Really Enjoyed the First Two Episodes of Obi-Wan

R
I really enjoyed the first 1.5 hours or so of Obi-Wan Kenobi, so much that I won’t do a very formal review but mostly just express my appreciation. I really liked the first few episodes of Bob Fett, but after that, I feel it lost its way, and I haven’t really been enthusiastic about a new Star Wars release in years. This I really greatly enjoyed.

(Very minor spoilers below)

It’s not perfect. (Small Jedi rant, then the good stuff.) In general, I wish post-OT Star Wars would be a little smarter in writing Jedi. Though there are a number of good exceptions, default writing from c. 2000 on seems to present them as ordinary “good guys” with magical black belt skills rather than people who have intensively studied a philosophy somewhat reminiscent of Zen. For one thing, they’re often written with a lot of ego, as, for example, Yoda’s (paraphrased) “I have failed; I must go into exile” in RotS. I don’t buy that Yoda as an 800-plus-year-old Jedi master has that much self-pity and self-importance, and I don’t really buy it from Obi-Wan either… but that’s actually a fairly mild complaint, and more about a whole generation of SW writing than this show.

Leia is amazing! Let me say it again.

Leia is amazing! I won’t go into details for the unspoiled. It was great to see Carrie Fisher’s swansong in the sequels, and I’m more grateful than not for the skillfully CGI-enhanced glimpses of young Leia we’ve gotten since–but this is almost like having A New Hope Leia back but with more to do. I was so impressed!

Overall, I really enjoyed Obi-Wan himself, minus the Jedi complaint above and maybe a bit too much leaning into his being rusty on every single survival skill. But I loved his rustic life on Tatooine, especially its mix of quite restful/peaceful and traumatized, daily witnessing injustice. That actually makes perfect social sense for being “retired” to the boondocks at a time when the Empire is on the rise.

I enjoy the Inquisitors as antagonists. It was great to see the Organas and Alderaan fleshed out a bit. Very nice presentation of Owen–a great bridge between the prequels and ANH, and a great balance of crusty curmudgeon and courageous guy deeply devoted to protecting his family. I am looking forward to more.

comment count unavailable comments

About the author

Arwen Spicer
Arwen Spicer

Arwen Spicer is a science fiction writer and writing teacher raised in the San Fransciso Bay Area, and Northern California will hold her heart forever, even if it turns into a desert. She wrote her doctoral dissertation on ecology in utopian science fiction and is an educator on the concept of workable utopias. Her novel The Hour before Morning was hailed as “A carefully paced, rewarding sci-fi debut” by Kirkus Indie.

Arwen Spicer By Arwen Spicer

Arwen Spicer

Arwen Spicer

Arwen Spicer is a science fiction writer and writing teacher raised in the San Fransciso Bay Area, and Northern California will hold her heart forever, even if it turns into a desert. She wrote her doctoral dissertation on ecology in utopian science fiction and is an educator on the concept of workable utopias. Her novel The Hour before Morning was hailed as “A carefully paced, rewarding sci-fi debut” by Kirkus Indie.

Get in touch

Subscribe to Arwen's Newsletter