While the decision to use The Volume resulted in Obi-Wan Kenobi being surprisingly divisive (especially when Andor followed a few months later and mostly showcased practical sets), the six-part TV series was still embraced by the vast majority of fans.
Successfully filling in a big part of the 10-year gap between Revenge of the Sith and A New Hope, the show culminated with one of the Star Wars franchise's best lightsaber duels when Obi-Wan squared off with Darth Vader for the first time since their fateful clash on Mustafar. Surprisingly brutal and heart-wrenching, it ended with the Sith Lord's defeat, and his helmet shattered.
As the broken, twisted Anakin Skywalker looked out at his former friend and Master, it was clear the good within him had been almost entirely extinguished. That resulted in a tearful Obi-Wan walking away from his beaten enemy.
During a recent "For Your Consideration" interview (via SFFGazette.com), Ewan McGregor revealed his surprising reaction to the way that lightsaber battle played out.
"There are obviously stepping stones back, but it’s leading to this moment where he has to fight his old Padawan, you know? His best friend. So there’s the emotional side of that and then there’s the physical side of that, and both were a surprise."
"The actual fight itself was unbelievably well-designed and choreographed by [Jonathan Eusebio], our fight arranger. Beautifully, beautifully realized," the actor continued. "So carefully thought about, and he’d studied all the fights we’d done in the prequels and took Obi-Wan’s style into a place where somebody who’s rusty but also older and just very well-thought-out. But it was hard."
"I think both of us felt like it was beautiful for us to be working again together. And there was something about our lives and everything that happened to us since we last worked together. It was sort of in the air between us. So it was a real. I don’t know if the word ‘meta’ is right, but there was something beautiful about that and it did. It took me by surprise. It was just very moving."
It was clear at the time that Obi-Wan Kenobi was an emotional experience for both McGregor and Hayden Christensen, and fans remain keen for them to once again share the screen. The latter is expected looks set to reprise the role in Ahsoka, but beyond that, there's no official word on plans for either character in the Star Wars Universe.
What did you think about the epic clash between Obi-Wan and Vader? As always, weigh in with your thoughts in the comments section.