Obi-Wan Kenobi (Disney+)

That was better than any show starring Obi-Wan Kenobi had any right to be. I detest the character and think he's the second worst major Star Wars character after Yoda. People went into conniptions over Rose in The Last Jedi. I find Obi-Wan about a hundred times more annoying than she is.

It's funny, but both Harrison Ford and Alec Guinness famously hated being in Star Wars. I actually think Ford is misguided while I totally feel where Guinness was coming from. Hal Solo was the best thing in all three original movies. Were I Ford, I'd be embracing that fact and proud of it. But I understand why Guinness is so unhappy. Because Obi-Wan sucks so much and he knew it. I felt bad that that's the most famous role of his entire great career. He deserved better than that.

Typical Matt rant out of the way, I liked the stuff where Obi-Wan wasn't present. Every second Obi-Wan is onscreen I remember how selfish and stupid he always was. I liked the bit where he's chiding the Jawa for not cleaning the equipment he stole from him to sell back to him, but him refusing to help the Jedi and the dude getting strung up instead is totally on-brand for how much Obi-Wan sucks.

Little Leia however is a delight. I love her owning every inch of her loathsome cousin with an owning stick. I think she's far more appealing as kid than she was in the first movie.

When Bail suggests she's going to lead her people somewhere great, I'm unpleasantly reminded that she was the one who got her entire planet destroyed by telling Grand Moff Tarkin he smelled bad. Whatever Leia was destined to be, despite Bail's encouragement here, it was never gonna be a diplomat.

The end credits don't have the painted vistas of either The Mandalorian or The Book Of Boba Fett. They are the traditional Star Wars starfield with blue text.

Speaking of which, it felt a bit awkward to me that the entire "recap" was essentially clips of the entire prequel trilogy. I'm not saying I hadn't forgotten a ton of stuff and could have used it, but it felt a bit clunky to attach itself so blatantly to that. I especially think so because the prequels sucked and this didn't.

The Third Sister Inquisitor is a real piece of work. She already pisses me off.

Solid first episode. Hopefully Obi-Wan either won't be the series' entire focus, or the show pulls off a miracle and doesn't make me abhor him. The second thing seems like big stretch, so I'll hope for the first. 4 stars.

I loved Temuera Morrison's surprise cameo at the beginning because it wasn't played as a big deal.

Kadji may be a fraud, but honestly, he's my kind of Jedi.

I didn't expect THAT end for the Grand Inquisitor, but not only is it fitting, it makes Narrative sense.

I believe the show was intentionally pushing a button with the Third Sister. The other Inquisitors using class-based language against her such as saying she's from the sewer and is beneath them all lands harder and crueler because her actress is black. I think that was a deliberate choice on the show's end, and one I like.

It's kind of cool that this show is the genesis of the trust Leia has in Obi-Wan and why she will eventually believe he's her only hope.

Solid. Again. 4 stars.

That was solid, good television. Most television isn't solid OR good. What drives me nuts is despite it being solid and good, the Emmys are going to utterly ignore it because it's Star Wars. It's another reason to hate the Emmys if you ask me.

I like both this show and The Mandalorian better than any of the Marvel Studios TV shows so far. The only Marvel TV show that can compare to both of them is Loki, and that left us on a frustrating cliffhanger. Star Wars has been kicking Marvel's ass in this Disney+ games.

That cheerful mole-looking guy who is a gleeful booster of the Empire is the banality of everyday evil personified. I think he was supposed to be a stand-in for red-hatted truckers. That's what he ultimately unpleasantly reminded me of.

I think James Earl Jones' Star Wars run is nearing its end (the dude is in his mid-90's) and the franchise is aware of it and casting him while they still can. Very soon they are going to have to hire a soundalike (who will have very big shoes to fill).

I got the sense that Vader was toying with Obi-Wan a bit in their light-saber battle, and could have ended it quickly if he had wanted to. Who says Darth Vader doesn't have a sense of humor?

That kid Vader killed is a defining reason Anakin doesn't deserve to be chilling as a blue ghost for all eternity. Anakin is SUCH a turd.

I have to confess the one thing in the episode I didn't like was Obi-Wan vs. the Stormtroopers. Just because I know what the Jedi are capable of, and what hot messes Stormtroopers recruits always are. I never got the sense that Obi-Wan was in actual danger till Vader showed up, so despite all of the breathless reaction shots around the troopers in the truck whenever Leia and Obi-Wan misspoke, the tension in reality was minimal. That's the double-edged sword to The Clone Wars. They made the Jedi a little TOO awesome and unbeatable without considering how that would effect future projects. Of course nobody saw the Disney merger coming, so as far as George Lucas was concerned, there weren't going to BE any future projects. It's a flaw, although it's an understandable one.

I bet that silent Loader Droid has a fascinating backstory. I wonder what it is and if the show will bother revealing it.

That ending was pretty dire, wasn't it? The Emmys may ignore this show but that episode made me take notice of it. ****1/2.

That was excellent. We have a few things to talk about this week, and I like that they will all be nice things. Very much.

Leia's kid actress is phenomenal. She doesn't mirror Carrie Fisher exactly, but I don't even care because she's so damn amazing.

What was great about Tala's double-agent story to the Third Sister is that as far as I could tell, it could be plausible just based on everything we've seen. Only when she lies where Obi-Wan is do we realize she's with us. Until then we are alarmed at how much faith we have put into a member of the Empire while knowing nothing about her.

The tie fighters coming in at the end is a very Star Wars tradition of guys you forgot about coming in to save the day at the last second. It's a cheat, but it's okay because it's an on-brand cheat.

The battle of Obi-Wan versus the troopers in the corridor with the breaking aquarium glass was tight as hell. Well-timed mayhem there.

