Kenobi is my 'New Hope' of Star Wars

Given the recent bombardment of Star Wars content from Disney, I was not too sure on how to feel about a brand new series featuring Obi-Wan Kenobi. Especially with it taking place between the prequal era and original era, films like Rogue One did not always would sit with me well.

However after watching the first two episodes, I have more faith in the direction Disney is taking Star Wars for the foreseeable. Kenobi is showcasing how it can be a new hope for fans tiring of the same old formulaic Disney routine with the the best space saga around.

Although The Mandalorian has been the big hit for Disney and their Star Wars era (so far), myself? I could never really gel with it. It sure has a narrative to enjoy, new characters and has a sci-fi western feel but personally its lacking that feeling and focus I came to love with Lucas's creation.

For me Star Wars has and always will be about two key factors.

Family and the Force, specifically the Jedi and connections they make. This is what I felt a huge absence with in modern film/TV in the franchise. I enjoyed Mando, the sequel trilogy was fine and the recent video games were okay in my books. Nevertheless as I said, something key was missing.

Now in 2022, we have the debut of Obi-Wan Kenobi, a Disney limited TV series for Disney Plus. Within two episodes of me watching this, those sparks and special essence of what Star Wars is returned immediately. The series itself follows the solitude of the once great and noble Jedi, Kenobi. Now in hiding, watching over a 10 year old Luke Skywalker as frictions continue to build between himself and Luke's adoptive parents the Lars. The outer rim is also besieged by inquisitors hunting and killing Jedi, even on Tatooine, they cannot escape the atrocities of the Empire.

Without spoiling too much, I found the mental health and PTSD aspect Kenobi deals with to be very humanising, realistic and meaningful for the character. He is full of shame, regretful of the past and dealing with the loss of his brother Anakin.

It is clear this series also wants to build on the character of Leia, as she is a main focus of episode 2 specifically. While this is great to see some character building and almost filling some gaps in the history between the children and Kenobi, it does feel slightly meaningless in the saga besides getting the fallen Jedi to where he needs to be for plot points.

Nevertheless, the cinematography, musical score and acting is fantastic.

Ewan McGregor steps back into the role of Obi-Wan like he never left and new main and side characters flesh out the universe we know. By the end of episode 2, Kenobi learns that ''Lord Vader'' is alive, hunting the remaining Jedi and focused on killing his ex-master. This was chilling, well shot and cemented the fact that THIS is what Star Wars is about, not baby Yoda, CGI Mark Hamill and silly fan service for the sake of it.

With 4 episodes left to go until its finale, I am excited and hopeful that this series will go down as a fan favourite and take Star Wars in a more meaningful direction with fresh creative minds.

By John Perry