That there is an Obi-Wan Kenobi “television” show with nearly the same production values one would expect from big screen Star Wars starring Ewan McGregor in the role he’s most associated with is a revelation in and of itself. Obi-Wan Kenobi arrives with lofty expectations on the heels of The Mandalorian, The Book of Boba Fett and the worldwide phenomenon that is Baby Yoda. Unlike the adventures of Fett, Djarin and Grogu, Obi-Wan Kenobi operates within the confines and from the perspective of (mostly) familiar primary characters burdened with deeper existing canon. After two episodes, results are mixed. While Obi-Wan Kenobi benefits from the streamlined storytelling and fairly simple plot structure we’ve come to expect from Star Wars on Disney plus – both seasons of The Mandalorian being objectively superior to 75% of the runtime of the prequel films, just for example – the show doesn’t quite capture the same quirky and wonderfully unique energy we experienced with both seasons of The Mandalorian. I was floored upon witnessing the effortless charisma and charm of the swashbuckling Din Djarin. The jedi-hunting Inquisitors seem shallow and sterile in comparison and McGregor’s Obi-Wan is surprisingly dispassionate. Perhaps this was intentional. Obi-Wan Kenobi has time to rally and almost surely will, but overall the first two episodes can only be described as slightly underwhelming. This is partly due to the goodwill Star Wars on Disney plus has engendered in fan’s hearts (small head-scratching sections of The Book of Boba Fett notwithstanding). This may be nitpicking, but the music in Obi-Wan Kenobi also fails to impress when contrasted with the unmistakable and instantly iconic score Ludwin Goransson crafted for the The Mandalorian. If it seems unfair to judge Obi-Wan Kenobi under the highly respected shadow of The Mandalorian, think for a moment how you felt after watching each of the premieres. The Mandalorian felt like a new beginning and much needed breath of fresh air for a stale Star Wars franchise. Obi-Wan Kenobi feels good but not great and somewhat rote. What a time to be alive for Star Wars fans. Without spoiling anything, the end of part II leaves us salivating for more and that’s exactly where we should be at this early juncture.
The Quick Critic
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