Kenobi's Reva Twist Makes Luke's Failure To Save Kylo Ren More Tragic
This article contains spoilers for Obi-Wan Kenobi episode 6.
Obi-Wan Kenobi ended with Reva seeking redemption from the dark side — and inadvertently made Luke Skywalker's inability to redeem Kylo Ren all the more tragic. The theme of redemption lies at the center of Star Wars, with the original trilogy culminating in the redemption of Anakin Skywalker. Yoda and Obi-Wan had believed Darth Vader was too far gone, but Luke's redeeming love drew his father away from the dark side.
The Star Wars Expanded Universe built upon this, portraying Luke as a "Great Redeemer." Time and again Luke would transform the lives of those around him, with Emperor's Hands becoming Jedi Knights and dark side acolytes redeemed to stand as champions of the light. Disney branded the old EU non-canon Legends when they acquired Lucasfilm in 2012, and the idea of Luke as an agent of redemption hasn't really been explored in the Disney era. Obi-Wan Kenobi episode 6 changed that, however, because Luke was the unwitting agent of redemption for Reva. The former Inquisitor stood over Luke's unconscious body but realized she could not kill him. In doing so, she began a journey back toward the light. It's pleasing to see the theme of Luke as the Great Redeemer start to surface in Star Wars.
Related: Obi-Wan's Clone Trooper Scene Has A Far Deeper Meaning Than You Realized
This theme subtly transforms the sequel trilogy, most notably Star Wars: The Last Jedi. Flashbacks revealed Luke Skywalker had good reason to blame himself for Ben Solo's transformation into Kylo Ren; he made the mistake of reacting on an instinctive level to the darkness he sensed in and around Ben, triggering his lightsaber. There's a sense in which Ben Solo never really fell to the dark
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