Obi-Wan Kenobi: Episode 3 Explained

Obi Wan Kenobi, the new Star Wars TV show available on Disney Plus, has been quite controversial. In between the praise for having Ewan McGregor back in the role, the show has been assailed by a number of criticisms that range from absurd to totally legitimate. The Fandom has been divided online since the debut of the series, and no one is really sure if the show manages to exceed or fails to match the expectations of the audience. The truth seems to be somewhere right in between.
Episode 3 arrives at the screen and brings with it the comeback of another fan favorite character. Darth Vader appears once again on screen, this time with Hayden Christensen under the mask. And audiences around the world were ready to see one of the best characters in the history of cinema doing what he does best once again. Reception has been mixed, though, it seems the show doesn’t really know how to bring the fans together under one roof.
However, aside from the mixed reception, there are some very interesting things happening in this episode, as we reach the middle point of this miniseries. Warning, the following paragraphs are filled with spoilers for the whole show.
Obi-Wan Kenobi: Episode 3 Plot Summary
The episode begins with Obi-Wan Kenobi and Leia arriving at Mapuzo, a mining system that used to be populated with miners and farmers, but now the Empire has taken hold of the planet. Stormtroopers can be seen on outposts all over the desert, and it seems like in just about a decade The Emperor and his Empire have really taken out all sorts of resistance.
Meanwhile, on the volcanic planet of Mustafar, we see Darth Vader in his dark castle, as if taken from a Dungeons & Dragons’ evil fortress. Inside the castle, we see Darth Vader, getting ready for action as he dresses up in his iconic dark suit. When ready, Vader calls Reva, The Third Sister, and orders her to catch Obi-Wan Kenobi no matter what, he is now a priority target. If she does well, Vader promises to give Reva the title of Grand Inquisitor.
Reva meets with his fellow inquisitors and relays Vader’s orders. She believes that Obi-Wan Kenobi and Leia have gone to a mining system in order to hide. She orders them to send drones to these systems to look for them. Reluctantly, the other inquisitors send the drones and the search begins.
At Mapuzo Obi-Wan Kenobi and Leia are picked up by a local, and then they meet with some Stormtroopers. Their cover is almost blown when Obi-Wan Kenobi calls Leia by her name. They save the slip and the Stormtroopers leave. During the trip, Leia asks if Obi-Wan knew her real mother and if he is her real father. Obi-Wan says he wishes he were, and that he understands. Jedi are taken from their families at a very young age. He doesn’t remember much from his parents, although he thinks he had a baby brother.
The transporter takes them to an Imperial checkpoint, and there their cover is blown. However, they are helped by an Imperial officer named Tala who actually helps runaways escaping the Empire. Tala is working with Quinlan Vos, who is helping refugees and Jedi escape the purge as well. Sadly, while the drone is destroyed, the inquisitors know Obi-Wan Kenobi’s location, and they make their way to Mapuzo.
The inquisitors arrive at Mapuzo, alongside Darth Vader, who is looking to face his old master. Obi-Wan Kenobi runs away though he doesn’t want to fight Vader, so even when it comes to fighting with their lightsabers, Obi-Wan is defeated rather fast. Tala saves Kenobi, but unfortunately, Reva has her hands on Leia, as the episode ends.
Obi-Wan Kenobi: Episode 3 Explained
The episode finds Obi-Wan Kenobi’s mental state as a disaster. During his time in exile, Obi-Wan has really lost most of his strength and his braveness. Long past are the days of the brave Jedi General. In this episode, we can see that Obi-Wan Kenobi is truly human and fears are taking advantage of him. Seeing Anakin transformed as Vader, especially, seems to hit him right in the feelings.
Other than that, the episode brings the name of Quinlan Vos, a Jedi Master that fought alongside Anakin, and Obi-Wan during the clone wars. The show seems to be setting him to appear in future episodes, and fans of the animated series will surely be happy to see another Jedi from those shows brought to life in live-action.
We also get glimpses of Reva’s motivations. It seems almost a sure thing at this point that Reva was a padawan at some point in her life, and then turned to the Darkside to survive. When she sees the Jedi symbol on a wall, her feelings rise up. She is very angry and maybe hates the Jedi because they couldn’t save the students at the academy when Order 66 was executed. We’ll see.
We also get glimpses of Obi-Wan’s past. The fact he says he might have a brother is a very interesting fact. Over the years fans have speculated that Obi-Wan could have had a family, but while not his direct kids, we might see another member of the Kenobi family very soon in the future.