Does Obi-Wan have history with the Inquisitors?

Following the release of the Obi-Wan Kenobi teaser trailer, Disney+ has added a synopsis for the series that may provide further insight into the story.

The synopsis reads “During the reign of the Galactic Empire, former Jedi Master Obi-Wan Kenobi embarks on a crucial mission. Kenobi must confront allies turned enemies and face the wrath of the Empire.”

As is the case for most Star Wars and Marvel Cinematic Universe series on Disney+, any synopsis for a series or episode is kept rather vague. Most of what is said in this two-sentence synopsis was already known. However, the phrase “confront allies turned enemies” may provide a new clue.

Of course, Obi-Wan will confront Darth Vader, his greatest ally turned enemy. The plural use of “allies turned enemies” suggests that Vader is not the only former ally who Obi-Wan will have to confront in this story.

As confirmed in the teaser trailer and Entertainment Weekly‘s first-look photos at the series, Obi-Wan not only has to contend with Vader, but with the Jedi-hunting Inquisitors, several of whom are going to play a significant role in the show.

Moses Ingram is playing the Third Sister/Inquisitor Reva. She is a new character and seems like she will be the most prominent Inquisitor in the series. The Grand Inquisitor and the Fifth Brother–Inquisitors introduced in Star Wars Rebels–were shown in the teaser trailer, along with yet another mysterious Inquisitor.

All Inquisitors are former Jedi who turned to the Dark Side. The “allies turned enemies” in the synopsis might also mean that Obi-Wan might know and have history with one or more of these Inquisitors from when they were Jedi.

If the series wants to use flashbacks wisely, a flashback establishing history between Obi-Wan and some of the Inquisitors could flesh out such backstory. It would make the conflict even more personal and devastating for Obi-Wan as he not only has to face his fallen apprentice who was like a brother to him, but other Jedi he knew who have fallen to the Dark Side as well.

The Third Sister/Inquisitor Reva seems like the most likely candidate for this to work. Unlike the Grand Inquisitor and Fifth Brother who have already been introduced and fleshed out in Rebels and the Darth Vader comics, Reva is a completely new character. All audiences will be learning about this character for the first time, making it easier to introduce her backstory and connection to Obi-Wan in an engaging way.

All this being said, it is important to remember that there were approximately 10,000 Jedi prior to Order 66. Just because all the Inquisitors are former Jedi does not mean that Obi-Wan has to know them, although he already has a tenuous connection with the Grand Inquisitor.

Dave Filoni confirmed that the Grand Inquisitor was one of the Jedi Temple Guards who arrests Ahsoka Tano when she is accused of bombing the Jedi Temple in The Clone Wars. Filoni also confirmed that the Grand Inquisitor was one of the Jedi Temple Guards who fought Barriss Offee, arrested her, and brought her before Chancellor Palpatine during Ahsoka’s trial.

Obi-Wan was at that trial and was obviously in the Jedi Temple a lot, so he has definitely been in the presence of the Grand Inquisitor when he was a Jedi Temple Guard, but this doesn’t mean they ever interacted or have meaningful history with each other.

While Inquisitor Reva having history with Obi-Wan seems more likely, even if he doesn’t have history or a connection with any of the Inquisitors, just knowing that he is being hunted by numerous former Jedi will be enough of an emotional toll for him to confront while trying to keep young Luke Skywalker safe.

Obi-Wan Kenobi will premiere exclusively on Disney+ on May 25, 2022.