Obi-Wan Kenobi: A Journey Through the Shadows of Star Wars Past

Obi-Wan Kenobi has always been conceived as a concept in search of a narrative. The third installment of the live-action Star Wars series — now all six episodes are accessible on Disney+ and Disney+ Hotstar — had to function within a restricted context. It was constrained from making significant alterations or disrupting the established lore, as its timeline was nestled between pre-existing Star Wars narratives. Set a decade subsequent to the intense confrontation between the titular Jedi Master (Ewan McGregor) and his once-loyal apprentice Anakin Skywalker (Hayden Christensen) in Episode III – Revenge of the Sith, the story takes place just nine years before a young Luke Skywalker (Mark Hamill) embarks on his journey to become a galactic legend with Obi-Wan’s mentorship and ultimately leads the destruction of the Death Star in Episode IV – A New Hope. Go one step too far, and you risk fracturing the galaxy.

This predicament is further complicated by Obi-Wan Kenobi‘s tendency to echo moments, settings, and iconic sequences from other Star Wars films, series, and even video games. At this juncture, it seems like it’s almost a given that every new Star Wars project will take inspiration from Episode V – The Empire Strikes Back. Yet Obi-Wan Kenobi even treaded into territory reminiscent of the sequel trilogy, including the climactic skirmish on Jabiim in “Part V,” which felt like a much more diminutive version of the Battle of Crait from Episode VIII – The Last Jedi.

The encounter between Obi-Wan and Vader in “Part III” is merely a pale imitation of the aforementioned Episode III showdown — it occurs on a construction site?! — concluding in a rather anti-climactic fashion dictated by plot convenience. The subsequent duel in “Part VI” is arguably more compelling, showcasing greater emotional depth and improved choreography, but it is still hampered by a lack of stakes, interspersed with another scene devoid of tension involving a young Luke (Grant Feely). Additionally, “Part IV” transported viewers to Fortress Inquisitorius, previously depicted in a more engaging context in Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order.

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Ewan McGregor as Obi-Wan Kenobi, Vivien Lyra Blair as Leia Organa in Obi-Wan Kenobi
Photo Credit: Disney/Lucasfilm

Moreover, the series centralizes a dynamic we’ve observed previously in live-action Star Wars narratives. Similar to The Mandalorian — the only truly exceptional series in the Star Wars canon thus far — Obi-Wan Kenobi adopts a Lone Wolf and Cub dynamic, so to speak. Where Obi-Wan stands in for Din Djarin (Pedro Pascal), while young Leia Organa (Vivien Lyra Blair) plays the role of Grogu/Baby Yoda. Unlike the green extraterrestrial, Leia is not an infant, (nor is she as meme-worthy). In fact, she’s surprisingly astute for her age, providing assistance to Obi-Wan and his allies intermittently. Having a relatable live-action human companion distinguishes it from The Mandalorian — yet the overarching theme remains consistent, wherein the older character assumes a protective role for a younger one, evolving into a quasi-parental figure throughout their time together.

Deborah Chow, who directed episodes of The Mandalorian season 1, was indeed an intuitive choice to helm such a narrative. Regrettably, she had to contend with uneven writing — attributed to Joby Harold (King Arthur: Legend of the Sword) — throughout the six-episode limited series. One significant issue is that Chow was required to navigate the aforementioned zero-stakes environment. From the outset of Obi-Wan Kenobi, it is clear that its most significant characters — Leia, Obi-Wan, and Vader — cannot be placed in perilous situations. They are even prohibited from suffering any physical harm, as we are acutely aware of their destinies. Even with this knowledge, Obi-Wan Kenobi “Part I” placed Leia in jeopardy. And it was entirely meaningless due to the lack of real tension.

