'Obi-Wan Kenobi' Episodes 1 & 2: Recap and Review
The Force is strong with this series as we are treated to two of the best intro episodes in the short history of Star Wars Disney+ series
WARNING: Contains Spoilers
It has been 17 years since Ewan McGregor last wore the Jedi robes and held a lightsaber and yet it feels like no time has passed. The role of Obi-Wan Kenobi is as natural to McGregor as taking the high-ground but this is only one piece to explain the success of these episodes. The series is more cinematic than any to come before it which can be attributed to the solid and unified direction of Director Deborah Chow. Chow previously directed two episodes of The Mandalorian as well as a handful of episodes of various Marvel streaming shows. To say that she has hit her found her voice in this series is an understatement. As familiar as the series is compared to The Mandalorian and The Book of Boba Fett, the feel of the series is it’s own, the differences are subtle but enough to be noticed. There was a long way to fall if this series was mishandled, one only look at the mixed reception that Boba Fett received in his long awaited return. With the pressure of one of the largest fan bases in the world resting squarely on her shoulders, Chow has channeled the force for a direct hit.
Episode One (entitled simply ‘Part 1’) begins as an unnamed Jedi trains her group of younglings in the ways of the force when suddenly, chaos erupts. Clone Troopers burst through the door and attack. The Jedi attempts to lead her five younglings to safety but is cut down by blaster fire. Alone now, the five younglings seek out safety alone. Ten years have passed since then and we find ourselves in a tavern on Tatooine. The town shudders as an Empire ship hovers over head. The ship descends and out walks a group of Sith Inquisitors led by the Grand Inquisitor (Rupert Friend) himself and flanked by Third Sister (Moses Ingram) and Fifth Brother (Sung Kang). The three descend on a local bar and intimidate the locals for information on a local Jedi that has been seen. The Jedi (Benny Sadfi) is flushed out but because of tensions in between the Third Sister and The Grand Inquisitor gave him an opportunity to escape. The two inquisitors argue and we learn the Third Sister’s true motivation, to find and kill Obi-Wan Kenobi. Not far away we find Obi-Wan (Ewan McGregor) during his new normal; he works butchering kills, lives in a cave in the desert, and enjoys trading with Jawas. This time he trades for a toy ship. At night he is haunted by his past, and by Anakin. The next day he visits the reason for his time on Tatooine, he watches over young Luke Skywalker (Grant Feely) as he plays on the Lars Moisture Farm and as the night comes he leaves the toy for Luke. We find ourselves on Alderaan, a young girl is being dressed for a formal dinner. She is sent for but it is discovered that she is not who they think she is, the real Leia Organa (Vivien Lyra Blair) is out frolicking in the woods before returning to get ready for dinner but someone watches her in the shadows. Back on Tatooine, Owen Lars (Joel Edgerton) confronts Obi-Wan about the toy he left for Luke and returns it, reiterating his desire for Obi-Wan to leave them alone. Not one minute later and Third Sister and Fifth Brother arrive at the square and begin to intimidate the crowd. Third Sister turns her attention to Owen, going so far as to pull her lightsaber on him, but before she can act Fifth Brother stops her. On Alderaan, Leia and her adoptive parents Bail (Jimmy Smits) and Breha Organa (Simone Kessell) attend a party with family. One of Leia’s cousins says some mean things to Leia, claiming that she is not a real Organa, so Leia says some very mean things back and puts him in his place. For her words, she is lectured by Bail but ultimately they bond as father and daughter. Leia again sneaks off into the forest where this time she is confronted by a group of kidnappers with a particular leader (Flea), Leia runs but is still abducted and taken off planet. Bail asks Obi-Wan for help but he refuses, so he shows up at Obi-Wan’s cave and asks personally but he remains unconvinced until he sees the hunted Jedi . The kidnappers are contacted by Third Sister and and we learn that she had Leia abducted to lure out Obi-Wan, who is currently boarding public transport and heading directly into her trap.
