Kenobi Binge List

Less than a month until we get the premiere of Obi-Wan Kenobi. Prequel fans have been itching for more Ewan McGregor in his titular role. I just finished Clone Wars, Rebels, and the original trilogy this year, which makes me extra excited for this series. So if you're itching for some Star Wars in preparation for Kenobi, check out these Obi-Wan stories.

Episode I - The Phantom Menace

Still a Padawan alongside Qui-Gon Jinn, Obi-Wan was sent on a diplomatic mission that didn’t exactly go as planned. You all know the story: rescue on Naboo, stranded on Tatooine, pick up Anakin Skywalker, and cut Darth Maul in half. Despite being the fourth installment of the franchise, this is where our Skywalker Saga (and Kenobi Saga) begins.

Episode II - Attack of the Clones

While his padawan was gone protecting/romancing Padme, Obi-Wan set off after a mystery in this movie. He followed the clues to Kamino, where he met Jango Fett and discovered the clone army, and he followed Fett’s ship to Geonosis. On this barbaric planet, he was sentenced to death by the Separatists alongside Anakin and Padme. With the help of the Jedi and the clones, they fought Count Dooku and escaped. And thus the Clone Wars began…

Star Wars: The Clone Wars

There are plenty of Clone Wars episodes featuring Obi-Wan, but only a handful that focus on him as a main character (as opposed to being along for the ride with the clones). The episodes listed below feature his story arc with Duchess Satine and Darth Maul, but if you want some extra Clone Wars episodes, check out a story about Kenobi’s rivalry with Count Dooku (episodes 1.11-1.12) and with Grievous (episodes 2.09-2.10).

Season 2, Episodes 12-14

This story arc introduces Duchess Satine of Mandalore and Death Watch. With how involved we’ve become with Mandalorians in recent years (i.e. Mandalorian, Book of Boba Fett, Bad Batch, etc.) it’s fun to see where Mandalore started–though I’d love to see more history on the people. This is the first time we see the obvious chemistry and romance between Obi-Wan and Satine, mirroring Anakin and Padme. We see the couple facing off against Death Watch, a Mandalorian terrorist group that’ll come into play later.

Season 4, Episodes 21-22

After his apparent death in The Phantom Menace, we learned that Darth Maul wasn’t killed so easily, as revealed in the Nightsisters arc (episodes 3.12-3.14). These episodes only feature Kenobi lightly, but the story arc sets up Maul’s desire for revenge on Obi-Wan. That’ll be important later. So watch these two episodes to see Savage complete his quest of rescuing the long-lost brother Maul.

Season 5, Episodes 14-16

What better revenge on Obi-Wan than to destroy his heart, Satine? Well, Maul and Savage team up with Death Watch to take control of Mandalore. With Satine in custody after the coup, it’s only natural that General Kenobi would come rescue her. Unfortunately, his rescue attempt doesn’t go as planned. Bring tissues.

Episode III - Revenge of the Sith

The last two times I’ve watched this movie, I’ve interspersed it with the last four episodes of Clone Wars (Episodes 7.09-7.12). For our purposes with Obi-Wan that isn’t entirely necessary (though it is enjoyable). General Kenobi appears briefly in the first two episodes, but the story of Darth Maul continues here from where we left him after Satine’s death. So while Ahsoka took care of him, we had the fall of the Republic in Revenge of the Sith. In the last days of the Clone Wars, Obi-Wan and Anakin take down Dooku and Grievous… only for Palpatine to finally step forward and take young Skywalker as his apprentice. Enter Darth Vader and his massacre of the Jedi Temple. Here we have Order 66 and the genocide of the Jedi Order. And as you know, Ben Kenobi’s story here ends with his fight against Anakin on Mustafar and his choice to go into exile on Tatooine. And that’s where we expect to find him during the Kenobi series.

Star Wars Rebels

Season 3, Episode 20

Rebels might take place after the upcoming Kenobi series, but if you want a little extra Ben Kenobi, I recommend this episode. It brings the Maul/Kenobi conflict to a conclusion (if you want more Darth Maul, just want the whole of Rebels). Without giving too much away, a vision leads Ezra Bridger on a rogue mission, looking for Master Kenobi, despite claims by Senator Organa that he’s dead. We get good interaction with Ben in this episode (Stephen Stanton does an amazing job sounding like the original Obi-Wan, the late Alec Guinness). So check out this story to get some Ben and to see a glimpse of teen Luke Skywalker).

Episode IV-VI - The Original Trilogy

With Princess Leia’s cry for help pulling Ben Kenobi back into action, we get him speeding off Tatooine with Luke, C-3P0, and R2-D2. Roping in smugglers Chewbacca and Han Solo, they get stuck on the Death Star. Here the team rescues Leia and Obi-Wan faces his old pupil, Darth Vader. You know the story, as Ben Kenobi dies and becomes one with the Force. Despite his apparent death, he still manages to come back as a force ghost for years to come.

And now we wait. What are you hoping to see in Kenobi? Personally, I'm hoping to see ghost Qui Gon teach Obi Wan (as was suggested in Revenge of the Sith). Maybe some minor interactions with young Luke (instead of just from a distance). But it's safe to say things won't be simple if Obi-Wan is present.