Based on what we'd seen in Revenge of the Sith and A New Hope, the assumption among Star Wars fans was that "Ben" Kenobi had learned of Anakin Skywalker's survival sometime between the two movies. What we didn't expect was for that moment to be shown in Obi-Wan Kenobi, especially as ten years has passed since Episode III.
While Ben has been hiding out on Tatooine, he appears to have a good knowledge of the Empire and even Sith Inquisitors, so how could he not have heard about the terrifying Darth Vader?
The show's Head Writer, Joby Harold, addressed this during a recent interview with The Wrap (via SFFGazette.com).
"That was actually not something I pitched originally," he admitted. "That was something I discovered along the way, and sort of had to confirm with Pablo [Hidalgo] 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."
“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 continued, explaining the importance of that moment of realisation in the series. "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."
It's definitely not outside the realm of possibility that Vader's name would have never found its way to Tatooine, and as Ben had closed himself off from the Force, there's no way he'd have sensed the evil that emanates from the man he once called a friend. Plus, as Harold suggests, this made for an incredible moment in the show.
What did you guys think of that big "Anakin" cliffhanger scene in Obi-Wan Kenobi?
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