Obi-Wan Kenobi Part V Review: Secrets revealed in an eventful penultimate episode

Part V is a powerful and at times illogical chapter of Obi-Wan Kenobi. Obi-Wan, as a character, is beginning to feel more and more like the savvy Jedi we’ve come to know in the prequels. In many ways, Darth Vader and Obi-Wan are playing chess while the other pawns are playing checkers.

Part V is the first episode to feature Hayden Christensen‘s youthful appearance. In a training scene, Obi-Wan imparts some well-intended wisdom to his padawan. The writing in this sequence is far better than anything in the prequels and is further proof Christensen was the right choice to play Anakin. He just needed a script to match.

The beginning of Part V finds Obi-Wan, Leia and Tala regrouping with “The Path.” Rekon quickly figures out Vader is tracking them somehow. They quickly lock down the facility as a group of stormtroopers led by the newly christened Grand Inquisitor Reva try to ram through the door. Obi-Wan’s plan is to distract Reva and Vader, which will allow everyone to evacuate the planet. They just need to manually override the exit doors, which is Leia’s job in the episode.

Part III showcases Vader in his most terrifying state. Part V is Vader at the height of his power. There’s a lightsaber duel in the episode. Vader just uses the Force to defend. When “The Path” tries to escape, he uses the force to stop the ship and destroy its hyperdrive.

Part V is an exhilarating 40-minute-plus episode, but there are a couple of problems. Indira Varma has done a great job as Tala, but her exit in Part V is too abrupt and the scene simply doesn’t have the emotional impact Deborah Chow is trying to hit.

I like the Reva reveals in this episode and Moses Ingram is terrific. Unfortunately, I wasn’t a huge fan of how Obi-Wan used her as a pawn, so he can escape with the others. On one hand, it’s a testament to how cunning Obi-Wan can be as well as Vader’s intelligence (he’s one step ahead of her as well). Although it’s great to show Obi-Wan and Anakin are more alike. I just didn’t like using Reva to showcase that point.

In spite of those issues, Part V is one of the best episodes of the series. Only Part III is definitely better. The action is brutal, flashback sequences are fun and threads are tied up in a manner that should lead to a satisfying finale.

With the overview out of the way, let’s dive deeper into the elements that stood in Part V. There may be some minor spoilers. Obi-Wan Kenobi is available to stream on Disney Plus.

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Master Obi-Wan and Padawan Anakin in Part V

The episode flashes back to a singular prequel-era event. A training session between Obi-Wan and Anakin. It’s not clear at what stage of Anakin’s maturation this training session is taking place. Anakin appears to have the upper hand in the duel. Until Anakin’s desire to win becomes his undoing. Obi-Wan uses Anakin’s hubris and lack of patience to disarm Anakin without his lightsaber.

Their literal duel in the past turns into a strategic battle in the present. Vader promotes Reva to Grand Inquisitor and orders her to capture Obi-Wan on Jabiim. Once Obi-Wan figures out Vader is on his trail, he comes up with a plan to lure Vader out. Obi-Wan believes his lack of patience will give them a window to escape.

Vader may not be as wise as Obi-Wan, but some of his master’s teaching clearly sets in. He figures out who the rat in his ranks is. Although it’s unclear at what point he figures everything out. The display of power Vader shows by holding the large vessel is probably the most powerful display of the force since Luke’s astral projection in The Last Jedi.

Great Escape

Rekon, Obi-Wan and Tala are joined by Haja (Kumail Nanjiani) on Jabiim. Obi-Wan and Rekon have a misunderstanding early in the episode. Rekon believes Obi-Wan is abandoning them. Obi-Wan is actually giving them time to escape. Giving himself up to Reva will narrow Vader’s focus and give the others windo.

Unfortunately, Leia’s droid was tampered with at the end of Part IV. In Part V, The droid cuts several wires at the base, which prevents an escape. The wiring is located in a small vent, which only a child or droid could reach. Without hesitation, Leia asks for a ladder. Obi-Wan asks Haja to watch out for Leia while he orchestrates the escape and attempts to get through to Reva.

The stormtroopers eventually breach the door. A pretty chaotic battle ensues. The sequence features some slick editing, which adds to the chaos. Tala is seriously wounded. Instead of allowing Obi-Wan to save her, she sacrifices herself with a grenade taking a few stormtroopers with her. Varma does get to deliver a great speech to Obi-Wan early in the episode. Unfortunately, Tala’s exit just didn’t pack the emotional weight the sequence deserved especially in comparison to Rogue One. Beyond broad strokes, we simply haven’t spent enough time with her character for the sacrifice to mean something.

Reva’s Revenge Unfulfilled

Reva’s vendetta has little to do with Obi-Wan and everything to do with Anakin Skywalker. Her anger towards Obi-Wan was a brilliant misdirection designed to get close to Vader. As a simple Inquisitor she didn’t have access, but her willingness to track down Obi-Wan appealed to Vader.

Reva was one of the younglings at the Jedi temple who suffered Anakin’s wrath during Order 66. In an eerie scene, Reva reveals she pretended like she was dead in order to prevent Anakin from killing her. She plans to use Vader’s desire to kill Obi-Wan as a distraction.

Later, an unarmed Obi-Wan presents himself as a hostage to Reva. In a savvy, savage move, Obi-Wan turns things around on Reva. She isn’t bringing Vader to Obi-Wan. Obi-Wan is bringing Vader to Reva, where she can execute her revenge.

The move by Obi-Wan works in allowing them to escape. It’s also a bit demented on Obi-Wan’s part. He knows Vader’s power and that Reva’s no match for Vader. Yet, he sets her up to be slaughtered.

Reva’s vengeance fails in a spectacularly, pathetic fashion. She tries to attack Vader from behind. He simply uses the force to freeze her. Throughout the entire battle, Vader never ignites his own lightsaber. He just uses the force to overwhelm her. He eventually disarms Reva, breaks her dual-blade lightsaber into two parts and without hesitation stabs her in the stomach. Vader twists the knife by revealing the actual Grand Inquisitor is alive. Vader leaves Reva wounded, gasping for breath, but still alive to end Part V.

Obi-Wan Kenobi Part V Final Thoughts

Part V is a great chapter from start to finish. There are some logic gaps, but overall the performances, action sequences and execution of the predictable reveals are terrific.

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