I said I only would say nice things this week, but I can't help but point out a fault in the franchise, and be delighted that this episode thumbs its nose at it. Vader is very impressed and surprised Third Sister put a tracker in LALA. I am not. It is a basic-ass move that is not just Batman's Tuesday, but his every night, every hour on the hour. The fact that Vader is impressed states something about Star Wars villains that isn't true of the Third Sister. They don't have any Plan Bs. Ever. If something goes even SLIGHTLY off, the Death Star is getting taken down by Ewoks. Yes, Palpatine lined his ducks in a row nicely during The Clone Wars, but his plan wouldn't have worked at ALL if Obi-Wan and Yoda weren't so damned stupid all day, every day. If they had caught onto even ONE knowing wink and sinister double-entendre he ever said, even once, he'd be dead in the water. That is the exact problem with ALL Star Wars villains, even the successful ones. They never expect to lose, so when they do, they're screwed. Third didn't expect to lose, but in case she did, she's getting Vader everything he wants for Christmas anyways. For the record, Jedi never seem to have Plan Bs either. Truthfully, Star Wars never has any broad organizations worth rooting for.

Honestly, it DOES bother me this impresses Anakin so much. But the truth is neither the Jedi OR the Sith have ever heard of covering their bases, so I understand why he's as impressed as Leonardo Da Vinci was at Stewie Griffin's "That's my name, don't wear it out," one-liner. It's old hat to viewers who watch other genre stuff. For Star Wars characters? It's shocking and unheard of. Am I a little disgusted that Vader is actually delighted by the Third Sister only doing the bare minimum required of a supervillain's actual job? Yeah. Do I find it refreshing that the Third Sister is the first Star Wars villain ever to not be majorly dumb (including Anakin and Palpatine)? Also yes.

Man, if David Xanatos ever entered the Star Wars Universe, he'd be running the Empire / First Order within a week. And the Rebellion / Resistance would be gone in two.

I loved that episode so much. *****.

With that episode, Obi-Wan Kenobi just became the best Star Wars TV show of all time. For real. One episode did that. But it WAS a magnificent episode.

The Third Sister's backstory shocked me. She's a surviving Youngling! Her asking Obi-Wan why he didn't stop Anakin and save them, is what is scientifically known as a damn good point. Obi-Wan was useless back in the day and she knows it.

This is the first Star Wars project to actually get inside of Vader's headspace. I thought him grounding and then tearing apart the ship as it tried to escape was beyond badass, but I was still relieved it was decoy. His "He was wise to use you against me," was also gleefully hardcore, and showed he was running a double-bluff this entire time. I actually bemoaned in last week's review that Star Wars villains never have any Plan Bs. I was wrong. Deborah Chow is NOT George Lucas, and her version of Vader is far smarter than the one from the first three movies.

I love Leia finding the bug in Lala and getting rid of it so easily. There. That's better. She obviously just pressed the Staple Easy Button.

Talla's death was great because it was earned. I wouldn't say sad, because I wasn't attached to the character (because the show is so new). But Obi-Wan (who DOES go by Ben in this series) clearly was, and I felt his grief effectively, which made it a good death.

I think this episode is going to really make people take a closer look at the Disney+ Star Wars stuff. Baby Yoda who? *****.

Proof there that Hasbro doesn't see the scripts...

That was the strongest Star Wars narrative I've seen in years. That's a big enough deal. What is the HUGE deal is I liked the character of Obi-Wan Kenobi for the first time in Star Wars history. I will not be foolish enough to say his heroic actions here will make up for his earlier buttmunchedness, or that I'll accept his drippy behavior if and when I rewatch the earlier stuff. But I liked him HERE, which may be enough.

What a strong closing. Let it be entered into the record that for their rematch in their primes, Kenobi totally kicked Vader's ass. You might look down on Vader for burying him alive instead of killing him when he had the chance. It's not just that it would have broken continuity as to why I wouldn't have accepted it. I think Palpatine was right that Vader didn't want to kill him deep down.

I'll tell you what I love. Obi-Wan does not and cannot save Luke from the Third Sister's wrath. Her mercy is something the series knew she must decide on her own. Did I mention this is the strongest Star Wars narrative in years? I truly believe if Lucas were still running things, he'd rashly give Obi-Wan the Hero Moment instead of making the Third Sister's redemption a huge part of the series. And when Obi-Wan says her life is now hers, I LIKE him. I can't help it. Maybe it was Yoda that was the actual bad influence on that character. Leia has been good for him.

Speaking of Hero Moments, when Vader says he must face him alone, that's a Hero Moment. Big time. Very subversive to not just give one to Vader. But such a big and well-worn one to boot.

That was the dirtiest light saber fight ever. They are down to chucking Force rocks at each other by the end. At one point Vader actually punches Kenobi in the nose with his free fist.

I'll tell you one of the good things about both the Original Trilogy and the Prequels being totally over. The franchise does NOT need to traffic in as much mystery as it used to. Therefore, we are allowed to see a burned Anakin under the mask. It is no longer taboo, and the franchise is better for it. That was a powerful moment. Hearing an amalgamation of Hayden Christensen and James Earl Jones' voices was spooky too.

I like the holster, I like that Leia notes that it's empty, and I like that her mother likes it too. I very much felt the end of the episode sets up Leia calling Kenobi for help in the first movie very well. Owen asking Kenobi if he wanted to meet Luke was a very rewarding moment too.

I think everyone would have been in an uproar if Qui-Gon Jinn never appeared in the series as "blue" ghost. The series KNEW how much we wanted it, so it milked our potential disappointment (or outrage depending on your fandom commitment) until the very last scene. Well played.

So, yeah, that was excellent. *****.