WHY did Obi-Wan let him go?

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[groobells]

I agree, although I’m not sure Vader was completely done. At least Vader didn’t want him to leave and wanted him to attack to try and kill him. Hence why he was so mad when obi wan left.

[carmeloguglielmino]

It’s so he could always remind Anakin that he’s got the *moral* high ground; the last high ground to reach. 😂

[moshtradamus]

I think Reva COULD have been an actual driver of the story in this episode. Obi Wan should have got a sense that Luke was in real danger during the fight and had to choose between engaging Vader again to finish him off (and the risk of dying in the process) or risk Luke being killed by Reva. The "sense" of Luke's life being in the balance could have been the reason why he chose to leave (and in a panicked hurry). I, too, had trouble believing he would let Vader live after telling him that Anakin was dead and the person who killed him was standing right in front of him practically begging for death.

[vexn]

The entire reason Obi-Wan went and fought Vader was because he felt Vader was his failure. Anakin then tells him that falling to the darkside wasn't Obi-Wan's fault, but his own. That he didn't killed Anakin. Vader did.
It was a liberating moment, and Obi-Wan decided to use it to free himself from that feeling of failure, decided that the future will take care of itself, and that whatever happens next is the will of the Force.
Also, if you believe in this, I think he unknowingly created an echo. An act that will travel through the Force and will touch many people. By showing mercy to Vader, that mercy travels through the Force. It resonates in that moment Reva showed mercy to Luke. It's a thematic climax. "By showing mercy, you've given them peace". I think he felt the same when he decided not to finish Vader.

BIG edit: This was originaly a response, so apologies if it seems a bit wonky at times, but I felt it's an interesting read for anyone who's really interested in the groundworks of this theory. Feel free to skip it, if you want to join the discussion with an unsullied opinion:
Let's not pay attention to the part about the echo. That's a concept introduced in another piece of media, a videogame of all things, but I think it adds nicely to the whole moment.
Now, if we're to go only with what the series shows us, then we can only grab things Obi-Wan says and does. Here's my foothold for the theory, and watch out for the long post:
1) "I have to face him, master. Wether he dies or I do, it ends today". When Roken confronts him and tells him "it's not about (saving) us, isn't it? It's about you and him", we understand it's personal, and Kenobi has personal feelings about Anakin, not about Vader. (Yes, you could say they're one and the same, but not througout the entirety of Star Wars there's a single moment they treat Vader and Anakin as one unified entity, but rather two psyches fighting over the light and the dark. And besides, as of this moment, Obi-wan isn't making a distinction either).
2) "I will do what I must" it's a call back, yes, but it's a meaningful one. He said this on Mustafar, thinking he was facing a fallen Anakin. By saying this, it could be inferred that he still thinks so.
3) When he's under the rocks, straining not to get crushed, we see intermittent flashbacks of Vader and Anakin. This is visual metaphor: he really does think they're one and the same.
4) As already stated in the OC, Vader states that he isn't Obi-wan's failure. Vader killed Anakin. He's what remains. This is the moment Obi-wan can truly grief for the death of his friend, understands that the man in front of him was never Anakin Skywalker, and let's go of any personal feelings of having to destroy him. And he walks. He has nothing to end. Why?
5) This is the strongest piece of writing, detailing why Obi-wan let Vader go. Echoing his mercy against Vader, Reva shows mercy to Luke. Both had personal reasons to kill someone, and in the end they couldn't. Why? "I failed them. He killed them all and I couldn't", this echoes Obi-wan's feelings at the start of the series. He failed, and there are constant reminders everywhere. And then he says "you haven't failed them. By showing mercy, you've given them peace. You've honored them". He might as well have told himself this when he let Vader live. But then, and this is really important, we have another exhange: "Have I become him?". And the answer just seals it for me: "No. You've chosen not to. Who you become now, it's up to you. Now you're free. We both are".
There are a couple of lines that confirm that, at least for Kenobi, this was the right thing to do: "He (Luke) just needs to be a boy. The future will take care of itself". As opposed to his original statements about Luke needing to be trained, he now has hope for the future. Even without his meddling, there will always be people fighting evil. Finally, we get the scene with Qui Gon. "I was always here, Obi-wan. You just weren't ready to see". Being able to talk to his master is not just a call back for the fans, it's literally the first thing he tries to do when the show starts. By finally being able to do so, he gets validation that he did the right thing. His journey is complete, and now he can see. It's one climax after another, and I think it's amazing. It's what the whole show was building up to.
Now, I know the show isn't perfect. More so, I agree with many of the criticisms this show is getting. But there's very brilliant storytelling in very particular moments that enhance the whole thing, and I don't see them talked about enough.

