This article contains spoilers for Obi-Wan Kenobi and Star Wars: Rebels.The final episode of the Obi-Wan Kenobi spin-off show was recently released on Disney Plus, and it was a truly spectacular finale that gave Star Wars fans plenty to talk about. The highlight of the episode was, of course, the epic duel between Obi-Wan and Darth Vader, the legendary duo of friends-turned-enemies.
The climactic showdown between the two former Jedi was as action-packed as it was emotional, boasting both stylish fight choreography and some truly masterful acting from Ewan MacGregor and Hayden Christensen. However, hardcore Star Wars fans may have noticed that this fateful duel shares quite a few similarities with another master-apprentice battle from a different series. The encounter in question is from the Star Wars Rebels episode “Twilight of the Apprentice”, in which Darth Vader faces off against his former Padawan, Ahsoka Tano.
Master Versus Apprentice
“Twilight of the Apprentice” is the two-part Season 2 finale of the Star Wars Rebels animated series, which originally aired on March 30th, 2016. But despite being produced several years before the Obi-Wan Kenobi series, it actually takes place much later, being set only three years before the events of A New Hope. The series follows the adventures of the crew of the Ghost, a ragtag band of heroes allied with the Rebel Alliance. But while the main cast of Rebels are all brand new characters, plenty of familiar characters show up as guest stars — including Ahsoka Tano, who serves as a recurring character in the show’s second season.
While Ahsoka is likely more famous nowadays for her live action portrayal by Rosario Dawson in Season 2 of The Mandalorian, she made her debut in animation. Ahsoka was first introduced as Anakin Skywalker’s Padawan in the 2008 animated series Star Wars: The Clone Wars, which took place between Attack of the Clones and Revenge of the Sith. Ahsoka was initially unpopular with fans due to her lack of maturity, plus the fact that Anakin having a Padawan was never mentioned in the movies. But over time, Ahsoka grew into a skilled fighter and a capable leader in her own right, becoming a massive fan favorite due to her compelling character arc.
While Ahsoka’s fate after Order 66 was initially unknown, she made her triumphant return in the Season 1 finale of Rebels. A year later, the Season 2 finale sees Ahsoka reunited with her former mentor for the first time since his turn to the Dark Side. In “Twilight of the Apprentice”, Darth Vader and his Inquisitors (who debuted in Rebels before their appearance in Obi-Wan Kenobi) track the Ghost’s crew to the Sith temple on Malachor, and Ahsoka personally confronts the Dark Lord. She quickly deduces that it’s her old friend under the mask, but Vader insists that he destroyed Anakin Skywalker. “Then I will avenge his death,” Ahsoka declares before igniting her twin lightsabers, and the duel begins.
After a fierce battle, Ahsoka breaks Vader’s mask, revealing the scarred face and eerie yellow eye of Anakin Skywalker. When Vader calls out Ahsoka’s name, it’s not in the voice of James Earl Jones, but Matt Lanter — the actor who portrayed Anakin in The Clone Wars. For a moment, Ahsoka’s resolve is shaken as she’s reminded that her opponent was once her best friend. However, Vader attacks once more, and her doubts are quickly destroyed.
Echoes of the Past
If that scene sounds familiar, it should — it’s replicated nearly beat for beat in the climax of Obi-Wan Kenobi Episode 6. Obi-Wan breaks Vader’s mask, revealing the disfigured face of Hayden Christensen’s Anakin beneath. James Earl Jones’ voice mixes with Christensen’s as Vader proclaims that “Anakin is gone. I am what remains… I am not your failure, Obi-Wan. You didn’t kill Anakin Skywalker. I did. The same way I will destroy you.” And with that, Obi-Wan finally accepts that Anakin — his friend, his apprentice, his brother — is gone for good.
It’s hard to imagine that the Obi-Wan Kenobi scene wasn’t influenced by the climax of “Twilight of the Apprentice”. In both cases, Darth Vader faces off with one of his closest friends from his time as a Jedi, stubbornly declaring that Anakin Skywalker is dead. At the end of the duel, his mask is damaged, causing Vader to speak in Anakin’s voice. And ultimately, Vader’s former friend is forced to accept that the man they knew is gone.
Both the Obi-Wan Kenobi final battle and the “Twilight of the Apprentice” showdown are spectacular moments, not just because of the fights themselves, but because of the emotions behind them. Both Obi-Wan and Ahsoka must confront the reality that they cannot save Anakin, while Darth Vader is enraged by a bitter reminder of his past. Each scene perfectly captures the tragedy that makes Darth Vader such a beloved villain, while further fleshing out the stories of Ahsoka and Obi-Wan. These two scenes may have a lot in common, but they both highlight everything that makes Star Wars so great.