This is not the case for the entire cast, but the Star Wars series squandered much of its supporting characters. Both Rupert Friend (Anatomy of a Scandal) and Sung Kang (Fast & Furious series) were underutilized as the Grand Inquisitor and the Fifth Brother, respectively. It’s likely that many would not even recall the name of Kang’s character if it weren’t mentioned here — such was his marginalization. While the Fifth Brother spent his time mocking Reva Sevander/Third Sister (Moses Ingram) for her reckless ambition, the Grand Inquisitor came off as a childish micromanager. As for Reva, her initially stated goal — to capture and eliminate Obi-Wan — didn’t carry any weight as we already knew the outcome. Naturally, Obi-Wan Kenobi constantly obstructed her efforts. Even after Reva’s true motivations were unveiled, Darth Vader survived due to his canonical armor.

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Sung Kang as Fifth Brother, Moses Ingram as Reva in Obi-Wan Kenobi
Photo Credit: Disney/Lucasfilm

On the brighter side, Indira Varma elevated her role as Tala Durith, an Imperial officer turned spy, beyond the limitations of the script with her strong performance. The less said about other cast members, the better. Kumail Nanjiani — who previously portrayed a cosmic hero disguised as a Bollywood actor in Eternals for the Marvel Cinematic Universe — was given a somewhat inflated cameo role that was extended unnecessarily. Joel Edgerton returned to reprise his role as Anakin Skywalker’s stepbrother Owen Lars for “Part VI.” O’Shea Jackson Jr.’s Jedi-supportive character Kawlan Roken — another name I had to look up — made plot-driven decisions that were inconsistent. Meanwhile, Maya Erskine was relegated to a corner of the frame, appearing to have been given a role with only a single line.

In other parts of Obi-Wan Kenobi, character portrayals suffered from poorly conceived writing. Because the creators needed Reva to locate young Luke on Tatooine in “Part VI,” two implausible plot devices were introduced in “Part V.” First, during a message to Obi-Wan, Leia’s adoptive father Bail Organa (Jimmy Smits) conveniently disclosed everything a child-tracking stranger would be eager to learn, down to the exact location where “the boy” is concealed. Next, Darth Vader, a figure known for his impulsive violence and willingness to harm others, spared Reva — who had just attempted to destroy him moments before — at the conclusion of “Part V.” Additionally, the hologram carrying Bail’s message just happened to be discarded nearby, within Reva’s reach.

Even the pivotal character had to endure hasty narrative choices. When Obi-Wan was left charred and disfigured at the conclusion of “Part III” — the series’ midway point — I anticipated this would serve as a significant hurdle for his character development. However, in the opening scenes of “Part IV,” he spent barely 10 minutes in a bacta tank and emerged fully healed. Wait, what? This is because Obi-Wan Kenobi lacked the luxury of allowing the character to undergo any real journey. Consequently, despite McGregor’s commendable efforts to impart depth to the role he reprised after nearly two decades, Obi-Wan felt more like a two-dimensional character than a nuanced human being. There was no space for the growth of a disenchanted Jedi Master rediscovering his connection to the Force and reintegrating into his former life.

Also seeSolo A Star Wars Story Review: Lots to Show, Nothing to Say

Ewan McGregor as Obi-Wan Kenobi, Hayden Christensen as Darth Vader in Obi-Wan Kenobi
Photo Credit: Disney/Lucasfilm

Instead, Obi-Wan appeared to unexpectedly “find his strength” — as Vader highlighted in “Part VI”, conveniently omitting the context — seemingly without any logical progression. In “Part III”, Obi-Wan struggled to hold his own against Vader. Yet, by the time “Part VI” arrives, which appears to take place mere days or weeks after, Obi-Wan is back to the power level of a Jedi Master from Episode III – Revenge of the Sith.

