Note: This review contains a mild spoiler.


Ewan McGregor is back in Obi-Wan Kenobi, a thrilling but all too familiar entry in the Star Wars franchise that relies on nostalgia to drive its story. Since the acquisition of Lucasfilm by Disney, Star Wars has had a tumultuous run on both the big and small screens. Its divisive conclusion to the Skywalker Saga fueled online debate that highlighted the ways in which fandom has changed in the decades since the prequel trilogy. Thanks to The Mandalorian and Jon Favreau's guiding hand, Star Wars course-corrected on streaming. For the most part, Obi-Wan Kenobi stays the course established by Favreau and Kathleen Kennedy, but its reliance on a story that many already know the ending to undermines some of the excitement of what is otherwise a well-crafted show.

Obi-Wan Kenobi picks up with the Jedi ten years after Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith as the once mannered lightsaber wielder finds himself exiled to the desert planet of Tatooine to watch over Luke Skywalker. His gruff interactions with the locals highlight the ways in which exile has changed the man that once served as a beacon of wisdom on the Jedi council. While Darth Vader's own Inquisitors hunt down the remaining Jedi, Obi-Wan finds himself pulled into the action as Moses Ingram's Third Sister Reva yearns to bring him out of hiding, using a surprising method to do so.


As is customary for any Disney+ event series, Obi-Wan Kenobi pulls out all the stops in its first two episodes. Littered with faces both familiar and fresh, including Jimmy Smits as Bail Organa, Benny Safdie as Nari (another Jedi living on Tatooine), and Kumail Nanjiani as Haja, a conman living on the crime-ridden planet of Daiyu, there are a number of surprises that provide plenty of unexpected turns. The most surprising of all is the introduction of a young Leia Organa (Vivien Lyra Blair) whose kidnapping serves to bring Obi-Wan out of hiding and puts him on a path to confront Hayden Christensen's Darth Vader. It's a clever way to bring Obi-Wan out of exile, but despite all these surprises, Obi-Wan Kenobi is a show that highlights both the good and bad of the current Star Wars era.

McGregor naturally settles back into the role that once made him an international star and even though Obi-Wan is reticent to return to the ways of the Jedi, it's clear that the Scottish actor is having a blast in his Star Wars return. Whether it's the passage of time itself or the weight of the discourse surrounding the franchise, McGregor plays this version of Obi-Wan with the added baggage of someone who wears their weariness like heavy Jedi robes. It's this added maturity that allows the Obi-Wan Kenobi show to feel like a worthy extension of the prequels that came before it. But tipping too far towards nostalgia has its drawbacks.


While director Deborah Chow is in top form, especially during an action sequence in Obi-Wan Kenobi episode 2, set on the neon-lit streets and rooftops of Daiyu, the question of this show's purpose lingers over the proceedings. Knowing the ending of something doesn't necessarily take away the joy of watching what transpired before (despite what spoiler culture has taught audiences), but with Obi-Wan Kenobi, it seems that the Star Wars franchise is relying on nostalgia to fuel itself rather than pushing it into the exciting directions it could surely go. Despite everyone's best efforts and a triumphant return from McGregor, the first two episodes of Obi-Wan Kenobi feel like a retread of what audiences have seen before (and the oft-visited landscape of Tatooine certainly doesn't help things).

Of course, Obi-Wan Kenobi does what it set out to do, proving that Disney has truly perfected the formula of nostalgia, fan service, and freshness it employs across its various multi-billion-dollar franchises. The threat of the Inquisitors is perhaps the most interesting part of the show thanks to Ingrams' performance as Reva and her character's mysterious connection to the titular Jedi. A third-act twist in Obi-Wan Kenobi episode 2 certainly sets her up as a formidable villain that Obi-Wan will have to confront, a fight that could rival the one he will have with Darth Vader if only because the outcome of it is unknown.

With all of these strengths in mind, Obi-Wan Kenobi is sure to thrill with its last four episodes thanks to its impeccable craftsmanship and performances from a cadre of dedicated actors. Still, while watching the latest Star Wars offering, one can't help but be more excited for the projects Lucasfilm has in the pipeline, ones that will explore unknown corners of the galaxy far, far away. It's clear why Lucasfilm would lean on a show like Obi-Wan Kenobi — there's a built-in audience, one that will rapturously welcome the return of Christensen and McGregor. But watching the Disney+ show, it's hard not to think of the near-unlimited potential in this franchise — potential that is, for the most part, untapped.

Obi-Wan Kenobi premiered its first two episodes on Friday, May 27 on Disney+. It will release weekly on Wednesdays beginning June 1.