Obi-Wan Kenobi Double Take: Season Premiere

Obi-Wan Kenobi has returned! The highly anticipated limited series debuted on Disney+ last week during Star Wars Celebration with the first two parts of six episodes that will bridge the gap between Revenge of the Sith and A New Hope. While Obi-Wan Kenobi seems like it will conclude after the sixth episode, it appears the creators of the show decided to place the events of this story right in between the two movies—and there is a chance that based on its huge success, this might not be the only time we get to see Ewan McGregor return as the legendary Jedi Master.

Part I begins in the most unexpected way, with an extended recap of the prequels, focusing on Obi-Wan and Anakin’s relationship elevated by a modern, epic trailer-style score by Loki composer Natalie Holt. If that wasn’t already a heart wrenching moment for prequels fans, then the next scene sure stabbed the viewers right in the heart, with a group of younglings trying to escape the terrifying Jedi Purge after the commencement of Order 66. We have already seen a glimpse of those hurtful and tragic moments in Revenge of the Sith and even in Grogu’s memories in The Book of Boba Fett—and exploring that event once again (but from a different point of view) is more meaningful than it seemed while watching it for the first time. Is one of the younglings the Inquisitor-to-be Third Sister Reva? We will have to wait to find out in the next episodes.

After a very dramatic and epic beginning, the show slows down to give the viewers a break and introduce the main timeline on Tatooine. It was interesting to see the Inquisitors get introduced before Kenobi—continuing to feed on the anticipation of his long awaited return. The Grand Inquisitor, Reva, and the Fifth Brother visit a local saloon in search of Jedi remnants. Their debut to live action is impactful to say the least, actor Rupert Friend’s vampire-like voice and intimidating presence (seeing the makeup and costume from different angles should now discredit the fans’ complaints about the character’s inaccurate look from Rebels) pull you right into the story. And let’s talk about the newcomer, Reva, whose edgy and reckless personality make her a frightening and dangerous villain. Her obsession with finding Kenobi will play out more in Part II, but right off the bat we know she will not stop until she gets him. Why does she want to catch Obi-Wan so badly? There must be some personal reasons behind this hatred.

Obi-Wan’s return is subtle and mysterious. The decision of not having Ewan McGregor speak right away was clever, and really played with the anticipation (the actor mentioned the character’s voice was something he had to relearn after so many years). We see Kenobi living a strict routine life, ten years spent hiding his true identity but still dwelling on the past. He has closed himself off from the Force, and blames himself for what happened to Anakin—a fascinating parallel to Luke Skywalker in The Last Jedi. His duty to watch over young Luke (and bring him presents, the T-16 toy a nice easter egg) is probably what has motivated him to stay alive, but the unexpected turn of events in the second half of the show leads him to go back to his Jedi ways and rescue young Leia Organa.

Speaking of young Leia, Vivien Lyra Blair’s performance is outstanding. Her portrayal of the beloved character perfectly mirrors Carrie Fisher’s—not to mention her quick witted and rebellious attitude is captivating and fun to watch. Triggering our memories, the show’s wardrobe and hair department created familiar hairstyles and outfits—the Alderaan white and maroon resembling Leia’s in The Empire Strikes Back and the green jacket in Part II giving a nod to the camo poncho she wore in Return of the Jedi. Leia’s introduction also brought Bail (Jimmy Smits returning to his iconic role after Rogue One) and Breha Organa while taking the fans on an extended tour of the marvelous planet of Alderaan. We only saw a glimpse of it at the end of Revenge of the Sith, and it’s nice to be able to experience this beautiful planet before it gets destroyed by the Death Star.

Another anticipated return from the prequel trilogy is Joel Edgerton, reprising his role of Owen Lars, Luke Skywalker’s uncle. The tension between Obi-Wan (or Ben) and him is so strong—Owen’s grudge against the old Jedi is something that was hinted at in A New Hope, and will definitely continue to play out in the upcoming episodes. Will Obi-Wan get a chance to interact with Luke, or will Owen get in the way once again?

At the end of Part I, Leia gets kidnapped, and Obi-Wan has to make a painful choice: keep his head down while keeping a watchful eye on Luke or leave Tatooine to go rescue the little princess. He chooses the latter, and the shot of him digging out his (and Anakin’s) lightsabers officially commences the return of the legendary Jedi Master.

If Part I was the appetizer to what’s to come, then Part II of this amazing Obi-Wan Kenobi Season Premiere skips right to dessert, because it is action-packed and full of surprises. Obi-Wan arrives at the location where Leia is presumably held hostage—a trap that Obi-Wan walks right into. The episode’s highlight is without a doubt the newly established dynamic between Obi-Wan and Leia. The Jedi’s inability to keep the little princess from running away and into potential danger is entertaining, but luckily does not end with Leia getting re-captured.

Helping their escape is wannabe Jedi and con artist Haja Estree, played by Kumail Nanjiani—whose comedic performance helps lighten the otherwise dark tone of the show. His less than honorable occupation contrasted by his big heart and will to help young Force sensitives escape the clutches of the Empire make the perfect mix for a fascinating character—which will likely play a crucial role in the next episodes.

Part II ends with major cliffhangers. The first one is the apparent murder of the Grand Inquisitor by the hand of Reva, which at this point completely breaks Star Wars canon. I can only speculate that they pop him in a bacta bath and the main Rebels Season One villain will survive the attack and be back into action. The second is the revelation (at least for Obi-Wan) that Anakin Skywalker, aka Darth Vader is still alive and searching for his old master. As this earth shattering news sinks in, Ewan McGregor’s performance emanates surprise, fear, guilt, and so many other emotions that the character has been holding in for ten years. The final shot of this episode, marking the return of Hayden Christensen as the Dark Lord of the Sith, is terrifyingly delightful—we’re going to have to wait until Wednesday to finally witness his anticipated performance.

What are your thoughts on the Obi-Wan Kenobi Season Premiere? Let us know on our social media channels, and if you want to listen to an even deeper breakdown of the first two episodes, then make sure to check out the latest episode of Comically Caffeinated—where Nicole, Mike, and myself discuss the show while sipping on some interesting beverages.