Warning! Spoilers ahead for the series premiere of Obi-Wan Kenobi, “Part I.”
Perhaps the most anticipated Star Wars series yet has arrived on Disney Plus. Ewan McGregor has made his return in Obi-Wan Kenobi, a limited series exploring the period in Obi-Wan’s life between Revenge of the Sith and A New Hope.
“Part I” reintroduced us to McGregor’s Obi-Wan along with a broad cast of characters, old and new, as the series set the stage for the episodes to come.
10 Years on Tatooine
Obi-Wan Kenobi picks up a decade after the events of Revenge of the Sith, and Kenobi is far from the Jedi he once was. Living in hiding as Ben, the only duty he maintains is keeping a distant eye on young Luke.
With Inquisitors closing in and hunting Jedi, Obi-Wan is more fearful to face the past than ever, especially when he gets a call from an old friend, Bale Organa (Jimmy Smits).
A Young Princess
While we saw a few far-off glimpses of young Luke looking just like his dad, much of “Part I” introduced us to his sister Leia (Vivien Lyra Blair) on Alderaan. Young Leia is exactly what you’d expect–rambunctious, stubborn, and wickedly smart.
Unfortunately, Leia also has a penchant for running away and disappearing into the woods, leading to her terrifying kidnapping by a group of bounty hunters setting a trap for Obi-Wan.
Unearthing a Jedi
Despite being faced with numerous moments of injustice throughout “Part I,” Obi-Wan remains fearful and unwilling to act until Bale shows up to confront him and plead with him face-to-face for his help in rescuing Leia, stating he’s the only person he trusts to bring his daughter home.
McGregor’s performance throughout the episode drives home his fear, conflict, and heartbreak as he clearly wants to help but feels forced to protect his own identity in order to keep Luke safe.
However, Obi-Wan is also using his guardianship of Luke as a security blanket. Bale’s call to action is the catalyst our heartbroken hero needs to set aside his own fears and become the Jedi he once was.
“Part I” ends with Obi-Wan digging up his lightsaber and boarding a ship to find Leia, crossing the bridge towards his destiny. What faces him on the other side will be explored in “Part II.”
Obi-Wan Kenobi is available to stream on Disney+.