Obi-Wan Kenobi Review: Part I/Part II (Season 1 Episodes 1 and 2)

It has been years since the release of the prequel films and the animated series Star Wars: The Clone Wars, but now the beloved character of Obi-Wan Kenobi is back. With the latest Star Wars TV series, the beloved Jedi is in hiding on Tatooine watching over Luke Skywalker, but things are not well in the galaxy beyond.

The great thing about Obi-Wan Kenobi Season 1 Episode 1, “Part I” and Obi-Wan Kenobi Season 1 Episode 2, “Part II” is the duality of focus it gives to both Kenobi’s path in the galaxy as well as Leia Organa’s. Sure, we see a little bit of Luke with his Aunt and Uncle toward the start of “Part I”, but beyond that it becomes the story of how Kenobi and Leia’s stories intertwine. 

For a character we have only ever seen as an adult, young Leia is as sassy as she is smart. She often spouts off lines that hit you square in the chest with emotions. 

Vivian Lyra Blair is the most perfect casting of Leia Organa since Carrie Fisher herself. The level of sass and independent spirit Blair brings to the role really makes young Leia stand out as her own character.

What makes both of these episodes so spectacular is the attention to detail about previously created worlds and storylines. The writers clearly went into this series looking at all the background lore, information, and world building that George Lucas and company have created over the years.

No detail is left out, not even the idea that some of the younglings somehow escaped Order 66 during the Sith Uprising. It’s safe to say that Reva, the supremely talented Moses Ingram, is most likely one of those younglings, which is why she may have such a penchant for proving herself to Anakin aka Vader by bringing him the one he seeks the most, Kenobi. 

Honestly, overall the casting choices for each character is nuanced and perfectly done to make these familiar characters create a new line for themselves while the new characters make a name amongst the old. Once again, it’s hard to really know who to root for — obviously Obi-Wan is a big contender — because Darth Vader is such an iconic character and the Star Wars franchise is so good at creating layered villains.

From the moment we meet Haja, played by the incomparable Kumail Nanjiani, there is some question as to his real motives. This puts him up there in line with Reva because even her motives are a bit suspect. No one character is truly all good or all bad, there are areas of grey that most of them walk within.

The first two episodes of this mini-series really set the plot for the remaining episodes. Of course, the kidnapping of Leia Organa would bring Obi-Wan out of hiding completely and get him to use the force again for the first time in a decade. 

While fans of the franchise are already familiar with Obi-Wan and Senator Organa as well as Luke and Leia and Owen Lars, this series sets out to paint these characters in a much different light. That’s the beauty of Obi-Wan Kenobi, it takes familiar characters and gives them a different side to work with that creates more depth to look at them from.

The Obi-Wan we know and love is a kind, understanding, resourceful man. But, what happens when he’s broken beyond repair by the betrayal of his apprentice? That is what this series aims to explore.

A perfect indication of that pain and suffering happens in the final moments of “Part II” when Obi-Wan is up against Reva as he tries to escape with Leia. Reva mentions that Anakin is still alive and that little mention sends Obi-Wan into a daze that even Leia can’t break him out of.

With perfect transitioning Obi-Wan Kenobi takes that moment and molds it into our first look of Anakin/Darth Vader as he floats in a water tank hooked up to a breathing device. It’s a moment that still sends chills down my spin and I watched it hours ago. 

The stage is set for what is bound to be an extremely complicated journey. Somehow, Obi-Wan has to come up against Darth Vader, but without Leia. 

It’s important to the plot of the original film series that Vader not realize the importance of Leia’s existence before the resistance comes to be. I’m interested to see how this series will handle all these plot points while staying true to original source material — I have no doubt it will do a fantastic job.

 

What did you think of this episode of Obi-Wan Kenobi? Share your thoughts in the comments below!

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Obi-Wan Kenobi airs Fridays on Disney+.

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