Fans may wonder just what would have happened if Obi-Wan had come with Mace Windu to confront Palpatine on that fateful day in his office. It’s an interesting scenario that could have resulted in several variations from what transpired in Revenge of the Sith. Below are the top five outcomes, going from least to most likely to have happened.
5. Obi-Wan Defeats Palpatine
If Obi-Wan accompanied Mace Windu, we could have seen Obi-Wan draw on his connection to the Force to defeat Palpatine. This is the least likely result, but it could have happened.
Supported by Windu, Obi-Wan probably wouldn’t have directly beaten Sidious in a lightsaber duel. Yet, he could have drawn on his “intuition and insight” and “the will of the Force” to outmaneuver Palpatine. In conjunction, Obi-Wan could have solicited Sidious’s overconfidence and worn him down in the battle.
It would be a precarious scenario, but still possible. After all, Obi-Wan managed to defeat the Chosen One, and that was an unlikely outcome.
4. Sidious Kills Obi-Wan
The outcome we may think of first is Sidious killing Obi-Wan. We’re familiar with Obi-Wan’s Soresu style of fighting, which has positive and negative attributes. This form’s “tight bladework and subtle dodges” could work to provide “maximum defensive coverage” (see # 3 below). Yet, Obi-Wan’s style could also be a drawback in that it could get overwhelmed by Sidious’s Force power.
As we may know, Force Lightning resides among a lengthy list of Sidious’s Force powers. Palpatine could also draw on Force Wave or Destruction to take out Obi-Wan, nevermind lightsaber throwing and Force Maelstrom. Obi-Wan could have been rapidly overwhelmed.
3. Windu and Obi-Wan Slay Palpatine
Then again, Windu and Obi-Wan jointly could have slain Palpatine based on the positive side of Soresu fighting and Windu’s Vaapad style. If Obi-Wan could deliver maximum defense to accompany Windu’s total offensive, the two could deliver a death blow to Sidious.
Complimenting Obi-Wan’s ability to hold back Sidious, Windu could charge at him and direct his own “inner darkness into the duel.” Windu practiced a lightsaber form that enabled him to move in a way that was “too fast to see, just as the vaapad creature would attack blindingly fast.”
As we know, the duel in Palpatine’s office had Windu triumph over Sidious, the former holding the latter “at bladepoint ready to kill him.” Obi-Wan’s presence would have helped facilitate this outcome. Even though Obi-Wan may have objected, Windu could have struck the final fatal blow.
2. Palpatine Gets Arrested
The combined fighting power and mix of offensive and defensive strategies could have led to Windu and Obi-Wan overcoming Palpatine. Instead of killing him, they more likely would have arrested him, which was the original plan.
Although Windu concluded that Sidious was “too dangerous to be left alive,” Obi-Wan could have calmed Windu down enough so that they could jointly arrest Palpatine. As this write-up expresses, when Windu states the same rationale that Sidious used against Dooku, it was “the straw that broke the camel’s back for Anakin.”
As it was, Anakin came to believe the Jedi and Sith were both corrupted by power. However, with Obi-Wan’s presence, he could have intervened and returned the course of events to the original goals. We could have been looking at Order 66 being stifled and the Republic continuing, at least for a while.
1. Obi-Wan Prevents Anakin’s Betrayal
If Obi-Wan accompanied Mace Windu, the most likely scenario is that Obi-Wan would have stopped Anakin’s betrayal. Whether Palpatine was arrested, subdued, or killed, Obi-Wan could steer Anakin away from his fall.
As expressed in this Reddit forum, Obi-Wan would have played a crucial role “in terms of defense” and as a “compliment to Mace’s fighting style.” Yet, his true value would be to prevent Anakin from killing Windu and falling to the dark side. As another fan contributes, Obi-Wan’s presence “removes the emotional leverage” Palpatine had over Anakin. Hence, Sidious wouldn’t have been able to manipulate Anakin as he did.
Obi-Wan would serve as a wedge based on Anakin’s loyalty to him. As reflected in the Clone Wars series and on the big screen, Obi-Wan and Anakin gradually forged “a close friendship and considered each other brothers.” This Jedi brotherhood would have influenced Anakin’s anger and helped guide Windu’s actions.
While Obi-Wan made mistakes with his mentorship, his intervention here could have been one of the steps to compensate for those errors in guidance. Obi-Wan could appeal to the bond between Anakin and him and admit to mistakes in Palpatine’s office. This could sway Anakin’s internal division enough to persuade him not to strike at Windu.
More practically, Obi-Wan could have just stopped Anakin from getting involved in the duel. This would not have been an emotionally bonding moment, but another way to possibly save Anakin and preserve the Republic.