“Star Wars” spoils “Obi-Wan Kenobi”: Why the series was doomed to fail on Disney +

OBI-WAN KENOBI

June 23, 2022 at 9:07 p.m

Paradoxically, the biggest obstacle to the Obi-Wan Kenobi series is the established Star Wars canon. Read our take on the Obi-Wan finale here.

There’s a lot to like about the Star Wars series Obi-Wan Kenobi. The old Jedi warrior Obi-Wan is again embodied as the main character by Ewan McGregor, one of THE bright spots in the controversial prequel trilogy. Hayden Christensen triumphantly returns as Darth Vader, and Queen’s Gambit star Moses Ingram plays the torn and exciting new character Reva.

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In addition, the “Star Wars” series explores and visits numerous worlds beyond the desert planet Tatooine, which has been seen too much lately.

But the series “Obi-Wan Kenobi” also has a huge problem, which robbed the big finale in episode 6 in particular of almost all tension in advance. The fate of ALL the main characters – with the exception of the aforementioned Reva – was already determined before the series finale!

The rich “Star Wars” canon makes sure of that – and the placement of “Obi-Wan Kenobi” within that continuity.

Previously released on Disney+ Star Wars series The Mandalorian and The Book of Boba Fett have not had this vexing problem – although both shows predate The Force Awakens and its sequel chronologically. trilogy are settled, and therefore certain major developments for the galaxy far, far away are already foreseeable.

The story of the legendary bounty hunter from the title is continued in “The Book of Boba Fett”. The Star Wars series confirms that Boba survived his fall into the Sarlacc Pit. What happens afterwards on Tatooine is not really predictable for viewers.

It was a bit different with “The Mandalorian”. When Luke Skywalker took Grogu with him at the end of the recently released second season to train him as a Jedi, a number of “Star Wars” fans suspected that the cute little tot would one day will die at the hands of Kylo Ren.

But “The Book of Boba Fett” put things right – and reunited Grogu with the Mandalorian for the upcoming third season. The most important thing about these two scenarios: The “Star Wars” viewers are surprised by the development of events, by turns and twists.

How different is the series “Obi-Wan Kenobi”.

Before the “Obi-Wan Kenobi” finale, there was only one open question

Of course, many positive points can also be identified in the grand finale of the “Star Wars” series. An epic staged duel between Obi-Wan and his former student on a rock moon comes to mind here as well as the cameo appearances of two legendary film characters.

But the outcome of the duel between Darth Vader and Obi-Wan – Pre-promoted by Disney and Lucasfilm as “Rematch of the Century” – was unfortunately clear from the outset. Neither Obi-Wan nor Vader can die here since they both have such important roles to play in the chronologically later Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope.

Yes, Obi-Wan can’t even bring Darth Vader back to the light side at all. Inevitably, despite some highly emotional moments between the one-time teacher-student couple, Vader’s redemption still lies far in the canon future.

The same applies to the two young main characters Leia Organa and Luke Skywalker. Reva’s hunt for Luke on Tatooine in the finale therefore suffers from a lack of suspense, as there is absolutely no doubt that Luke will survive. Only the exciting new character Reva could have died here – which simply doesn’t offer enough thrills for the finale of the epic “Star Wars” series.

In terms of tension, the balance of the “Obi-Wan Kenobi” finale is therefore simply devastating: a duel without death. A young Luke Skywalker guaranteed not to be murdered by Reva. And a main character who – that was already clear before the show came out – will end the series exactly where we viewers* meet them in the first scene: hiding on Tatooine, waiting for Luke Skywalker to come to him one day.

Unfortunately, the “Star Wars” series future on Disney+ has some similar cases ready in this regard. Diego Luna’s rebel Cassian Andor will also not be able to bless the time in the series “Andor”, which starts on August 31, 2022 on Disney + – because he still has to hold out until the final moments of “Rogue One: A Star Wars Story”.

A series like “The Acolyte”, which takes place around 200 years before “The Phantom Menace”, is more promising in this regard. Even if strictly speaking this is a prequel, the large temporal distance to the “Star Wars” canon established in films and series opens up completely new, exciting narrative possibilities.

Unfortunately, the “Star Wars” series such as “Obi-Wan Kenobi” and “Andor”, which take place between the great cinema trilogies, arouse the suspicion that there is simply no escape from the increasingly complex canon in the sense of a real surprise for spectators is more possible.