Warning! Spoilers ahead for Obi-Wan Kenobi episode 6.
The Obi-Wan Kenobi season 1 finale features quite the dynamic ending for the new Star Wars series. Having all sorts of exciting reveals and connections to the rest of the timeline, the Obi-Wan Kenobi ending sees the titular Jedi master finally facing his former apprentice who's become Darth Vader. However, Obi-Wan and Vader aren't the only ones to receive an epic resolution ahead of A New Hope.
In Obi-Wan episode 6, Obi-Wan Kenobi gives himself up to save Princess Leia and the resistance cell known as the Path. Diverting course to pursue his old master, Darth Vader follows Kenobi where the two engage in a lightsaber duel of epic proportions. Furthermore, the former Third Sister named Reva is seen on Tatooine having learned about young Luke Skywalker and the Lars family.
Set during the dark times between the prequel and original Star Wars trilogies, this previously unseen chapter of Obi-Wan's life shows how he learns to grow beyond the events of Revenge of the Sith and the loss of Anakin Skywalker to the dark side. Rather than simply surviving and hiding from the Empire's gaze, Obi-Wan Kenobi features Kenobi regaining his balance in the Force as a Jedi while finally reconciling with the past by the season's end. As such, here's the Obi-Wan Kenobi season 1 ending explained in detail.
Why Obi-Wan Kenobi Beat Darth Vader
Dueling once more as they had in Obi-Wan Kenobi episode 3, this new lightsaber battle sees Obi-Wan being more prepared to face Darth Vader, having chosen to be a Jedi once more. With past episodes showing Obi-Wan struggling due to his years cutting himself off from his Force combined with his struggle over his self-perceived failures with Anakin, it's taken some time for him to become the Jedi he once was.
However, Kenobi's experiences with Leia and the Path have given him something to truly fight for again, resulting in Obi-Wan reconnecting fully with his Force abilities. This gives him the upper hand as he catches Vader by surprise, damaging the Dark Lord's life armor enough for the Jedi to emerge victorious in his rematch against Darth Vader, and make his escape back to Tatooine, leaving his former padawan to the darkness he's chosen to embrace. This was preceded by a truly tragic interaction where Obi-Wan concludes that Anakin Skywalker is dead having been killed by Vader (a notion the Sith Lord shares).
Qui-Gon Jinn Cameo Explained
After Obi-Wan's return to Tatooine and encounter with Reva, Kenobi clearly has a new lease on life now once more back in the desert world watching after young Luke Skywalker. As such, Obi-Wan has chosen to leave his cave behind to presumably move into his homestead seen in A New Hope. However, Obi-Wan also meets the Force ghost of his master Qui-Gon Jinn. While he hadn't been able to commune with his master previously, it seems as though becoming rebalanced in the Force has allowed him to finally speak with him. Humorously chastising his former apprentice for taking so long, Qui-Gon reveals that he had always been with Kenobi who simply wasn't ready to see, needing to first reconcile with the past.
Palpatine's Return Explains Why Vader Never Found Kenobi
Following his failure to destroy Kenobi, Darth Vader returns to his fortress on Mustafar. Promising Emperor Palpatine that he would scour the galaxy in his mission to end his old master once and for all, Palpatine's perspective convinces the Dark Lord otherwise. Fearing that Vader's feelings towards his old master were creating weakness within his apprentice, the Emperor implies that he would have no use for Darth Vader if Anakin's Skywalker's past couldn't be overcome. Affirming his service to the will of his dark master, the finale for Obi-Wan Kenobi confirms that Palpatine was the reason Vader didn't relentlessly pursue Kenobi after Obi-Wan was found by the Empire in this new series.
What Happens To Reva After Obi-Wan Kenobi?
While Obi-Wan Kenobi episode 5 saw Reva learning about the boy Kenobi had been protecting on Tatooine, the finale sees the former Inquisitor attempting to seek her vengeance by killing Luke Skywalker. Despite her battle with Uncle Own and Aunt Beru and her pursuit of young Luke, the former Jedi youngling discovers she's unable to kill the boy as revenge for her friends who were killed by Darth Vader during Order 66. Receiving encouragement from Obi-Wan who arrives just in time to see Reva returning Luke to Owen and Beru, the Jedi master helps Reva realize that she's honored her friends through her mercy and has helped them find peace.
While it's unclear what's next for Reva following the end of Obi-Wan Kenobi, she'll likely be looking for a place where she too can find peace (away from the gaze of the Empire). At any rate, it was certainly a welcome surprise that Reva wasn't killed after achieving redemption (a trope that happens often). While the former Third Sister could have found somewhere to settle down on Tatooine, the stronger possibility is that she's headed off-world to find somewhere isolated and remote to help her stay hidden.
What Happens Next To Obi-Wan Kenobi?
Following his adventure across the galaxy with young Princess Leia, it looks as though Obi-Wan Kenobi is ready to resume his protection of Luke on Tatooine for another 9 years before the events of A New Hope. During that time, established Star Wars canon confirms that Kenobi has all sorts of adventures on Tatooine like dealing with Tuskens Raiders and even getting on the bad side of Jabba the Hutt, resulting in Kenobi entering a showdown with the fearsome Wookiee Black Krrsantan.
Having a renewed purpose after facing Darth Vader and the darkness of his past, it looks as though Kenobi will also have the benefit and communing with Qui-Gon Jinn who will teach him the secrets of the Living and Cosmic Force (allowing Obi-Wan to become a Force ghost after his death). Combined with Darth Vader having no idea where Obi-Wan went or the truth about his children, the ending for Obi-Wan Kenobi season 1 dynamically wraps up the events of the new Star Wars series while also setting things in motion for the galaxy's eventual redemption beginning with A New Hope.
Obi-Wan Kenobi is streaming now on Disney+