Director Deborah Chow had announced that the new series would be explicitly dark, very emotional and unpredictable, with a completely broken Obi-Wan at the center – and yes, she actually kept her word. With the first two episodes of “Obi-Wan Kenobi” – new episodes are available every Friday on Disney+ – the “Star Wars” saga begins a worthy new chapter. The return of Ewan McGregor, picking up his lightsaber again after 17 years, is a surprise triumph that cleverly recaptures the original trilogy’s Star Warrior flair while never playing it safe.
Most painful defeat
The six-episode story takes place ten years after the events of Revenge of the Sith, when Obi-Wan Kenobi suffered his most painful defeat: the downfall of his apprentice Anakin Skywalker, who transitioned to the dark side as the evil Darth Vader . Traumatized by these events, Obi-Wan has settled on the desert planet of Tatooine, where he keeps an eye on young Luke Skywalker. He wants nothing to do with the rebellion against the Empire, the once proud Jedi master has sold himself to agony. When he learns that Luke’s sister Leia (vivien Lyra Blair) has been kidnapped, he is faced with a difficult decision: cuddle or fight?
Carried by a soulful McGregor, who wrests new facets and emotional depth from a well-known cult character, Chow has staged a brilliant space adventure that, in contrast to the other “Star Wars” shows “The Mandalorian” and “Boba Fett”, is not only for is interesting to die-hard fans of the franchise. While the latter series functioned primarily as a marketing vehicle and the fulfillment of fan wishes, “Obi-Wan Kenobi” thrives on its characters. The screenplay, written by Joby Harold, is compact, the images are sometimes breathtaking, and no scene feels superfluous. As a viewer, you haven’t been that close to the real “Star Wars” feeling of goosebumps since “The Return of the Jedi”. The Force is indeed strong in Obi-Wan Kenobi.
Source: Nachrichten
