By the end of the second episode, with an all-too-familiar metallic breath, things have finally come full circle. Director Deborah Chow (“The Mandalorian”, “Mr. Robot”) and the writers needed almost an hour and a half to span the narrative arc that “Revenge of the Sith” with “Obi-Wan Kenobi” and with the original trilogy connects.
An hour and a half in which hope that “The Book of Boba Fett” may have remained a serial slip-up gives way to increasing excitement that something of an original “Star Wars” spirit is actually settling in here. The Force, that old cliche needs to be stressed at this point, is strong with “Obi-Wan Kenobi.”
On the one hand, this is due to Ewan McGregor, who, 17 years after the prequel trilogy that was created almost exclusively in front of green screens, is allowed to interact here in front of partly real backgrounds and with real people (or aliens) and discover his inner Sir Alec Guinness in the process. On the other hand, this is due to the calm with which the makers reintroduce the iconic character – apart from the almost five-minute review of the most important prequel events, Episode 1 gets by with almost no action – and the decisions that the plot is so certain of for many advance in unexpected directions.
Female side of power
So far, rather than overdosing on Tatooine after The Mandalorian and Boba Fett, the desert planet is merely the starting point for a journey that confronts the broken ex-Jedi with the ghosts of his past (and future). Hidden from the clutches of the Imperial Inquisition (strong: “Queen’s Gambit” discovery Moses Ingram as “Third Sister”), “Ben” Kenobi has his eye on young Luke Skywalker, who has taken refuge with his uncle Owen Lars (Joel Edgerton). Has. But with the change to his sister’s home planet, the perspective shifts.
Director Chow focuses on the female side of power: Here a little girl who is kidnapped by Red Hot Chili Peppers bassist Flea (!) and is supposed to find her savior in Obi Wan, there the inquisitorial sister Reva, who may rise – heavy breath or not – for the time being to the main antagonist of the Jedionkel. In between, old acquaintances like Jimmy Smits (as Bail Organa), Comic Relief in the form of Kumail Nanjiani and a visual touch of “Blade Runner” and – no joke – “Breaking Bad”.
Not only does Obi-Wan seem to have found more grounding in the ten years of his desert exile, but also his actor Ewan McGregor, who here finally lets the gravitas feel that the later “Uncle Ben” of “A New Hope” should distinguish. And that in the context of a cinematic look that visually sets “Obi-Wan Kenobi” apart from its Mandalorian predecessors.
Is the real “Star Wars” reboot finally coming?
Are Disney officials aware that they are giving “A New Hope” to a whole generation of “Star Wars” disciples? Or is the empire’s thirst for power becoming too great? Almost at the same time as the first episodes, new trailers for the “Mandalorian” and the “Rogue One” pequel series “Andor”, which will start at the end of August, were also released. We’d rather dwell on “Obi-Wan Kenobi” a little longer. But after just four more episodes, it’s over again. We can’t wait for him…
First two episodes on Disney+ starting Friday (May 27), new episodes every Wednesday.
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