Warning: SPOILERS for Obi-Wan Kenobi episode 6.

Kenobi's (Ewan McGregor) trek into the Tatooine desert, presumably heading towards the home he occupies in A New Hope. Before all that could happen though, there was one more plot thread that needed to be addressed.

The final episode sees Obi-Wan take on Darth Vader (Hayden Christensen) one last time before their rematch in A New Hope. This duel between Obi-Wan and Darth Vader is tense and impactful; Obi-Wan’s full strength has returned, and he and Vader are on equal footing once more. This duel also acts as a moment of closure for Obi-Wan. Vader tells him that he was the one to kill Anakin, not the other way around, and while Obi-Wan will inevitably still feel some form of guilt over the loss of his old friend and brother, this is an important moment for him, and one that prepares him for someone else’s return.

Related: Obi-Wan Kenobi Season 1 Ending Explained (In Detail)

Before Obi-Wan heads out on the dropship to lure Vader away, he takes a moment to collect himself. He holds his lightsaber and says “I have to face him, Master. Whether he dies or I do, this ends today.” At that moment, he is talking to his old Master Qui-Gon Jinn, who perished at the hands of Darth Maul at the end of Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace. Moments like this were present throughout the rest of the Obi-Wan Kenobi series as well, where Obi-Wan tried to find guidance from his old Master. This all led to Obi-Wan Kenobi’s massive series finale cameo, which saw Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith.

How Qui-Gon Jinn Became Immortal

qui-gon jinn, liam neeson, force ghost, obi-wan kenobi finale

After Pé Amidala died in childbirth and Yoda, Obi-Wan, and Bail Organa (Jimmy Smits) discussed what to do with the twins, Yoda turned to Obi-Wan and told him that there was training he must do in his solitude on Tatooine. “An old friend has learned the path to immortality. One who has returned from the Netherworld of the Force. Your old master. How to commune with him I will teach you.” This is all in reference to the ability to become a Force ghost, an ability that Jedi can train for, which allows them to separate their identities from the Force for a time after death. This allows them to communicate with the living and even retain some of their Force abilities if they can manifest themselves fully amongst the living once more. Qui-Gon Jinn learned this ability to essentially become immortal in a sense from the Shaman of the Whills, although he hadn't perfected his ability to be a Force ghost when he was killed by Darth Maul.

Qui-Gon Jinn Teaches Obi-Wan Kenobi How To Become A Force Ghost

Obi Wan talks to Luke in Dagobah

Yoda’s knowledge of Qui-Gon’s ability was the focus of a four-episode arc in Star Wars: The Clone Wars at the end of season 6, which sees Yoda attempt the same training that Qui-Gon was working on before he died. The most important lesson that Yoda and Qui-Gon learned was that retaining an eternal consciousness after death required absolute selflessness. Obi-Wan’s sacrifice in A New Hope so that Luke, Leia, Han, and Chewbacca can escape is an example of such selflessness, suggesting he had an inherent advantage in becoming a Force ghost in the first place.

In The Obi-Wan Kenobi series finale, when Qui-Gon finally reveals himself to Obi-Wan, Obi-Wan says that he thought he’d never come. Qui-Gon replies, “I was always here, Obi-Wan. You just were not ready to see.” This is likely about Obi-Wan’s longstanding guilt over what happened with Anakin. How can he train for something that requires absolute selflessness, when he caused Anakin’s transformation into Vader? Now that Obi-Wan has finally had some closure, and Vader is no longer chasing him, Obi-Wan can be open to the Force again, and learn from his old Master once more - even eventually learning how to retain his individuality upon death and become a Force ghost himself from his old Master's teachings.

Next: Everything We Know About Obi-Wan Kenobi Season 2

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