The biggest revelations from episode 4 of Obi-Wan Kenobi

Lauren Morgan
·5 min read

While there wasn't an epic lightsaber duel between Darth Vader (Hayden Christensen) and Obi-Wan (Ewan McGregor) in episode 4 of Obi-Wan Kenobi, our weary Jedi Master discovered what horrors lay at the heart of the Fortress Inquisitorius when he attempted to rescue Leia (Vivien Lyra Blair) from Reva's (Moses Ingram) clutches. Here are the biggest revelations from the fourth episode.

Obi-Wan gets his mojo back

After his rather sad showing against Darth Vader in the last episode, Obi-Wan got back into the Jedi swing of things when he had to save Leia from Fortress Inquisitorius. As he and Tala (Indira Varma) traveled to the fortress's location on Nur, Obi-Wan got in a little Jedi practice trying to use the Force to move a simple object… and it still appeared like he was not at his full power.

Not to worry! Because once they landed and Obi-Wan heard Leia screaming from impending torture, his abilities came into much sharper focus. He's still not quite the fighter he was on Mustafar but it's thrilling to see some of his old moves return as Obi-Wan fought his way through successive squads of stormtroopers, parrying their blaster bolts with ease. (Then again, they are mere stormtroopers, so how hard was it?)

The Clone Wars general in him came out as well after meeting Tala's compatriots on Jabiim (played by O'Shea Jackson and Pen15's Maya Erskine) and figuring a way into Fortress Inquisitorios from the ocean below. Though he might not be the Jedi he once was, as Obi-Wan infiltrated the fortress from its watery depth, he at least proved the man who once swam alongside Gungans in The Phantom Menace still has some underwater game.

Ewan McGregor in 'Obi-Wan Kenobi'
Ewan McGregor in 'Obi-Wan Kenobi'

Lucasfilm Ltd. Ewan McGregor in 'Obi-Wan Kenobi'

The Tomb of Fallen Jedi

Before he found Leia, Obi-Wan stumbled into a truly chilling sight when he discovered what the Inquisitors are keeping in the fortress' secure sector –– the bodies of dead Jedi and other Force sensitives floating in an eerie gold liquid. This isn't the first time we've seen the Inquisitors using the bodies of Jedi as sick trophies. In Star Wars Rebels, they used the body of Jedi Master Luminara Unduli to lure Kanan Jarrus out of hiding. While there was another Mirialan in the tomb, it didn't quite look like Unduli, but there were a few others Star Wars fans might recognize, including Tera Sinube and one that suspiciously looked like Quinlan Vos.

Whether that was really Vos or not is up for debate since Obi-Wan didn't seem to recognize him the way he did Sinube, and after mentioning him in the last episode, it would be odd not to acknowledge his death here. Since it's now obvious O'Shea Jackson is playing a different character and not Vos, whether the Jedi shows up in the next two episodes or on another Star Wars show entirely (perhaps Andor?) remains to be seen.

Leia would like to speak to the manager

We all know that Leia Organa could be imperious when she wanted to be, but it's almost hilarious to see how it manifests in her 10-year-old self with her "Do you know who I am?" energy as Reva traps her in an interrogation room. Reva tried working the little girl over by lying and telling her that no one was coming for her now that Obi-Wan was dead, but discovered what a tough cookie she was dealing with when the little girl would not break.

Reva even tried to Force read Leia's mind but it proves more impenetrable than the fortress. While it's canon that Leia was indeed Force-sensitive and her powers manifested differently than Luke's in the way that she could read people, it's interesting that Reva isn't getting any sense of those abilities here. Is Leia's ability to block others from her mind preventing both Reva and later, Vader from knowing the truth of who she is? Maybe so, and it would explain why her real father never realized she was his daughter until he was fighting Luke on the second Death Star.

Darth Vader (Hayden Christensen) in Lucasfilm's OBI-WAN KENOBI
Darth Vader (Hayden Christensen) in Lucasfilm's OBI-WAN KENOBI

Lucasfilm Ltd. Hayden Christensen as Darth Vader in 'Obi-Wan Kenobi.'

Lucasfilm really loves bacta tanks

After Boba Fett spent a good 50% of The Book of Boba Fett in a bacta tank, Obi-Wan got dunked in a much less fancy one as he recovered from his Vader-inflicted burns. While fans of a shirtless, wet Ewan McGregor are grateful, the Force connection between Obi-Wan and a struggling Vader in his own tank demonstrates just how deep and painful the bond remains for both the former Jedi brothers, and while Obi-Wan needs to bacta tank to heal, Vader really needs it to survive.

Additional Thoughts

  • The speculation that Reva was a youngling who the Jedi abandoned after Order 66 seems more and more accurate as she interrogates Leia and reveals a bit more of her backstory. Since we saw a Jedi youngling floating in one of the tombs, perhaps young Reva decided that the Dark Side would be preferable to that utterly disturbing end.

  • Throughout her scenes outwitting various Imperial officers, Tala has proven that she's an exceptionally wily double agent who is willing to do whatever it takes to rescue Leia and Obi-Wan. The Sand Snakes would be proud as Game of Thrones' star Indira Varma is positively fantastic in the role.

  • Since Reva took Lola from Leia at one point, it's obvious that's where she hid the tracker, especially after it lit up at the end. Here's hoping that Obi-Wan finds it before the Inquisitors find him and the Path.

  • The scenes between Obi-Wan and Leia have been a highlight of the show, so it was impossible not to be moved as Leia quietly took his hand for comfort on the rescue ship and to see how he grasped her hand right back.

Listen to interviews with Obi-Wan Kenobi stars Ewan McGregor, Hayden Christensen, Kumail Nanjiani, Rupert Friend and more on EW's new Star Wars podcast, Dagobah Dispatch.

How well do you know Obi-Wan Kenobi? Take EW's quiz to find out where your Jedi skills rank!"

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