The following contains significant spoilers for Obi-Wan Kenobi Parts I and II, streaming now on Disney+.
Obi-Wan had the benefit of many mentors in his life, which was fortunate because at times Qui-Gon Jinn and Obi-Wan Kenobi were like oil and water. They bickered about priorities, vibrations and meaning within the Force, problem-solving strategies and what the proper amount of deference should be regarding the Jedi Council. In many ways, their relationship as Master and Padawan mirrored Obi-Wan's with his apprentice, Anakin Skywalker. It required hindsight for Obi-Wan to understand just how meaningful and impactful his time with Qui-Gonn had been, but as Anakin ascended from Padawan into knighthood he was able to immediately reflect on how much he had learned from his Master.
Of the three, Kenobi was by far the most conservative as well as the one possessed of the most self-doubt. Neither his Master nor his Padawan had much use for authority and chafed at any restrictions placed on the course they deemed necessary given any specific situation. Michael Chen's book, Star Wars: Brotherhood, expands on how Kenobi and Skywalker complemented one another and through osmosis eventually influenced each other both explicitly and passively. For instance, Obi-Wan infused his ability for self-reflection with the impulsive confidence of his student, and the combination created the most potent and effective Jedi in their long storied history. Kenobi was always destined for greatness, but his exposure to Anakin Skywalker elevated him above all other Jedi.
Obi-Wan Kenobi Was One Of The Greatest Swordsman Of All Time
As Obi-Wan Kenobi opens, the former Jedi Master is a shade of himself. Forced exile and hiding from the Inquisitors have required him to distance himself from the Force, but he has always been a brilliant lightsaber combatant. Though his name was rarely mentioned in the same breath as Mace Windu or Revan, this was due to stylistic considerations more so than actual skill with a blade. Windu's Vaapad style, also known as the Ferocity Form, channeled emotional energy into one's attacks making it a chaotic and deadly dance of death. In contrast, Kenobi was a master of the Soresu Form, blade work that emphasized defensive maneuvers rather than offensive capability. Many viewed the Form as a stalling technique suited more for survival than victory, however, a true master of the Form was able to turn defense into offense.
Obi-Wan Kenobi's decisive battle with General Grievous is a perfect example of this concept in action. Kenobi maintained a defensive posture to deal with the quartet of spinning blades bearing down on him, but as he parried he had enough control of himself and his opponent that he was able to slide his blade down towards the exposed limb while keeping his enemy at a safe distance. This led to an array of amputations that the Jedi Master then exploited, all by turning a block into a deadly counter. Kenobi refined his style over time and benefited from sparring with a gifted duelist like Anakin Skywalker, whose own mastery of the Fifth Form, Shien and Djem So, was designed as a response to Soresu's purely defensive nature.
Had it not been for Anakin, Obi-Wan may have never explored the limits of his martial prowess. Kenobi bested some of the best warriors of any era with the defeat of Darth Maul on more than one occasion as well as the destruction of his best friend, Anakin Skywalker. It is also worth mentioning that of all the Jedi that Grievous killed and all the Jedi that could have been chosen to fight him, the Council chose Obi-Wan unanimously to end the threat of the droid commander. In his own time, by his peers, he was considered the best of the best with a blade.
Obi-Wan Kenobi Was One Of The Most Accomplished Force Users Of All Time
Qui-Gon Jinn was heralded as a conduit for the Force that rivaled Master Yoda, especially when referring to the living Force, and Obi-Wan exceeded even his abilities. Opening up oneself completely to the will of the Force required a degree of submission that many Jedi lacked, but this was another area where Obi-Wan's relationship with Anakin enhanced his abilities. Because Anakin had been deemed as the Chosen One, there was a certain degree of continual monitoring that Kenobi engaged in when it came to his apprentice. He would track every eddy, every ebb and flow so that he was keenly aware of Skywalker's emotional state, especially as it pertained to Padme.
There were many instances throughout their time together that Obi-Wan grew concerned based on the feedback he received in the Force from delving into Anakin's aura. He often found a disquiet there that unnerved him but also refined his delicate touch within the storm of Anakin's emotions. While Kenobi's blind spot regarding Anakin due to their closeness is one of the factors that put the galaxy in jeopardy, it was also that tumult of shifting energy that allowed Obi-Wan to be as successful as he was with his Padawan and ultimately master becoming one with the Force and retaining sentience, something only a very few skilled Jedi have ever attained.
Obi-Wan Was One Of The Most Skilled Jedi Diplomats Of All Time
Driven by earnest compassion, Obi-Wan always sought balance in diplomatic outcomes. In the weeks following the Battle of Geonosis and the beginning of the Clone Wars, a bombing took place on Cato Neimodia, a neutral planet at the time but also the homeworld of the Trade Federation, which was allied with the Separatists. Count Dooku, who was responsible for the explosion, blamed the Republic for the act of terrorism and forced them into making a calculated response. Newly appointed to the Jedi Council, Obi-Wan felt unsure of his voice but when the time came to deliver a plan of action he spoke up immediately.
Kenobi mused to himself how out of character it was for him to behave so impulsively, but he then remembered how things have changed for him lately. Not only was he a provisional member of the Council, but he and Anakin were peers for the first time in their lives. This allowed Obi-Wan the freedom to explore his own emotions in ways he never could before. He and Anakin's relationship was strained at the best of times because there was very little space for each of them to operate without being judged by the other. With that dynamic removed Kenobi came to appreciate how powerful acting on your instincts could be once he removed aspects of his self-doubt. His ability to balance all of these facets of a Jedi was enhanced by the most pivotal relationship of his life, the one he shared with Anakin Skywalker.
To see Obi-Wan potentially reclaim his former glory, Obi-Wan Kenobi is streaming now on Disney+ with new episodes every Wednesday.
