Spoiler Warning: Obi-Wan Kenobi Episodes 1-2
Hello There. I’ve been waiting for you, Obi-Wan. We meet again, at last. Ewan McGregor is back, channeling Alec Guinness, and Star Wars fans can rejoice once again. And while some eyes were on Moses Ingram, set up to steal the show, we’ve been thrown a curveball. The first two episodes of Obi-Wan Kenobi may belong to the title character, but Leia Organa (Vivien Lyra Blair) has squeezed herself into this adventure convincingly and rightfully.
The first two episodes dropped at once, and audiences are undoubtedly already counting the days to the third episode. The first few minutes recap all the relevant points to the relationship between Anakin and Obi-Wan. We are reminded of Obi-Wan’s master, Qui-Gon Jinn, and Obi-Wan’s desire to commune with him through the Force. Lastly, the importance of Padme and Anakin’s children is emphasized. We know Obi-Wan is meant to watch over Luke, but he finds himself trading quips with a ten-year-old Leia. Vivien Lyra Blair plays effectively with the benefit of a script that sounds like Carrie Fisher herself wrote it. She has the distinct awareness to play a plucky ten-year-old version of the hero princess we fell in love with back in 1977.
Part I: Obi-Wan Kenobi Answers the Call

Trigger warning: The final scene of the recap feels poignant and may draw emotional parallels to current life events.
As Order 66 is executed, a Jedi teacher protects her students from Clone Troopers whose sudden focus is to extinguish the Jedi of every age. In her last moments, she valiantly saves a group of younglings who then set up the premise of the forthcoming tale with the single line, “We run.”
After titles, we open on Tatooine, likely the streets of Mos Eisley. The shadow of a sinister ship looms overhead. It doesn’t bother landing in a docking bay but instead sets down in the street — three Jedi-hunting Inquisitors march from the gang-plank, spelling trouble for the locals. The Grand Inquisitor (Rupert Friend) is flanked by the Fifth Brother (Sung Kang) and Reva, the Third Sister (Moses Ingram). They enter a saloon to smoke out an unnamed Jedi, but because of Reva’s impatience, he gets away, possibly only revealed for her ingenuity in the first place. She has her heart set on hunting bigger prey: Obi-Wan Kenobi.
Obi-Wan Kenobi, who now goes by Ben (a name we haven’t heard in a long time), is working as a field butcher, stealing portions of a giant carcass to survive. Our first look at him reveals a dispirited man who is afraid to use his abilities. His intention may be interpreted as cowardice, but he’s staying hidden for a reason. He sees the future and knows there will be a new hope. There are alternatives to fighting. When his shift ends, he’s whisked on public transport back to town, where his eopie is waiting in a coral stall. He rides back to his hermitage and, per his routine, views Luke from afar. He sees the hope that drives him to continue on. That night he is approached by the escaped Jedi. Obi-Wan offers him no refuge and instead advises the man to leave. “Stay hidden… the fight is done. We lost.”

We skip to the bright palace on Alderaan, where, as a reminder of Amidala, a precocious Leia has left a decoy to impersonate her while she seeks excitement identifying departing ships. After her mother finds her, we are teased. Someone is watching from the woods. True men don’t kill coyotes, but they’ll kidnap a kid for ransom. You don’t see his face just yet, but that’s Flea, the bassist from the Red Hot Chili Peppers!
Ben’s routine is repeated. After his work, he returns to his ride. This time Owen Lars is waiting. He tosses a familiar toy to the ground in front of Ben, the T-16 Skyhopper that will eventually land in Luke’s hands. Owen demands that Ben stay away from Luke and the farm. They are interrupted by a commotion in the street. Reva and the Fifth Brother are threatening locals in the search for the Jedi who escaped the saloon earlier. After Reva makes an example of an outspoken woman, she singles out Owen (Ben has retreated into the shadows). She can sense he knows something. Luckily the Fifth Brother interrupts her with his frustration with her… inquisitiveness. The two Inquisitors trade barbs in an alley and her ambitions become known.
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We return to the lush beauty of Alderaan and find the Organa family together. During a political function, her older cousin reminds her that she’s not a real” Organa, but she’s adept enough or Force-sensitive enough to call him on his own insecurities. Once she’s spoken with her father (Jimmy Smits), she wanders off again. This time she’s kidnapped. Legends fans will be pleased to see that a Falleen female is amongst the baddies. Our favorite Falleen is Xizor from Shadows of the Empire.

