Obi-Wan Kenobi has been a great return for Star Wars as it has not only been more adult in nature, but it also continues as an important part of the Star Wars canon. It’s a tricky time for Obi-Wan, who has clearly lost most of his mojo to fear and ten years without using his abilities. Meanwhile, Darth Vader is stronger than ever. It’s an exciting setup for the fourth episode in the planned six-episode series.
Be sure to check out our reviews of Part 1, Part 2, and Part 3.
“Part 4” opens with Obi-Wan in a bacta tank as he heals from wounds he acquired fighting Darth Vader in the last episode. Similar to the last episode, this scene is juxtaposed with Darth Vader’s experience. We can see Obi-Wan’s mind is on Anakin as the camera pans over his wounds and then crosscutting with Anakin’s missing limbs.
Picking up where we left off in the last episode, Leia (Vivien Lyra Blair) is captured by Third Sister (Moses Ingram) and held up in an Empire base. Time for this season’s second rescue, apparently! It is a bit of a disappointment this episode repeats another escape plan for Leia, but it’s a fun adventure all the same.
Early on a plan is concocted, along with a hologram diagram of the location Leia is being held and our heroes crowded around it attempting to figure out how to win this battle. It’s a fun trope in Star Wars and nice to see on a smaller scale compared to the Death Star plans scene in Star Wars: A New Hope.
This episode allows us to see a little more of the Empire’s internal workings. That means officers pulling rank on other officers, Stormtroopers milling about, and familiar computer interfaces based on this era of Star Wars. The set design is fabulous, complete with an underwater entry by Obi-Wan that’s excellent too. There’s one interior that’s reminiscent of Star Wars: The Last Jedi that’s quite something. The spaceships look as well, although they’re a bit limited in this episode.
Credit: Disney+
The showrunners clearly understood Obi-Wan Kenobi being a prequel meant subtle ways of referencing the films that take place after it. This show continues to also nudge a kind of rebellion from the common people in the right direction. As a time when the Empire reigned supreme and there was no hope for anyone, it’s nice to see the show not overtly shove these elements down our throat. It makes things more natural and believable.
As previously mentioned, Obi-Wan’s mojo is reduced, but after this episode, it’s clear he’s getting some of it back. Not only because of the horrors he witnesses in one scene–which will likely have hardcore Star Wars fans pointing at the screen after seeing familiar faces — but he gets to use his lightsaber a bit more here as well. We all know this show is building towards another showdown between Darth Vader and Obi-Wan and it’s exciting to see how Obi-Wan is getting a second hero’s journey to refind himself.
Obi-Wan Kenobi “Part 4” continues to blend good worldbuilding with Obi-Wan’s personal journey to find his Jedi mojo. As a prequel series, it’s a delight to see references to this earlier time for the Empire with great production values and a deft hand in depicting the area too.
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