The climactic duel at the end of Obi-Wan Kenobi and Anakin Skywalker.
The misery and sadness that followed the breaking of these bonds of friendship were explored further by the Disney+ series Star Wars: The Last Jedi. This choice appeared to have largely derived from the pain and guilt of failing his best friend. However, Obi-Wan was freed from the worst of these destructive feelings by discovering that Vader had survived their duel and then by facing and defeating him again.
Obi-Wan Kenobi defeating an Anakin Skywalker (who's on the verge of becoming Darth Vader) in Revenge of the Sith was remarkable in many ways. Despite being a Jedi Knight at the height of his powers, he was disadvantaged due to where the duel took place. According to Obi-Wan shared the same weakness as Anakin, making it clear that dark side traits—like ion and anger—were always likely to overcome duty during their confrontation.
Obi-Wan Using The Dark Side Would Make His Exile Even More Meaningful
If Obi-Wan had drawn on the dark side during the duel in Revenge of the Sith, he would certainly have known it. After all, he had given his life to the Jedi Order and lived according to their teachings. If Obi-Wan had failed to use those teachings when faced with his greatest challenge there would have been a need for questions and introspection. However, if it was his emotional attachment to his friend and, by extension, the dark side of the Force, that allowed him to defeat the powerful Sith Lord Darth Vader, then it would have given even greater meaning to the nature of his exile.
In this way, the Obi-Wan seen in the Obi-Wan Kenobi series would have made even more sense. There was no doubt that his grief and pain were real, but this was not simply a matter of him doing his duty by watching over Luke Skywalker. Withdrawing from the Force and distancing himself from the comion and selflessness that were hallmarks of the Jedi Order, suggested that Obi-Wan Kenobi was a man who had lost faith in the Jedi and his own judgment.
The fall of Anakin Skywalker and the rise of Darth Vader were another undeniable tragedy in the life of Obi-Wan Kenobi. Losing his best friend and the only family he had ever known, while believing his failings were to blame, was a terrible burden to carry. Nevertheless, the possibility that Obi-Wan Kenobi used the dark side of the force to defeat his friend Anakin Skywalker in Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith certainly added another compelling layer of meaning to the nature of his exile.
