In this week’s episode of Obi-Wan Kenobi, Leia and the Jedi make their way to Mapuzo after their hasty escape from the Inquisitors. Obi-Wan is still reeling from the knowledge that Anakin Skywalker is still alive, and a difficult reunion awaits.
Darth Vader searches for Obi-Wan
Obi-Wan attempts to communicate with Qui-Gon Jinn through the Force as Reva’s words about Anakin Skywalker echo through his head. Elsewhere, we see Anakin suit up as Darth Vader. Obi-Wan whispers, “He’s coming, master,” while Vader demands to know where the Jedi Master is. Vader tells Reva that if she proves herself, the position of Grand Inquisitor will be hers to take.
Reva tells her fellow Inquisitors that Obi-Wan and Leia have escaped to one of the mining systems, but Fifth Brother continues to challenge her. He pulls her down onto table as he angrily tells her that he’s the next in line, but he grows quiet when she tells him that Vader personally told her to lead the hunt.
A journey across Mapuzo
Leia has grown bored on their journey, and she begins asking Obi-Wan questions about the Force. She’s grateful to learn that he fixed Lola for her. Their ship lands on Mapuzo, and they carefully sneak off to make their way to the meeting point (and Obi-Wan sees an illusion of Anakin standing off across the desert on the way).
As they continue their journey, Obi-Wan crafts a cover story — they’re farmers from Tawi. Despite his plan to remain inconspicuous, Leia doesn’t hesitate to flag down a ride to the spaceport, and she introduces them as Luma and her father Orden. The driver, Freck, invites four stormtroopers to hitch a ride as well, and they just so happen to be looking for a rogue Jedi. The stormtroopers begin to ask them questions, and Obi-Wan accidentally refers to Leia by her real name. He covers it up with an ironic truth: “Sometime when I look at Luma, I see her mother’s face.”
After the stormtroopers leave, Leia accuses Obi-Wan of lying to her, because she now believes that he knew her real mother. She asks if he’s her real father, but he informs her that he’s not. Obi-Wan begins to tell her about how Jedi are taken from their families as children, but he’s interrupted when he sees Freck is stopping at a checkpoint for inspection. Despite the driver’s friendly demeanor, he quietly tells one of the stormtroopers that they should check out the strays he picked up.
Obi-Wan and Leia exit the back of the vehicle, and a droid floats over to identify them. Just as the alarm begins to beep, Obi-Wan pulls out his blaster starts shooting. Just when they think they’re in the clear, another vehicle of full of stormtroopers arrives. An imperial officer steps down and … shoots all of the remaining stormtroopers. This is their contact. She brings them to a town and begins to work on their exit strategy, putting them in a safe house for the time being. She explains that Obi-Wan isn’t the first Jedi to come through what they call the Path — a collection of safe houses throughout the galaxy that leads to Jabiim. Obi-Wan looks at the wall and notes that the Jedi Quinlan was there, and the woman tells him that he helps smuggle younglings.
“You should’ve killed me when you had the chance”
After stormtroopers enter the building in search of them, the woman — who finally introduces herself as Tala — decides it’s time to go, because their location is now compromised. Just as they’re about to leave, Obi-Wan doubles over in pain. He glances outside and is horrified to see that Darth Vader has arrived. Vader begins attack innocent bystanders, and Obi-Wan urges Leia to leave with Tala.
Obi-Wan lures Vader away from the town. When Vader finds him, he ignites his lightsaber, but Obi-Wan runs.
OBI-WAN: What have you become?
DARTH VADER: I am what you made me.
Although Obi-Wan tries to escape, Vader catches back up with him and the two engage in a lightsaber duel. Vader remarks how the years have made the other man weak. He Force chokes Obi-Wan and sets fire to the ground before dropping the Jedi into the flames so he can suffer as he did. The stormtroopers arrive and Vader sends him flying backward out of the flames with the Force, instructing his troopers to bring Obi-Wan to him.
Having left Leia behind in the tunnel after the girl assured her she could make it the rest of the way herself, Tala and NED-B manage to rescue Obi-Wan from Vader’s clutches. Unfortunately, Reva then finds her way into the safe house and tricks Leia into believing she’s the person she was supposed to be meeting.
The next episode of Obi-Wan Kenobi will premiere exclusively on Disney+ on Wednesday, June 8. Stay tuned for all of our coverage on the series, including episodic recaps and more.
