Spoilers -- Re: Obi-Wan Kenobi on Disney+

[PurrfectPrincess]

Originally Posted by OldHalfElf

I will be interested in other MouseOwners' reactions to the new Obi-Wan Kenobi series (hereafter O-WK) on Disney+. Although I have tagged this post with "Spoilers", I have tried to minimize them.

Everyone has their own benchmark standards for made-for-streaming series. In my case, I feel Rosamund Pike set a very high standard in the "Weep for Manetheren" history lesson in Episode 2 of The Wheel of Time. From Disney, DW and I are very fond of The Mandalorian, and we also thought highly of WandaVision. Having watched Alec Guiness as Obi-Wan Kenobi decades ago, I was looking forward to O-WK with a mixture of enthusiasm and trepidation. The remarks below follow the first three episodes of O-WK.

On the positive side, the character Obi-Wan has some good moments in O-WK when he is acting as a natural teacher. For example, at one point he implicitly reflects upon and repents of his past criticism of Padme (... she's a politician. They're not to be trusted...") and re-characterizes her in a way that is touching. He also describes the use of the Force in a memorable way.

On the minus side, and unbelievably parallel to Luke's portrayal in Episode VIII: The Last Jedi, we are given another helping of "Lo how the mighty are fallen", courtesy of current Star Wars management at Disney. Plot-wise, that might work more conveniently for the perpetrators when they can have the Jedi master perish in the same work in which the degradation appears. However, because of his roles in Episode III: Revenge of the Sith and Episode IV: A New Hope, Obi-Wan presents management with a two-point boundary value problem. His arc must travel smoothly and plausibly departing from III and arriving at IV.

That will take some fancy writing footwork in follow-ons to three initial plots that appear full of holes. Moreover, the finance folks will have to be persuaded to fund all the needed screen-time. A comparison of Rotten Tomatoes ratings of The Mandalorian (Tomatometer 93% and Audience 91%) versus current, "early days" ratings of O-WK (Tomatometer 87% and Audience 61%) might suggest a reason for financial caution.

Absent both the necessary fancy plot footwork and episode funding, I fear that O-WK will follow Episode VIII: The Last Jedi into Star Wars quasi-canonical never-never land.

Here is just one, specific supporting criticism. In Episode IV, Darth Vader famously remarks to Obi-Wan, "When I left (sic) you, I was but the learner. Now (sic) I am the master." In Episode 3 of O-WK, Star Wars management has apparently -- certainly arguably -- ret-conned the relationship of O-WK and Darth as presented in George Lucas' original film. My goodness.

[hlyntunstl]

Originally Posted by goldilocks_63

But I am in it for popcorn value.

I’m also enjoying the mandelorian and the Orville. I plan to see paramount Star Trek too but haven’t gotten to it yet

I couldn’t ever get into Wanda vision. Even though I’ve seen some of the marvel movies it seemed like too many hidden references. Maybe I didn’t give it enough of a chance. Didn’t get theu the first episode.

But I’m like o-wK so far.

It’s been fun.

Goldi

If you want to give it another try, I had a lot of friends who said the same thing…”loathed” was used more than once. I told them watch until episode 3 before giving up. All made it through episode 3 and were hooked.

[hlyntunstl]

I’m enjoying it but my ability to suspend disbelief is waning. If they take me out of the plot too much, that’s where they would lose me. I can live with some of the canon changes since this obviously wasn’t planned back then. I get annoyed by random things like why a single shot would crack a window in an underwater fortress. I actually love the acting overall. What will really annoy me is if we don’t get an answer to the Reva revenge story.

[Lamima]

Originally Posted by hlyntunstl

I’m enjoying it but my ability to suspend disbelief is waning. If they take me out of the plot too much, that’s where they would lose me. I can live with some of the canon changes since this obviously wasn’t planned back then. I get annoyed by random things like why a single shot would crack a window in an underwater fortress. I actually love the acting overall. What will really annoy me is if we don’t get an answer to the Reva revenge story.

Not only the single shot causing the crack but Obi held off the big burst while the 2 ladies ran out....then he let go and ran out safely and they closed the door without any water gushing out. But Star Wars franchise as a whole was always cheesy like that. Like a comic (like Walking Dead and the such).

I too hope they tie up the Reva stuff nicely. But guessing it will be disappointing.

[OldHalfElf]

--- Spoilers ---

Well, DW and I watched the finale last night. It seemed rushed, disjointed, and full of plot-holes. The two central Mary Sue elements continued. (For those who want some third-party supporting details on those points, and who don't mind super-spoilers, try:

https://ew.com/tv/tv-reviews/obi-wan...review-disney/

and

https://www.themarysue.com/the-women...-save-the-day/ .)

The series also seemed to want to leave a few explorable possibilities for sequels BUT without any cliff-hangers or other issues that would be perceived by fans to make sequels mandatory. It was like the writers of an eight-episode series completed five episodes, and then were told they had only one more, and to "Just deal with it."

On the plus side, DW commented that the idyllic depiction of Alderaan in Obi-Wan Kenobi increases the pathos of Leia's famous description of the planet in Episode IV: A New Hope.