If you’ve watched The Clone Wars Season 4, you probably remember that shocking moment when Obi-Wan Kenobi gets “killed” by a sniper. His funeral follows soon after, with plenty of familiar faces gathered to mourn the Jedi Master. But something feels off – Commander Cody, Obi-Wan’s closest clone companion and second-in-command, is nowhere to be seen.
So what really happened? Why wasn’t Cody at the funeral of the man he served under for years? Turns out, there’s a canon explanation – and some pretty interesting details surrounding it.
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Cody Was Deliberately Sent Away
Let’s get the official reason out of the way first. In a behind-the-scenes Q&A, Clone Wars producer Dave Filoni explained that Cody didn’t attend the funeral because the Jedi Council sent him on a mission during that time. This wasn’t by accident. They intentionally removed Cody from the scene to protect the secrecy of Obi-Wan’s undercover assignment.
Obi-Wan’s death was staged. He was actually faking his identity to pose as the bounty hunter Rako Hardeen and infiltrate a criminal plot against Chancellor Palpatine. The fewer people who knew the truth, the better. So, even Cody – arguably the person closest to Obi-Wan outside of Anakin – was kept in the dark. And as Filoni said, “It didn’t sit well with the Commander.”
This move was strategic, but it also stung. It shows how far the Jedi Council was willing to go to protect their plans, even if that meant hurting one of their most loyal allies.
Cody Would Never Disobey Orders
One reason this plan worked so well is because Cody was known for being completely by the book. Unlike Rex, who sometimes followed his heart over strict protocol, Cody was the kind of clone who always followed command structure. Even if he had doubts or personal feelings, he wouldn’t go against the Jedi Council.
This part of his personality makes his absence more believable. He didn’t fight the order. He went on the mission like he was told – even though it meant missing his general’s funeral. That level of discipline defined Cody’s role throughout the series.
Did Cody Suspect the Truth?
Some have speculated that Cody might’ve figured something out. After all, he wasn’t just any soldier – he was a Marshal Commander and highly capable. If Obi-Wan was supposedly dead, but the 212th Battalion didn’t get a new Jedi assigned to replace him, that might’ve raised a few red flags.
Still, there’s no confirmation in canon that Cody ever knew about the plan. And even if he did suspect something, Cody wouldn’t have questioned orders or gone snooping. He would’ve done what he was told and waited for answers.
But the Funeral Included Non-Jedi – So Why Not Cody?
One point that fans often bring up is the guest list at Obi-Wan’s funeral. While Jedi funerals usually stay within the Order, this one was different. Attendees included Padmé Amidala, Satine Kryze, Bail Organa, and even Chancellor Palpatine.
If non-Jedi political figures were allowed to attend, it makes Cody’s absence even more striking. He wasn’t just a clone trooper – he was Obi-Wan’s most trusted soldier and field commander. It wasn’t tradition or rank that kept him away. It was all part of the cover-up.
A Missed Chance That Made Sense
It’s easy to wonder what could’ve happened if Cody had been there. Maybe he would’ve asked questions. Maybe he would’ve gone after Hardeen, or even joined forces with Anakin and Ahsoka in a mission of revenge. But that would’ve risked blowing the entire operation.
Keeping Cody out of the picture helped sell the story of Obi-Wan’s death. And the way the Jedi Council handled it showed how serious – and how cold – their planning could be during the war.
Fun Fact: An Early Version Almost Revealed the Plan to Rex
In earlier drafts of the story arc, the writers originally planned for Anakin to find out about Obi-Wan’s mission because he saw Rex escorting the real Rako Hardeen. But they later changed it, believing that Rex wouldn’t be able to keep such a big secret from Anakin.
This decision kept the circle of people in the know extremely small – and even someone as close as Cody was left out.