Not many Star Wars live-action series have had second seasons, with shows like The Acolyte and The Book of Boba Fett suffering from review bombing and an overall disappointing showing. Recently, unconfirmed rumors suggest that Obi-Wan Kenobi's second season is in development.
If true, Kenobi would join Ahsoka as being among only a handful of Star Wars live-action shows that made it to season 2. Andor season 2 is Lucasfilm's latest success, as it has outperformed season 1 in terms of numbers, and the show's overall reception has been overwhelmingly positive. The Mandalorian is an outlier with three seasons, and a potential fourth season is still a possibility until Lucasfilm denies it.
The Mandalorian season 2 and Andor season 2 are examples of highly successful follow-up seasons. Andor's recent success may have instilled confidence in Lucasfilm to give other shows a second season. Ahsoka season 2 is currently in production, and if all goes well, it will premiere next year after The Mandalorian and Grogu. Since all these characters will come together for an era-defining event in Dave Filoni's movie, there needs to be enough build-up, especially as Ahsoka and her Padawan, Sabine Wren, are trapped in another galaxy. Until they're back, it's impossible to bring every Mandalorian-era character together.
But Kenobi's second season comes as a bigger surprise. Even though the show did well in terms of numbers, reviews were mixed. Moreover, Kenobi was a limited series, a fact Ewan McGregor and creator Deborah Chow highlighted many times. Although McGregor and his co-star, Hayden Christensen, spoke several times about how much they want to do another season. A few months ago, Christensen hinted that he and McGregor may reunite, but most fans assumed this could be for a flashback in Ahsoka season 2.
Whether the Kenobi rumor is true is something only time will tell. There's no Star Wars Celebration scheduled for next year, so any major announcements will come at events like D23, which takes place next month in Orlando, Florida. The first season focused on his trauma of losing Anakin and how Leia Organa helped him overcome it.
A second season would allow Kenobi to change direction and explore Obi-Wan's life on Tatooine. Season two can show Obi-Wan embracing his fond memories as Anakin's master, as he reconnects with the Force and with Master Qui-Gon Jinn. Kenobi and Jinn's reunion is one of the consolations of Obi-Wan's time on Tatooine. Through Qui-Gon, Obi-Wan learns the ability to retain his consciousness after death, while dealing with the complex emotions stemming from his and the Jedi Order's failure.
Both Kenobi and Ahsoka's second seasons have a common denominator in Hayden Christensen. While he won't be a main character, Christensen's Anakin Skywalker is inextricably connected to Ahsoka Tano and Obi-Wan Kenobi. He's a part of their fondest memories and biggest regrets. Kenobi was criticized for its lack of Clone Wars-era flashbacks. That era is when Obi-Wan and Anakin were their closest, and it would've been an opportunity to show their friendship. Ahsoka season 1's biggest success was episode 5, "Shadow Warrior", which gave Christensen a chance to show a different side of Anakin during the Clone Wars as Ahsoka's Master.
It's up to Filoni to ensure Ahsoka corrects the previous season's mistakes. The show was criticized for its visuals, fights, and poor dialogue. If Filoni can live up to the potential and deliver a great second season, it will do wonders for the Mandalorianverse, which hasn't delivered a clear hit outside of The Mandalorian. Similarly, a second chance at focusing on Obi-Wan, delivering the Clone Wars flashback, bringing back Liam Neeson, Hayden Christensen, and a live-action Satine, could be the recipe to make Kenobi an unforgettable experience.
Disney has the money to spend, and they spent more than enough on Andor. Perhaps investing more in Ahsoka and Obi-Wan Kenobi season 2 will yield better results. Filoni has taken time to write season 2, so there's no reason to believe it won't be better. Similarly, Obi-Wan Kenobi should be given enough time. New writers should be brought in to deliver the best story about Kenobi's life 10 years before A New Hope, using existing source material such as comics. A second season shouldn't be a means to prolong a story; it should be an opportunity to improve upon past seasons.
Ahsoka and Obi-Wan Kenobi are streaming on Disney+.
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