Obi-Wan gets a message from Bail Organa. He pleads with his old friend to help rescue his daughter, but our hero refuses. After another day of his routine, he finds that the Jedi he sent away has been strung up and killed in the center of town. At home, he finds Bail Organa in his hovel, waiting to plead with Obi-Wan in person. This time he answers the call. Ben finds the spot in the desert where he’s buried his and Anakin’s lightsabers, and he leaves as Obi-Wan. Flea and friends, meanwhile, are on a call with Reva. She’s the one who commissioned the kidnapping. The first episode definitely left us wanting more.
Part II: Anakin Awakens

Luckily, a second episode was available immediately. Obi-Wan has tracked a ship to a gloomy planet, and he lands in Daiyu, where people like their secrets. The atmosphere has an Underworld feel to it, and we see right away that it’s where people go to stay lost. Temuera Morrison plays an old veteran clone trooper who resorts to begging for credits on the streets. A New Hope-era stormtroopers patrol the streets.
Obi-Wan finds a street urchin who claims he knows where to find a Jedi. Kumail Nanjiani plays Haja Estree, a shyster Jedi impersonator who helps people find safe passage off-world for money. Obi-Wan sees through his tricks but employs his help to find Leia. Soon after, Obi-Wan finds himself in a scuffle with her captors. When he learns an Inquisitor is involved, he realizes Leia was bait. He rescues the princess, who isn’t convinced she needs saving, and she’s dubious of the strange “friend of (her) father’s.”
Somewhere nearby, the Grand Inquisitor and Fifth Brother confront Reva for kidnapping a Senator’s daughter to lure out Obi-Wan Kenobi. The Grand Inquisitor reminds her that she is the “least” of them, showing us the dissent in ranks amongst the Inquisitors. Reva sends a message to her kidnappers and local bounty hunters to find Obi-Wan on her own. A reptilian alien and a 4-LOM droid are the first on the scent.

Leia is not convinced that “Ben” is a Jedi, and his hands are full trying to get her to safety. Word has gotten out that Obi-Wan is wanted, and Haja Estree is now also on the trail, becoming aware of the opportunity he’s missed. Reva waits patiently on the rooftops hoping to find a commotion that reveals her prey. When Leia realizes she was the bait for Obi-Wan, she runs. The ruckus of her flight is just the commotion that brings them to light. While protecting them both in a gunfight, Leia falls from a rooftop. Obi-Wan Force-catches her in time to slowly lower her to the ground. Reva is getting closer, and now that Obi-Wan Kenobi has revealed himself, they are both in graver danger. Haja Estree directs them to a cargo ship they can escape in, but Reva is in pursuit. She finds her prey by probing Haja’s mind.
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Before the automated cargo ship departs, Reva arrives to confront Obi-Wan. Luckily for him and Leia, the Grand Inquisitor arrives to take credit for the capture. Reva won’t have it and easily dispatches her superior, but the Jedi and the girl get away. “You can’t run, Obi-Wan. You can’t escape him!” She screams at the departing ship. Onboard, Obi-Wan senses him. Anakin. Chills, as the final image of the episode, is Anakin (Hayden Christensen) opening his yellow Sith eyes inside his Bacta tank — aware and sensing Obi-Wan.

The second episode was a shorter adventure after the 51-minute set-up of the first episode, but there was very little here that was unrewarding. Everything down to the music was Star Wars the way we hope for it. John Williams transports us with his composition. And Deborah Chow’s first two episodes are extremely well done. There is a sense that the only disappointment will be that it will eventually come to an end.
