Warning! SPOILERS for Obi-Wan Kenobi episode 6.
While Darth Vader speaking with Anakin Skywalker’s voice added to the emotional impact of the Obi-Wan Kenobi finale, it also created some questions. Throughout Obi-Wan Kenobi, the former Jedi Master had been struggling with his past. Reva, the Inquisitor, only made this worse when she revealed Anakin’s true fate and transformation into Darth Vader. With this knowledge, Obi-Wan knew he would eventually have to face both Vader and his own failures.
This led to the Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith. As Darth Vader spoke, his voice repeatedly switched between his signature mechanical tone and Anakin’s voice, sometimes even mixing the two. Although still heartbroken, this allowed Obi-Wan to find closure by finally talking with Anakin about his fall to the dark side.
However, hearing Darth Vader use Anakin’s voice did raise some serious questions about how Vader was able to speak so clearly. After his battle with Obi-Wan on Mustafar, Anakin’s vocal cords and lungs were scorched by lava. Due to this, Darth Vader had to wear an iron lung with tubes connected to a voice synthesizer inside his mask. Using this technology, Darth Vader could speak with a deep, synthetic voice. Still, this does not explain how Vader was able to talk with a mixture of Anakin’s voice and the artificial one. Darth Vader may have been able to do this due to the way that his mask was cut and the influence of the light side of the Force.
One reason Obi-Wan was able to hear Anakin’s weak voice as long as he spoke quietly. However, whenever Darth Vader tried to raise his voice, his helmet had to amplify it, blending the natural and artificial voices.
In addition, the light side of the Force may have affected Darth Vader’s voice. Although Vader was committed to the dark side, there were times during his conversation with Obi-Wan that he almost seemed to be Anakin again, struggling with his past as well. During these moments, Darth Vader sounded more like Anakin, which may have represented the light side creeping back into him. Emperor Palpatine even suggested this later, sensing that Darth Vader might be conflicted about his feelings toward Obi-Wan. Although A New Hope, Luke also sensed conflict in Vader and ultimately helped him return to the light side. In this way, the Force may have strengthened Darth Vader’s weak physical abilities to allow him to briefly speak as Anakin again in Obi-Wan Kenobi.
Obi-Wan Kenobi season 1 is now available to stream on Disney+.
