At SPACECON San Antonio, Hayden Christensen revealed why he thinks Anakin Skywalker lost to Obi-Wan Kenobi on Mustafar in Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sithand connects to another iconic duel in Star Wars. The Battle of Mustafar is one of the best lightsaber duels ever Star Wars movies and TV shows, and remains one of the most important events in Star Wars timeline. The epic duel isn’t perfect, and Obi-Wan’s joke about having “the high ground” remains controversial. Christensen’s explanation at SPACECON finally makes this moment make perfect sense.
After joking that Anakin made his fateful leap Revenge of the Sith due to “the arrogance of youth”, Hayden Christensen suggested that was actually Anakin’s knowledge of how Obi-Wan Kenobi defeated Darth Maul in Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace this led him to believe that he was capable of defeating Obi-Wan even when Obi-Wan was in high position. In a video posted by the legacy of the nerd on TikTok, Christensen explained that, in his opinion, Anakin would have grown up listening to this “tradition”, and that was why he believed he could beat Obi-Wan.
This would also explain why Obi-Wan told Anakin not to try– he knew how he had defeated Maul when Maul was on high ground, so he must have known how to prevent Anakin from doing the same thing.
What Hayden Christensen’s Explanation Would Mean for Star Wars
Hayden Christensen’s explanation makes this moment and line so much deeper. In your description, this would mean that Obi-Wan’s character “don’t try” it was an acknowledgment that they were both thinking about this story. As Christensen said, from his point of view, Obi-Wan’s triumph over Darth Maul would have been something of a legend among the Jedi. If that were the case, it would make sense that this would come to Anakin’s mind at that moment and that Obi-Wan would anticipate his next move (and know how to stop him).
This would also make Anakin’s attempt even more painful, as even when he was clearly filled with hatred for his former Jedi Master, he still tried to imitate him. It is already evident that Anakin had very complex feelings towards Obi-Wan, in which he both resented and idolized him. This explanation makes this even more poignant and further reflects how close the two truly were, as Obi-Wan would have known the specific memory that Anakin would have evoked during the fight.
Our take on the “high ground” in Star Wars
Like many, I see the battle of Mustafar as one of the most exciting and important moments in the entire Star Wars. It was brutal to see Obi-Wan and Anakin, who truly were like brothers, fight almost to the death, and while Obi-Wan’s actions were justified, knowing that he had truly lost faith in Anakin and was leaving him for dead was genuinely painful. . This explanation from Christensen is a reminder of the extent of that loss, so I think it’s brilliant.
This comment from Christensen also further solidifies that he truly is the authority on Anakin Skywalker/Darth Vader. Christensen understands Anakin on a level that perhaps no one else could, and it shines through in his analysis of the character. I totally believe Hayden Christensen’s explanation of this Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith moment and its implications for the greater success of Obi-Wan Kenobi and Anakin Skywalker Star Wars stories.
Source: the legacy of the nerd