Why I Didn't Like Kenobi

Before we go into a review of the Kenobi series you should know my feelings towards Star Wars. Growing up I watched the original trilogy so much that my parents had to hide our VHS tapes (yes, I am that old). The first movie I remember watching in theaters was The Phantom Menace. As a kid I loved the prequel movies and was sad that George Lucas wasn’t planning on doing a sequel series. I never explored the lore but I have played a decent amount of Star Wars video games. When George Lucas sold Star Wars to Disney the kid in me became excited and thought The Force Awakens was Disney’s way to tell the audience that they can make Star Wars films. I liked Rogue One (the best Star Wars movie Disney has made) and became disappointed with The Last Jedi and The Rise of Skywalker. I have seen The Clone Wars (both versions), Rebels, Bad Batch, Solo, Mandalorian, Boba Fett, and just finished Obi-Wan Kenobi. If I had to grade the Kenobi series, I would give it 7.5/10. Not the worst Star Wars I have seen, but I wouldn’t eagerly recommend people to watch the series. I would be happy to talk about it with my friends, but I wouldn’t force them to watch it.

Overview of the Story

The show takes place between Revenge of the Sith and A New Hope. Obi-Wan Kenobi is hiding from the empire on Tatooine while watching Luke from a distance. Obi-Wan is emotionally defeated by his last battle and doesn’t consider himself as a Jedi. However, he rises to the call to rescue Leia because of his friendship with her adopted father. This is a trap constructed by Jedi-hunting inquisitors to lure him out because they know he is friends with Leia’s father. This eventually leads him to discover that his former apprentice Anakin is still alive.

Pros:

Having Ewan McGregor reprise his role was a delight. Obi-Wan is one of my favorite Star Wars characters because of Ewan and having him back playing Kenobi got me excited for the show even though I don't have faith in Disney making a good star wars media. In the series it felt like he was put on his old gloves and they fit well. He is Obi-Wan, and he executes it perfectly. His character starts off as a defeated Kenobi but ends with the Kenobi we grew up with and loved. Also, I should note Hayden Christensen performance as Darth Vader was great.

One thing I was nervous about was having Obi-Wan use the dark side of the force to escape from Darth Vader. I was so happy when the two did face off he didn’t turn to the dark side. He kept his morals and didn’t give up.

I like dystopia plots and this show takes place where Jedi are being hunted and the empire has power over everything. Shows/Games like Star Wars Rebels, Jedi Fallen Order, and Force Unleased explore this period and I like how this show takes place during this period. There is a con I have about it, but I am happy that they attempt to have a dystopia setting.

The choreography and battle scenes were amazing. This is something that Disney has always done well with. Even though I don’t like their recent movies it doesn’t mean I didn’t enjoy the fight scenes especially the lightsaber ones.

When they have flashbacks to the past, instead of de-aging Kenobi and Anakin using CGI, they looked like the ages they are right now as actors. I like it because CGI can look bad. Also, they are older in A New Hope so why not have them be older in the past instead of de-aging them? You might disagree with me, but I enjoyed that flashback.

Hello there.

Cons:

Having a few Easter eggs in a movie and show is always fun to search for, but in this show, I felt like they had to show and tell and beat you with it. A few Easter eggs are nice to find on your own, but there were too many for this show. For example, we don’t need to know why Leia puts her holster in front of her hip in Return of the Jedi, but this show not only showed a female character doing that but had her explain to Leia why it is better in front than on the side. There were more instances like this, it was tiring, and I don't want to talk about it.

I mentioned that I like dystopia settings and even though this show takes place during a dystopia setting, the franchise has done better with this setting. In Star Wars Fallen Order we follow Cal who was a Jedi apprentice that survived Order 66 and is trying to survive as he is being hunted by inquisitors and Darth Vader. Comparing these two stories, the show doesn’t come across as desolate. Instead, I felt like Obi-Wan is at a dystopia theme park with his daughter Leia and he is letting her take charge on what they should do.

I know that Obi-Wan and Leia needed to meet so A New Hope would have better context, but I would have been happier is Leia was not as present in the series as she was. The show would have been more serious if she wasn’t there. There was a scene where Obi-Wan is hiding from the inquisitors in a bunk and it would have been more suspenseful if Leia wasn’t there.

The last Con that bothered me happened in the final episode where the Grand Inquisitor telling Vader what he should do. My interpretation should have inquisitors fear Darth Vader because he is way more powerful and will Kill if he is not pleased. Yet in this scene the Grand Inquisitor was telling Darth Vader that they shouldn't pursue Obi-Wan, which ironically is the opposite of his job description. The Grand Inquisitor leads the hunt of fugitive Jedi for the Galactic Empire, yet he is telling Vader to pursue the rebels.

Opinion:

When I started watching the series each episode was getting worse with the cons mentioned above until episode 5 and 6. Episode 5 has a few plot holes that I could go into, but that episode was enjoyable to watch. Episode 6 felt like traditional Star Wars to me, fighting between good vs evil. Should Obi-Wan Kenobi take the easy way our or should he stand up for what is right and not fall into temptation? Star Wars doesn’t always have the best dialogue some of which is hard for me to watch, but the messages have always been pure and performed well. I liked the Kenobi series and I hope that Disney will continue to improve themselves with this franchise.

