The Star Wars prequels remain very divisive among fans of the franchise, but the one thing that both defenders and detractors of the trilogy can agree on is that Ewan McGregor gave a phenomenal performance as a young Obi-Wan Kenobi. Filling the shoes of another great actor was by no means an easy task, but McGregor turned one of the greatest mentors in cinematic history into a compelling protagonist who has to watch his best friend turn to the dark side. There was a demand to see McGregor return to the role as soon as the announcement was made that Lucasfilm had been sold to The Walt Disney Company, and the six-episode miniseries Obi-Wan Kenobi bridges the gap between the two trilogies by showing how Obi-Wan becomes the older, wiser Ben Kenobi from the 1977 classic. Compared to the direction of many other Star Wars shows, Obi-Wan Kenobi has true purpose because it begins the character on his path of forgiveness and renewed hope.

‘Obi-Wan Kenobi’ Is a Small-Scale ‘Star Wars’ Story

Enough time had passed since McGregor last played the character that he is the appropriate age to play an older, grizzled Obi-Wan who has spent a decade on Tatooine watching over a young Luke Skywalker (Grant Feely). Obi-Wan Kenobi addresses the biggest lingering question about the character because it reveals how Obi-Wan learns that Darth Vader, the Sith Lord who has tracked down the remaining members of the Jedi Order, is his former apprentice, Anakin Skywalker (Hayden Christensen). Obi-Wan ends Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith thinking that he killed Anakin, but his guilt reaches new levels when he realizes that his apprentice survived to become a Dark Lord. Obi-Wan Kenobi offers a more vulnerable, troubled version of the character, and it features some of the best acting that McGregor has ever done.

The fundamental motivation that drives Obi-Wan is the protection of Anakin’s children, meaning that the only logical reason for him to leave Luke behind on Tatooine is to rescue Leia (Vivien Lyra Blair), who has been kidnapped by bounty hunters. Obi-Wan Kenobi makes use of some of the underrated performers in the prequel trilogy with expanded roles that serve as more than fan service. Even though Leia states in Star Wars: Episode IV - A New Hope that Obi-Wan and her adopted father, Bail Organa (Jimmy Smits), served together, their relationship was not delved into in the prequels; Obi-Wan Kenobi explores the mutual trust that these two former Republic heroes have for one another, as they have the shared responsibility of watching over the Skywalker kids. Joel Edgerton also returns to play Owen Lars, Luke’s adopted uncle, and gives insights as to why the character is so resistant to Obi-Wan in the 1977 film. Perhaps the most fulfilling cameo is Liam Neeson returning to play the ghost version of Qui-Gon Jinn in his first live-action appearance in the franchise since 1999. His role is critical, as it is only after finding newfound purpose that Obi-Wan can communicate with his former Jedi Master.

Obi-Wan Kenobi also provides a look into the detective-like skills that Obi-Wan had to use in the prequels when tracking down the origins of the Clone Army, and it is interesting to see the character in a new context. While Obi-Wan had been a very traditional, rule-following member of the Jedi Order who strictly adhered to procedures, he is somewhat lost when he no longer has any other Force users to communicate with. The most powerful trait that Obi-Wan has is his empathy, which makes his dynamic with the Inquisitor Reva (Moses Ingram) particularly fascinating; despite the knowledge that he failed Anakin, Obi-Wan finds redemption by being able to sway another fallen Jedi back to the light side.

‘Obi-Wan Kenobi’ Unleashes the Potential of Ewan McGregor

Although the series did face some creative restructuring based on the suggestions of Lucasfilm’s higher-ups, Obi-Wan Kenobi is a standalone project that doesn’t have as many overt ties to the “New Republic” era, which encompasses the animated and live-action projects by Dave Filoni. There are a few characters from Filoni’s shows that appear in Obi-Wan Kenobi, but the series is not concerned with following up on an animated series, as it relies primarily upon the vested interest fans had in the prequels. One aspect of the prequels that never registered was the dynamic between Obi-Wan and Anakin, as there aren’t many moments in the films in which they are believably best friends. However, Obi-Wan Kenobi was able to incorporate flashbacks to the characters’ younger days with better dialogue that emphasizes the authentic chemistry between McGregor and Christensen.

Every Star Wars show needs a reason to exist beyond filling in gaps in the timeline or satisfying the desire of hardcore fans, and Obi-Wan Kenobi has a powerful message about taking responsibility that is truthful to the teachings of the Jedi. Obi-Wan can only grow as a character if he learns to accept that Anakin’s wrongdoings were not his fault, and that there is a reason to find hope in the darkest of times. McGregor’s time away from the franchise was worth the wait, and having him return to show Obi-Wan coping with his feelings of depression and guilt makes for a worthwhile next step in his journey. While the Star Wars shows on Disney+ have been a mixed bag, Obi-Wan Kenobi has a nobility of purpose that is quite admirable.