Obi-Wan Kenobi Episode 2 ended with the moment Ben finds out Vader lived. Now Obi-Wan Kenobi writer Joby Harold explains how the decision to have Reva reveal this to Kenobi came around. To begin with, Harold had to get approval that Kenobi just finding out didn’t break canon.
“That was actually not something I pitched originally,” Harold told The Wrap recently. “That was something I discovered along the way, and sort of had to confirm with Pablo and really think, ‘Hold on a second, what does he actually know? Does he know the moniker Vader? What would that mean? Can he associate the two? What was he cognizant of? How isolated is he? Where’s Vader at that time? Where’s his reputation and how well known is he?’ and all those pieces of the puzzle.”
Though as Harold says, having that reveal allowed for a wonderful moment for McGregor.
“The great piece of storytelling you can use is getting to Ewan play the moment of realization that that which haunts him is still alive,” Harold said. “And what does that mean for him? There were many avenues that I could take him down, all of which hopefully are good opportunities to tease out story as we continue. But it all comes down to, is it viable within canon to play that card? Which it was.”
“Which is great, because that allows you, at the end of Episode 2 and the beginning of Episode 3, it gets you so much that feels essential to the fundamental story, which is Obi-Wan, Vader, that which haunts you, facing the past, everything that comes to fruition in [episode] 3 and beyond.”
RELATED: Obi-Wan Kenobi Episode 3 Review – Brutal, Emotional And Still Careful
I was slightly concerned by this, but the moment of Obi-Wan finding out was definitely worth it for me. It does stretch the canon a little for sure, but for me it doesn’t break it. Kenobi clearly knows Vader by sight in A New Hope. And when he left Anakin burned he had never met Vader in suit. I always just assumed he heard rumors and saw footage of Vader in his isolation. However this works for me.
What do you think of moment Ben finds out Vader lived? Leave any thoughts on the comments of Obi-Wan Kenobi writer Joby Harold below, or over on Discord.