The following contains spoilers from Obi-Wan Kenobi, Part III, now streaming on Disney+.
When Disney announced that it was making a Kenobi series, some people thought that Star Wars was in a rut. Once again, the franchise was proving that it couldn't successfully create new characters. That's why, it was putting its attention into the tried-and-true character of Obi-Wan. Well, to put it frankly, if Star Wars is in a rut, it needs to stay in that rut, because the first three parts of Obi-Wan Kenobi have been on point.
Parts I and II were highly regarded by fans and critics alike, on its way to claiming the title of the most watched Disney+ original premiere. There was humor, drama, excitement and regret -- all mixed into a very efficient and enjoyable script. One of the best parts was a Clone Trooper cameo by Temuera Morrison, but Part III upped the ante by name-dropping the fan-favorite Jedi, Quinlan Vos.
Who Is Master Quinlan Vos?
Much like Qui-Gon Jinn, Quinlan Vos was a bit of a maverick. He started fights as a youngling and would sneak away to take naps in the Jedi Library. Even after he became a Jedi Knight, Vos wasn't known for his ability to follow the rules of Jedi life. However, he became renowned as an undercover Jedi, who would take many dangerous jobs in the galaxy's underworld. A Force ability called psychometry helped him immensely with his undercover work. The ability allowed him to experience others' memories by touching an object that they had touched.
During the prequels, Vos had quite the career. He was briefly seen in The Phantom Menace, and in The Clone Wars, he helped Obi-Wan on a mission to find Ziro the Hutt. Near the end of the war, he teamed up with Asajj Ventress on a mission to assassinate Count Dooku. Unfortunately, their mission failed; he temporarily turned to the dark side, and Ventress lost her life. After that though, Vos' whereabouts have been a mystery.
In the Darth Vader (2017) #7 comic, the Grand Inquisitor and Darth Vader looked over a list of assumed Jedi survivors. Quinlan Vos' name was on that list. Ever since then, Star Wars fans have hoped to get confirmation that he survived Order 66 -- and it finally happened in Part III of Obi-Wan Kenobi.
What Has Quinlan Vos Been Doing?
In Parts I and II, Obi-Wan rescued Princess Leia, and in Part III, they were on the run. It turned out that Kumail Nanjiani's Haja Estree was part of a legitimate underground railroad for Force-sensitives, called The Path. So, when Obi-Wan and Leia arrived on Mapuzo, they rendezvoused with Estree's contact, Tala. She led them to a droid repair shop, which doubled as a safehouse.
Inside the safehouse, she explained that The Path ended on Jabiim, where they gave the Jedi (and other Force-sensitives) new identities and new lives. Then, Obi-Wan noticed this phrase scratched on the wall: "Only when the eyes are closed can you truly see." Leia asked, "See what?" and Obi-Wan simply said, "The Way." Maybe that's a reference to Mando and Baby Yoda, and maybe it's not. Regardless, Obi-Wan somehow knew that Quinlan Vos had written the phrase. So, Tala explained that Vos specifically helped with smuggling Force-sensitive children to safety.
Who knows if Quinlan Vos' will appear in the series, and his ultimate fate remains unknown. But his name being dropped confirmed two things. First, he did survive Order 66 after all. Second, it's clear that Vos hadn't lost faith in the Jedi way, like Obi-Wan had. Risking his life to keep children safe is a great story for Vos to be a part of, while explaining why he couldn't risk being a bigger part of galactic affairs. It's also a great fit for his character because of his vast experience staying hidden. So, here's to Quinlan Vos, and here's to more cameos in Part IV.
To see if Quinlan Vos makes an appearance, watch Obi-Wan Kenobi. New episodes stream every Wednesday on Disney+.
