– Spoiler Review –
With years of expectations and hopes for Ewan McGregor’s return as the titular Jedi, Obi-Wan Kenobi had a lot stacked against, but after its opening hour, simply titled “Part I,” it not only manages to meet expectations, but streak past them in what looks to be an adventurous, yet introspective journey.
For a show about Obi-Wan, it’s clear he’s not the only main character, as the opening minutes of Obi-Wan Kenobi’s series premiere actually takes place in the Jedi Temple on Coruscant, during Order 66. A valiant stand by a Jedi named Minas Velti (played by Minga-Na Wen’s stunt double, Ming Qiu!) protecting younglings ensues, but after she’s cut down, the group of younglings are on their own and take off running, their fates left unknown. I do believe we already know one of the younglings, as I imagine Reva, the Third Sister Inquisitor (Moses Ingram), is in their group. I only say this because it becomes strikingly clear early in the episode Reva has a burning desire to hunt down Obi-Wan, the white whale of the Inquisitorious’ hunt over the past 10 years, and it’s easy to assume she somehow blames him for her Jedi life cut brutally short, but the how and why remain elusive for now. Though we’ve seen the Grand Inquisitor (Rupert Friend) and the Fifth Brother (Sung Kang) a few years later down in the timeline in Star Wars Rebels being cruel or tricky to drag out Jedi, Reva is bolder than them at this point, pushing hard, either by throwing a knife at an innocent bartender to force the Jedi-in-hiding to reveal themselves or holding Owen at saber point…and later bringing in a surprising and exciting character into the story (but more on them soon!). There’s a great, quiet ferociousness Ingram brings to the role, showing there’s some bone to pick from her past, hiding beneath the surface, which she masks in her newfound anger and purpose as an Inquisitor, and I expected nothing less from the actress after her stellar showing in Queen’s Gambit. There’s a story to tell with Reva here and I can’t wait to see Obi-Wan Kenobi unfold it alongside the main narrative.
Mind you, the three Inquisitors aren’t on Tatooine because of Obi-Wan, instead for a different Jedi they’ve heard word about due to their inability to lay-low, assisting the aforementioned bartender a little too publicly (there are visible lightsaber marks in the building). By being a Jedi, by still adhering to the Code, many other Jedi have found themselves hunted down by the Inquisitors, so Obi-Wan’s managed to fly under the radar by not being the Jedi he used to be, but it almost doesn’t seem like a conscious choice he made. When we first see Obi-Wan, he’s doing menial labor, slicing meat from some giant creature’s bones, and when a worker in front of him is hit by their boss, despite the fire seemingly inside him, Obi-Wan looks too defeated and downtrodden, too afraid to act, and decides not to help the man. It’s even worse when the Jedi the Inquisitors are hunting tracks Obi-Wan down, begging for his help, but Obi-Wan initially pretends the Jedi is mistaken, then imparts advice he’s living by now, to keep your head down and not get involved, the time of the Jedi being over. This is a far cry from the Obi-Wan of the prequels, of the Obi-Wan the galaxy would know from his heroics in the Clone Wars, so it’s very easy to see why no one would expect much from this Ben of the Dune Seas…he doesn’t give anyone anything to expect. After the day is over, Ben heads to his home, a little cave dwelling with an intruder alert system, so not quite the hovel he has by A New Hope (some 10 years after this). It feels like a transitionary place, as the once Jedi Master might believe himself a different man, that he’s no longer the Obi-Wan the galaxy knew, but his choice not to take a more permeant, cozy home seems to suggest deep-down inside, he’s not ready to commit to this lifestyle, this version of himself Ben, and is unable to let go of his past. His nightmares confirm this, as it has flashes to various moments in the prequels (not unlike the awesomely done ‘previously on’ before the episode) showing he’s still not past what happened between him and Anakin Skywalker, guilty for killing his best friend (as far as he’s aware) and clinging to the hope of guidance from his former Master, Qui-Gon Jinn, as Yoda promised him before the mission of looking over Luke Skywalker began.
He also clings to Luke’s shadow, maybe since he’s hoping for his watch to be over and the training to begin, to renew his purpose, though his guilt and what happened with Anakin weighs probably too heavily on him now for any training by Ben to be useful. Owen Lars (Joel Edgerton, reprising the role) feels much the same, reminding Ben in the now memed conversation how things went with the last Skywalker he trained, and while he doesn’t give up Obi-Wan when Reva puts a blade to his face, his final comment on how he didn’t do it for Ben rings loud in the silence that follows. Owen has a point, whether he knows it or not, as Obi-Wan has clearly put the onus on Luke to help shake him out of his reverie filled pit. He’s looking elsewhere to fix his problems, Luke’s destiny and Qui-Gon’s guidance, but he needs to look inward before he can truly move on and he’s not willing, not yet. Ewan McGregor inhabits this new take on Obi-Wan with aplomb, the little glimpses of the man he used to be are almost heartbreaking in-between the depth of this depression, of Ben’s defeated nature, which he plays stoically, quietly well. There are some lighthearted moments, like with the Jawa he trades with, that allow McGregor to offer a full range of the man Obi-Wan used to be, but his conviction to his hermit lifestyle, to his mission with Luke, is such an interesting and committed mindset by Ewan it really hits viewers with how much he’s changed, how much the past weighs on him still. But what could shake him from his reverie, to make him leave Tatooine and his sacred post, as we know he will by the trailers?