[Jollanza]

“Frodo: 'It's a pity Bilbo didn't kill Gollum when he had the chance.'
Gandalf: 'Pity? It's a pity that stayed Bilbo's hand. Many that live deserve death. Some that die deserve life. Can you give it to them, Frodo? Do not be too eager to deal out death in judgment. Even the very wise cannot see all ends. My heart tells me that Gollum has some part to play in it, for good or evil, before this is over."

ok it's not from SW but fits

[nutmegriot]

because of Padme. Her last words to him were "Theres still good in him"

[TysLegoProductions]

Obi wan likes leaving Anakin/Vader on Planets were he is about to die but he won’t

[ZeKermet]

Has to do with attachment. He could have ended vader/anakin on mustafar and here, but he couldn't bring himself to since he still cares. My theory with Luke is that he couldn't bring himself to kill vader, so he'd send luke to since he didn't have that knowledge that vader was the father.

[brianw]

Friendship, Amidala and Qui-Gon. Vader had plenty of chances to kill Obi-Wan, but relented and let him go. Couldn't watch him suffer in the fire. Gave him a chance to be rescued. Buried him alive knowing he could use the force to escape. Attacked the ship Obi-Wan wasn't on. Every scene with Vader shows the conflict Luke sensed. Obi-Wan surely sensed it too.

Palpatine clues us in at the end: Vader cannot let go of the friendship with his old master. Obi-Wan couldn't kill his friend. Maybe Obi-Wan still holds out hope that Anakin will come back, fulfill his destiny as the chosen one.

[cor]

Because if he did Major Zero would yell at him saying he created a time paradox!

[Bsnaoa]

I think he knew it wasnt his destiny, and he couldnt do it, he was too emotional

[daveblackman]

I took it as deep down, he still cares for Anakin. Even if Vader has taken over. My only thing is what drives obiwan to have Luke kill him so badly later on?

[tubebunbun]

They also asked J.R.R. Tolkien why the Fellowship can't airdrop the ring into Mount Doom via Eagles into Mordor (Gandalf could have called the air-taxi) instead of a long ass ground quest. He told the critic to f off. So it's something like that.

[Anonymous-ryjb]

"Just get it done man" HAS ME DYING 😂😂😂

[MB-yjhm]

Obi-Wan knew in the grand scheme of things, getting Lola back to Alderaan was far more important.

[lacyvalenti]

This honestly was a HUGE PROBLEM. It completely undermines the importance of Luke and Leia. And it makes Obi Wan look like a fool.

[Chilldude]

There could be a sense they both have, a bond that prevents them from killing each other. Here and in ROTS. Vader killing Kenobi in a new hope shows his complete cutoff from his past

Or, kenobi sensed the will of the force and knew that Vader is still the chosen one. This is something qui gon would do, which could be why kenobi saw him at the end of the episode

[k--music]

Man saw his face and couldn't do it, compassion's been his "weakness" through this show and in the end of ROTS when he couldn't finish confirm the kill, but in a way Obi-Wan showing mercy here is what allows Anakin to still be there to save the day in ROTJ. I think Obi-Wan knew he'd fulfilled his mission to get Vader away from Leia and the insurgents. And killing vader wouldn't _really_ end it all considering the empire would still be in power and it would probably just be Grand Inquisitor trained to be a sith instead

[certifiedjuicer]

It would’ve been the perfect opportunity to use all of the other Inquisitors. Just imagine, Obi-Wan is about the kill Vader once and for all, then suddenly the Grand Inquisitor, Fifth brother, and that other yellow sister come to Vader’s defense forcing Obi-Wan to retreat

[thedjyoyo]

I’m still struggling with the fact that the writers are actually trying to tell us that THE Darth Vader, a man with nothing but hate on his mind, would consider that, throwing big rocks at the man who left him for dead, is enough revenge for him. Like, what? He even survived a whole cave falling on him WITH Kenobi (happened on the Clone Wars), so why wouldn’t he finish the job, look at his former master in the eye and choke him or cut his limbs in repay, whatever. I’m just disappointed and people seem to be okay with this, I don’t get it.