“Hello there.” It’s not just a greeting but an iconic line synonymous with a legend, Obi-Wan Kenobi. The story of Star Wars is as much about Obi-Wan as it is about the Skywalker Family. At least, that’s how it was until the Sequel Trilogy, which had next to nothing about the Jedi Master in it. However, LucasFilm decided it was time to give Obi-Wan a series of his own. And after years of setbacks and delays, Obi-Wan Kenobi is out on Disney+, and what a start!
Obi-Wan Has PTSD
Set ten years after Revenge of the Sith, the series isn’t about Obi-Wan as the snarky master of the Prequels or the Sagely man of the classic trilogy. The first time we see him here, he’s a broken man. He’s working on a production line, trying to avoid the injustice he sees around him, and having PTSD nightmares. His one solace is seeing Luke grow up from afar, and his Uncle doesn’t want anything to do with him. Obi-Wan has lost all hope for the future.
Going in, fans expected to see Kenobi like this, but few realized how bad it would be. In one tearjerking scene, Obi-Wan encounters a surviving Jedi begging for help, only for him to turn him away. He must keep attention away from Luke, but it shows how far Obi-Wan has fallen. Then that same Jedi is lynched by the Inquisitors and strung up for everyone to see. It’s a gruesome moment, and Obi-Wan can’t stop it without outing himself.
The message is clear: the series is about Obi-Wan healing from his past failures. How that would happen isn’t made clear until
the very start of the series and from the most unexpected of places. Instead of willingly going on his journey, Obi-Wan gets roped in by another: Leia.
Our Princess Has Returned
I will be the first to say that I wasn’t expecting to see Leia in this miniseries. Thinking of her conjures memories of Carrie Fisher and her ultimate fate. Seeing her as a little girl, possessing all the fire that made her a leader, is heartwarming and bittersweet. But for now, she can’t do much, especially not when pirates capture her as part of a plan to lure Kenobi out of hiding. As a result, her parents turn to the one person they know can save her: Kenobi.
So, grabbing his lightsaber once more, Kenobi reluctantly sets off to rescue Leia. He may not realize it yet, but that will be one of the best decisions he’s ever made.
After a little bit of effort, Obi-Wan manages to rescue Leia from her abductors, only to run into a new problem: Leia herself. Ten years old, and she’s as much a spitfire as her Mom and Dad were. She won’t listen to Obi-Wan, sasses him, keeps running away, and makes things harder than they need to be. In other words, she’s a kid, and Obi-Wan’s the woefully unprepared dad.
As annoying and painful as she can be, though, Leia ends up being what Obi-Wan needs in this point in life. She reminds him so much of her parents, and even though the memories hurt, he can’t deny that he enjoys it. She gives him a reason to keep on going, reminding him that there’s still good he can do. It’s his second chance.
The Inquisitors are Small Fry for the Big Fish
Like in real life, though, overcoming trauma isn’t a one-time thing. Enter, the Inquisitors. This is their first live-action appearance in Star Wars, but apart from one of them, they’re not particularly noteworthy. The Grand Inquisitor’s appearance is a little jarring in real-life, and they spend more time arguing than they do doing their job. If Obi-Wan ever faced them in combat, he would likely win. The biggest impact they have (besides kidnapping Leia) is to give Obi-Wan a message: Darth Vader is alive.
Just like that, all the fear comes back and grows far worse. Not only does Obi-Wan learn his former student is alive, but he subjected him to a fate worse than death. Obviously, Obi-Wan is feeling horrifically guilty.
High Hopes for Obi-Wan
By the Force, this is going to be an incredible series.
This might be one of the most important stories to come out of Star Wars since the end of The Clone Wars. The Mandalorian is the only thing that can hope to rival this. The Book of Boba Fett tried to be good but fell flat on its face. Obi-Wan, though? Obi-Wan is going to go all the way.
For the next month, this is going to be all everyone talks about. Star Wars fans, please watch this show, because Obi-Wan Kenobi has returned, and Ewan MacGregor is playing him for all he’s worth.
