Obi-wan Kenobi - a reckoning

 

 

The credits for the first season of Obi-wan Kenobi have faded from the screen and it's time I considered what I thought of the series, especially since I had so looked forward to it.

The first episode showed a dejected, demoralised Obi-wan Kenobi, working as just another labourer and living out in the Dune Sea on Tatooine. He's still mindful of his task to keep an eye on young Luke Skywalker, who is now ten years old. He's haunted by the memory of killing his best friend, Anakin Skywalker, on the volcanic surface of Mustafa.

With the arrival of the Inquisitors – Jedi who have turned to the business of hunting Jedi – we learn what happens to Jedi when they're found. And we meet the thoroughly nasty, ambitious young woman, Inquisitor Reva.

That's the background. The 'inciting incident' is the kidnap of ten-year-old Princess Leia. Bail Organa begs Obi-wan to find her, which he reluctantly does.

What this series is really all about is the relationship between Kenobi and Darth Vader. It's understandable that Vader is burning for revenge. Kenobi left him on the lava to die and Kenobi is responsible for what he has become. He has been looking for his old master for ten years, without success. Kenobi, on the other hand, is wracked with guilt and regret.

So – for the next several episodes we watch Kenobi slowly regaining his Jedi vigour as Vader edges closer and closer to a final confrontation. And this is where it all gets a bit ordinary (IMO). There were times when I couldn't quite see how Kenobi and Leia escaped and it seemed a lightsaber wasn't always as deadly as certainly I imagined.

I've heard there will be a second season and the last scene of the final episode made me think 'this isn't over'.

There's much more I could say if I included spoilers but I know not everyone has seen the show. One problem that Disney will always have when using well-known characters from the older shows is that we kind of know what happens. Leia and Kenobi both survive to pop up in A New Hope, as does Vader. Anybody watching this series is bound to have seen A New Hope. I occasionally found myself thinking that more thought about that fact should have gone into some of the decisions they made.

Suffice to say I enjoyed the series – with reservations. It's not as good as The Mandalorian which wasn't burdened with all the baggage of about four decades of expectation. Perhaps they'll have more success with Andor, a prequel to the excellent Rogue One. At least that one shouldn't be bogged down with all that baggage.

And while you're here, don't forget about Smashwords' big July sale. Pop on over and pick up some bargains.

Cheers,

Greta