Ben Kenobi's PTSD

 (Guest Post by Ben)

Obi-Wan Kenobi has been a fan favorite since, well, forever. The first words we hear out of his mouth in A New Hope are, “Hello there!” and, truth be told, we seem to forget that Obi-Wan has always been sassy Jedi we’ve come to know and love through the prequels and Clone Wars TV series. But there’s a side to him we don’t get to see much of in the original trilogy, and are only now beginning to understand through the Obi-Wan Kenobi series on Disney+. This is the cast-away, beat-down, exhausted, and haunted man that the galaxy owes its thanks. If he’s such a lovable, upbeat, and powerful warrior, then what’s up with this guy we’re seeing in the TV series? Where is our fearless leader from the prequels and Clone Wars?

Oh, he’s still there, but he’s got a lot to work through. As far as the timeline is concerned leading up to the Obi-Wan Kenobi series, our stalwart Jedi knight has seen it all. His master (Qui-Gon Jinn) was killed by the frightening Dathomirian, Darth Maul; his love—Dutchess Satine of Mandalore—is killed by that same Dathomirian monster; and his padawan, his brother not just in arms but as close as a friend as one can get, turns his back on the Jedi order and Obi-Wan is forced to kill him on Mustafar. As far as Kenobi knew, up until this TV series, Anakin Skywalker was dead. And these are just a few of the things Kenobi went through since joining the Jedi. And so it is that, when the Jedi are hunted for being representatives of truth, justice, and virtue, Obi-Wan retreats to a sedentary life on Tatooine, working a regular job and watching over the child Anakin doesn’t know exists.

And then he learns that Anakin not only survived, but is hunting him—along with all the other Jedi.

In Return of the Jedi, when Darth Vader learns that he has not just one child, but two, he  comments that Obi-Wan’s failure is complete. While Vader mentions the failure off hand, we know that it goes a lot deeper in Obi-Wan’s mind. As viewers, we can only see the surface of what Obi-Wan thinks of himself. Everything he fought for—and loved—was destroyed, and, despite trying his hardest, he was unable to put a stop to it. Qui-Gon. Satine. Anakain himself. These and more are the thoughts swirling around Obi-Wan’s mind when we see him in the TV series. He considers himself a failure. He considers himself less than dross. And, to add insult to injury, he has seen more than the human mind should be able to process with any form of sanity. Like Job in the Bible, it seems that he has lost everything and that there is no hope for restitution. And in his state, we can assume that Kenobi doesn’t believe he even deserves restitution of any amount. He is about as low as a person can get.

Obi-Wan Kenobi’s PTSD is wildly evident throughout the first three episodes. Owen, Luke’s uncle, is a constant reminder to him of his failure to protect Anakin. We see later that Kenobi had buried his weapons of war deep in the desert sand, a symbol of his refusal to take up the mantle of hero once more. This burial shows the viewer that Obi-Wan is finished with his role of guardian of peace and justice, and his reluctance to return to action is evidenced in the scene where he retrieves the lightsabers. 

Perhaps the most obvious case for PTSD is seen when Darth Vader knows Obi-Wan is spying on him and begins terrorizing the citizens of wherever it is they are. These are innocent people, yet the Sith lord shows Obi-Wan just how powerful he is—and just how little he cares about human life—by inflicting death and destruction on those around him. Obi-Wan thought he had already killed Anakin once; seeing this display of terror, it all comes back to him in sweeping flashbacks that effectively paralyze him for a time. When the time comes to confront Vader, Obi-Wan is visibly shaken and unable to fight. Vader claims it is his time away from the war that has made him rusty, but perhaps it’s more than that. Perhaps it’s seeing his friend—his brother—still alive after thinking for a decade that he had killed him. Perhaps it is seeing this brother of his leave death in his wake that solidifies the trauma he’s been holding in for the last ten years. Perhaps it’s the thoughts of all his failures coming back to haunt him, at how useless he’s been at protecting those he loves, that makes him run away rather than fight.

We are not in his head, so we can’t judge. We don’t know what he’s going through, but there’s obviously something deeper happening inside him than we are allowed to see on screen. This mental breakdown of one of the strongest and most-loved heroes in Star Wars shows us that anyone can break. As viewers, we have the luxury of knowing how it ends for Obi-Wan—on his own terms, coming back when he is needed most to once again save who he can. For him, in this series, Obi-Wan has a lot to reconcile, and as far as he’s concerned, he’s not ready for any of it.

Fortunately, Leia has been there to snoop around, finding cracks in the Jedi’s defenses that has kept him from completely breaking down since he left Anakin on the slopes of Mustafar. Whether either of them knows it or not, Leia is one of the last people Obi-Wan cares about, and he will do anything to help her. He still has that soft spot that makes him the best of heroes, and as the series continues, we can only hope for more interactions between the young princess and the aging Jedi. Leia has a way of tenderizing hardened hearts, and if anyone could use a little pick-me-up, it’s our man Kenobi.

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.