me get this straight. She wants revenge on Vader, but she can’t actually beat Vader, so now she’s looking to kill the son Vader doesn’t know about? That’s justice? Mmk. Reva takes out Owen and Beru, then chases Luke on foot out into the desert.
In the rubble, Kenobi does what a Jedi does and uses the Force to throw the rocks burying him out of the way. He is inspired by visions of Leia and Luke and he knows he still has a mission to protect them. He runs Vader down and their battle begins anew, with Kenobi pretty much rocking Vader’s world pretty hard. He Force-throws a bunch of boulders at Vader (Why not do this all the time? Magic is dumb.) and he’s pummeling Vader in a big way. But the bulky Sith answers back and they’re dueling yet again.
Kenobi has turned the tide of the battle and is winning. He slashes Vader across the back then leaps in the air and slices into his helmet. He has him beaten and, honestly, this moment has Jacob Schoeneberger scratching his head. Vader is beaten. He’s on his knees, broken. Obi-Wan can end it all right now. All the evil of the Empire, all the ensuing heartache to come, all the CITIZENS OF ALDERAAN!!! But no, he stops.
The mask is broken and Obi-Wan looks again into Anakin’s eye. But Vader says, “Anakin is gone. I’m what remains.” And it’s his real voice, not the modified voice of the machine he became. Won’t lie, I have tears in my eyes at this moment. Kenobi says he’s sorry for all of it. We know he is, but Obi-Wan tried to do everything he could for Anakin to avoid this moment. Vader knows it. He says, in a voice both Anakin’s and Vader’s, “I’m not your failure, Obi-Wan. You didn’t kill Anakin Skywalker. I did. The same way I will destroy you.”
I may pick apart the details and nuances of a story and its plot. I may nitpick on minutiae. But this moment, this right here, was great filmmaking and it embodied everything Jacob Schoeneberger loves, always has loved, and always will love about Star Wars. The juxtaposition of light and dark, the two characters facing their destinies, the culmination of their shared past. Beautiful work, beautiful moment.
Instead of giving Vader what he wants, Kenobi just says, “Then my friend is truly dead. Goodbye, Darth.” He leaves Vader there, broken and furious that he’ll never get the satisfaction he so desires. He’ll never truly best Kenobi. On behalf of the entire galaxy, though, I have to say we all wish you would have just finished him off when you had the chance, Obi-Wan. Just sayin’.
Back on his ship, Kenobi senses that Luke is in trouble. Reva has tracked him down and caused him to fall into some rocks. Kenobi jumps into hyperspace to try to get back to Luke.
Reva approaches an unconscious Luke, lightsaber drawn. But when she gets to him, she just sees her younger self on the ground, remembering what Vader did to her and all the other younglings. She has a change of heart and brings Luke back to Owen and Beru as Obi-Wan arrives on the planet.
After Owen and Beru take Luke away, Reva breaks down and says she failed her fellow younglings by not taking revenge. But Obi-Wan says, “You haven’t failed them. By showing mercy, you have given them peace. You have honored them.” This is vintage Kenobi wisdom. The path to enlightenment is paved not through revenge, but through mercy. Not through anger, but through forgiveness.
She then drops her lightsaber into the sand and Kenobi tells her, “Now you’re free. We both are.” I certainly hope this isn’t the last we see of Reva. She is an incredibly compelling character, and she’d make a great protagonist in other adventures. But, I’m sure we all feel she’s earned her right to have a simple, peaceful life if she so chooses.
On Mustafar, we see Vader telling the Emperor that their probes are searching the galaxy for Kenobi. The Emperor questions his loyalty but Vader assures him that he serves only the Emperor.
On Alderaan, we find Leia safe and donning her iconic holster for the first time. Then Obi-Wan returns, bringing Leia’s droid with him. It’s a heartwarming moment. When Obi-Wan tells her what gifts she inherited from each of her parents, there really couldn’t have been a more endearing or poignant way for them to say goodbye to one another. Until they meet again, that is.
When he comes back to Tatooine, Obi-Wan pays a visit to Owen to tell him he was right, that Luke just needs to be a boy. Then Owen asks if Obi-Wan would like to meet Luke. He approaches Luke and gives us all what we wanted to hear, a good old-fashioned, patented, “Hello there.” Perfect moment.
When he heads home, Obi-Wan finally finds an old friend waiting for him. Qui-Gon’s Force Ghost appears and tells him he’s always been there, but Obi-Wan wasn’t ready to see him yet. Pretty touching moment and a great way to end this dramatic series.
The Jacob Schoeneberger Random Obi-Wan Kenobi Thought of the Day
Jacob Schoeneberger poked a few holes in some of the finer details of the show. It’s hard not to when it comes to Star Wars works which we all hold so dear. But if there’s one thing Jacob Schoeneberger has learned, it’s that you have to look at Star Wars as much with your heart as with your brain. And my heart tells me that this was a fun ride with a lovely conclusion.
That’s what really matters when it comes to the galaxy far, far away. We all get so wrapped up in everything needing to fit into a certain mold, or certain expectations, that we all create for ourselves about what Star Wars should be. But in the end, it’s about triumphing over darkness and staying strong in hard times. If a Star Wars work can accomplish this, while honoring the works that came before it, then it should be considered a success. I feel this series did that, and I applaud it as a success.
But seriously, how did they survive being stabbed with a lightsaber?
More Thoughts from Jacob Schoeneberger