‘Obi-Wan Kenobi’ Gives Fans A Taste Of What They Want In Its Third Episode
by Frank Martin
Making any kind of Star Wars show is a daunting task. The franchise has been in existence for decades and its fan base numbers in the millions. It is such a dedicated following that they wait on each new entry with bated breath and watch every minute with critical eyes. Some are pleased by simply being in the universe. Others have higher expectations and expect to be wowed. This goes double when the stories revolve around well known and liked characters. And it goes triple when it involves a much anticipated reunion. That’s the situation this week’s episode of Obi-Wan Kenobi finds itself in. Whether or not it lived up to the hype, however, is largely in the eye of the viewer.
Personally, I met the announcements of the Kenobi show with apprehension. Of course, I looked forward to the chance of seeing Obi-Wan and Darth Vader in this show together. But I felt having them interact will minimize their reunion in A New Hope. Given that, I was still hopeful and optimistic that the payoff would be worth it. Fans got the first sign of that payoff with this episode. And as mentioned above, it’s reception is largely subjective. It certainly was a moment as Vader (Hayden Christensen) marched into the village, hunting his hiding mentor. But Obi-Wan (Ewan McGregor) remains a shell of his former self. While Vader has been on a murderous rampage since the Empire was born, Obi-Wan has been in hiding. He’s out of practice and was no match for the Sith Lord.
While it was entertaining, it was by no means the grand reunion I was hoping for. Certainly, some fans will be excited to see this rematch. But there’s no question it fails in comparison to the epic duel that took place at the end of Star Wars: Episode III — Revenge of the Sith. Of course, this series is playing at a handicap as fans know how their rivalry will eventually play out. But with three episodes left, fans will just have to wait and see if this brief interaction was merely a preview of a battle far grander to come.
Obi-Wan Kenobi is streaming now of Disney+.