Some of this — particularly Obi-Wan’s hastily constructed arc — stemmed from the fact that Obi-Wan Kenobi was originally intended to be a film. Following the critical and commercial flop of Solo: A Star Wars Story, Disney and Lucasfilm decided to halt productions of anthology films. Consequently, Obi-Wan Kenobi was transformed into a miniseries. This transformation is evident as the series progresses. It feels crafted as a film — one that would arguably have resonated better on the big screen, considering Obi-Wan and Vader’s last encounter was presented in cinemas — that has been awkwardly stretched into a lengthy episode format. (There’s also the minor issue of numerous scripts reportedly being discarded at one point. Obi-Wan Kenobi undeniably had more contributors than necessary.)

The only aspect that predominantly succeeded in Obi-Wan Kenobi was the portrayal of Vader himself. Appropriately grand and intimidating in his sequences, Christensen’s incarnation as the dark lord may not have allowed him much agency outside the suit, but he — along with the cherished James Earl Jones as Darth Vader’s voice — did the best with the material. Interestingly, his only substantial scene in person, as Anakin Skywalker, stood out as the pinnacle of the Star Wars series for me. Admittedly, it didn’t expand upon our understanding of Obi-Wan and Anakin’s relationship, but it was artfully executed, especially in how it mirrored the events of “Part V.” A practice duel between the two reflected its lessons traversed a decade later, highlighting a) the lack of necessity for a weapon in combat and b) how Anakin’s ambition and desire for victory could blind him.

Also seeRogue One: A Star Wars Story Review: A Dark Addition to the Space Saga

Vivien Lyra Blair as Leia Organa in Obi-Wan Kenobi
Photo Credit: Disney/Lucasfilm

Ultimately, I am left questioning post-viewing of the series finale “Part VI”: What exactly is the purpose of Obi-Wan Kenobi? It is evident that Disney and Lucasfilm do not create anything today without the intention of branching into further tales. The earlier mentioned Solo was never intended as a standalone tale — hence the implication with Darth Maul — and was structured to lead into sequels featuring new characters. In fact, even Rogue One: A Star Wars Story didn’t finish as an isolated narrative, even with every character meeting their demise by the conclusion. The next live-action series, Andor, is a prequel series extending the stories of multiple characters from Rogue One — including Diego Luna’s titular Rebel spy — and will span multiple seasons.

However, there lies no future for the two prominent figures of Obi-Wan Kenobi. We are already aware of the fates of both Obi-Wan and Vader, right down to their ultimate outcomes. As Leia aptly stated in “Part VI,” it’s time for Obi-Wan to rest. The other key character, Varma, met her end in “Part V.” Yet, if history has taught us anything from Rogue One, it’s that beloved characters can always be granted prequels. What I have intentionally neglected is the inclusion of Leia herself. Is the primary aim of Obi-Wan Kenobi to pave the way for young Leia’s adventures? Or perhaps the rumored Reva series? This could justify her survival in “Part V.” Alternatively, could it tie into the brother Obi-Wan referenced in passing during “Part III”? After all, the Star Wars narrative adores familial connections, much like the Fast & Furious saga.

Obi-Wan Kenobi certainly outperformed The Book of Boba Fett, a series that should never have been made. Nonetheless, it also fell short of the precision, efficiency, and resonance of The Mandalorian. Star Wars is grappling with a significant issue of refusing to let the past remain undisturbed — a lesson they hardly seem inclined to learn anytime soon. Following Andor, which is tied to a sequel of a prequel, the upcoming live-action Star Wars series will be the Rosario Dawson-led Ahsoka. Moreover, Christensen is slated to once again embody Vader in Ahsoka. The Star Wars universe is in dire need of fresh narratives — provide me with more contributions from Taika Waititi and hopefully that Rian Johnson trilogy one day — but it seems unrealistic to expect that Disney would willingly sacrifice potential billion-dollar merchandising opportunities. May the collectibles be with you.

All six episodes of Obi-Wan Kenobi are currently available for streaming on Disney+ and Disney+ Hotstar. In India, Obi-Wan Kenobi is accessible in English, Hindi, Tamil, Telugu, and Malayalam.