Episode Two on a seedy planet as Obi-Wan arrives to find the kidnapped Princess. Through some investigation he is led to someone who claims to be a Jedi. Obi-Wan sees right through the imposter, Haja Estree (Kumail Nanjiani), and confronts him. Without much resistance, Haja points Obi-Wan in a direction to look. At the location, Obi-Wan quickly falls into the kidnappers trap but he is able to escape and incapacitate them for a short while. After a short search he finds Leia and the two escape into the city. The Grand Inquisitor and Fifth Brother confront Third sister about Obi-Wan and leave her behind to find him themselves. Refusing to give up, Third Sister opens a bounty on Obi-Wan. While Obi-Wan and Leia wander the streets, she becomes increasingly mistrusting with him and ultimately runs away after seeing the bounty with his face on it. She runs to the rooftops with Obi-Wan chasing and Bounty Hunters attacking when they get pinned down by bounty hunters. Leia falls off the roof and Obi-Wan uses the force for the first time in years to save her. They get away and run into Haja who wants to help. Haja directs the two an automated cargo port while he attempts to distract the Third Sister. Distracting her was a mistake, Third Sister easily extracts the info she needs from Haja’s mind. Obi-Wan and Leia arrive at the port with Third Sister close behind. Obi-Wan sends Leia ahead while he distracts Third Sister. He hides among the cargo as she stalks and taunts him with a hard to accept truth, that Anakin is alive. Third Sister closes in on Obi-Wan when she is stopped by the Grand Inquisitor. Fed up with his distractions she her lightsaber through his stomach. Obi-Wan escapes with Leia during the commotion. In our last moments we see Darth Vader as he heals in a bacta tank.
One thing that is perfectly clear after these first two episodes is that there was special care and attention paid to this series. It starts with the cast. One could chaulk up the casting of Joel Edgerton as Owen Lars way back in 2002 and his subsequent emergence as a highly sought after actor in subsequent years as dumb luck. Ewan McGregor was a rising star back then and continues to prove just how good he is. This version of Obi-Wan feels broken and defeated, a far cry from the great Jedi we last saw him as. He is burdening his mind with a responsibility to Luke that no one else wants to the point of outright refusal to help save Leia. But lucky for the viewers he changes his mind and we get a fun interaction between he and Leia. Young actress Vivien Lyra Blair is fantastic the young princess, perfectly channeling the fun and sassy nature of the character first created by the legendary Carrie Fisher. The addition of Kumail Nanjiani provides some much needed levity as the imposter Jedi as well as placing Kumail in the rare air of belonging to both the Marvel universe and a galaxy far far away. On the other side of the Force are the Inquisitors. Sung Kang’s Fifth Brother has been good with the time that he has been given but most of the focus was on Rupert Friend and Moses Ingram’s Grand Inquisitor and Third Sister respectively. The Grand Inquisitor actually seems reasonable compared to Third Sister and her turning on him highlights just how much danger Obi-Wan is in with her after him. Ingram plays the Jedi hunter as unhinged and murderously determined, she is skilled, capable, and an absolute danger. A special highlight worth mentioning was the inclusion of Flea from the Red Hot Chili Peppers The seeds for story are strong from the get go. One specific detail is hidden in the first episode’s opening sequence set during Order 66. Throughout the episodes it is mentioned several times that the Inquisitors are former Jedi and the fact that it was highlighted that there were five younglings who were attempting to escape are too specific to be coincidence. A guess as to their connection would be that those five younglings became inquisitors and Third Sister was among them. Her descent into the Dark Side could be an interesting story to explore in subsequent episodes.
The use of LED screens when filming these series has become common knowledge but Director Deborah Chow does not let that hinder her in the slightest. Her shot composure and cinematic film style adds a gravitas to the series that exceeds the usual limitations set by streaming series production. The story is set up to explore the grey in between the light and dark sides as well as exploring character of one of the most beloved characters in the Star Wars Universe. These two episodes are without question the most effective and interesting introductions to a Disney+ series since WandaVision. From top to bottom each detail was handled with care and focus instead of feeling like a series of mandated action beats that have arguably ruined characters before. Obi-Wan Kenobi is just as smart, interesting, and entertaining as its namesake has been for the last 45 years. With only six episodes in total for the series there is no room for filler, and after two episodes it doesn’t seem like we shouldn’t expect much. It is hard to predict where these series will go in terms of quality but it is safe to say the hands who guide the series are strong in the force.