That’s where the big, delightful, and exciting surprise comes into play. Obi-Wan Kenobi “Part 1” pulls away from Tatooine to visit…Alderaan!! The moment the planet appeared on screen, my heart skipped a beat, because there was no denying what this meant: the young Leia Organa! I loved the fake out opening, where it looks like it’s Leia getting dressed by royal servants, where I admittedly had a tear just at the thought of seeing young Leia, only for us and Breha Organa (Simone Kessell) to find out she’s not there. The real Leia is scampering away into the woods around their home, alongside her little drone-like droid Lola, climbing up a tree to watch the ships coming and going from the port, speculating on their purpose. Vivian Lrya Blair (rumored by Jordan Maison for some time now) almost chews up all her scenery as the young Leia, from her roguish nature, biting remarks, boundless curiosity, and defiant nature, that I imagine Carrie Fisher would’ve been proud of her in the role. Breha tracks Leia down and brings her to the landing pad to greet Breha’s sister’s family, alongside Bail Organa (Jimmy Smits) who playfully gives into Leia’s escapades. Their son, Leia’s cousin, is rather rude, calling her out on not even being a real Organa, but as much as that hurts her, she gives it right back, and then some, tearing him down like the Leia we all know and love later in life. This gains a talking to from both Breha and Bail, though the conversation between Bail and Leia after Breha leaves is my favorite of the episode, from the way he makes sure she feels like an Organa to his teasing about her being a Senator.
While Leia makes her escape again, there’s been someone watching her (Flea, from Red Hot Chili Peppers) and, after a wily chase in the woods, she’s captured. As you can imagine, Bail and Breha call on Obi-Wan immediately, as Bail trusts no one more considering he knows the real stakes involved with the child. Since we’ve spent time with this defeated Ben already throughout the episode, it’s no surprise to us he’s unwilling to leave, afraid abandoning this post will mean his next failure, but it shocks the Organas. This prompts a visit by Bail to Ben, who urges the Jedi to let go of the past, that while he couldn’t save Anakin, he can save Leia. and while he shoots down his visitor again, seeing the Jedi he didn’t help hung in the village square near his home is enough to stir him to action, digging up his blade and heading out to Daiyu, where Bail has tracked the kidnappers’ ship. My wife suggested this was a plot by Breha’s sister’s husband after his comment regarding Bail’s desire to stop slavery in the galaxy, and as interesting as that would be, it turns out it’s Reva’s plan to draw Obi-Wan out, as she’s made a connection between Bail and Obi-Wan that makes her think he’d help rescue Bail’s daughter, oblivious to the truth of the matter.
As far as opening episodes go, “Part I” is a memorable, well-paced, and intriguing opening, setting up a great call to action and story to come as Ben goes to rescue Leia, alongside in-fighting with the Inquisitors. Director Deborah Chow uses big, empty shots of Obi-Wan to really highlight how alone and solitary he is, the monotony of his actions ensuring viewers see he’s accepted this life for now, or at least some parts of it. The action is easy to follow in the chase at the end, while the shots of Alderaan, sweeping and packed with life and characters, paints a much different picture than life on Tatooine. John Williams’ Obi-Wan theme, which plays over the ending credits in full, is a beautiful, haunting, and hopeful song that Natalie Holt (Loki), the first female composer for Star Wars, plays with sparingly yet incorporates well with her overall score, itself often feeling lonely around scenes with Obi-Wan and adventurous with Leia and Alderaan, while never straying far from what makes a score a Star Wars score.
Here are a few other things:
- The opening Lucasfilm Showcase panel had Ewan quoting “Hello, there” and him and Hayden walking out to the chanting from ‘Duel of Fates.’
- Breha having a sister has precedence in Legends, via the novel Children of the Force.
- Really like the design of the little Lola droid! In fact, someone liked it or thought it was neat enough…they built one after it was revealed in a Volkswagen commercial only a few days before Celebration!
- I love that it’s Obi-Wan who gave Luke the skyhopper model he plays with in A New Hope! I’m assuming Owen takes it back/Obi brings it back at some point.
- Don’t miss out on Brotherhood, a brilliant novel that explores the friendship of Obi-Wan and Anakin in a way that hasn’t been done yet!
Obi-Wan Kenobi “Part I” manages to meet expectations and promises something none of us was truly expecting.
+ Ewan’s return in the role
+ Little Leia slaying it
+ Reva’s potential
+ Well-polished episode with tons of promise
Ryan is Mynock Manor’s Head Butler. You can follow him on Twitter @BrushYourTeeth. You can follow the website on Twitter @MynockManor and Instagram @mynockmanor.
OBI-WAN KENOBI SERIES REVIEWS
Part II | Part III | Part IV | Part V | Part VI