After almost twenty years since his last appearance in the role, Ewan McGregor has finally returned as the Jedi Master in Disney+'s Star Wars fan who isn't happy about the long-awaited return.
Now that the show is over, Star Wars fans have taken to Reddit in order to discuss their favorite things about the show. Unsurprisingly, McGregor's return to the role sparked a lot of excitement and anticipation - and plenty of fans believe that the show finally did his character justice.
Young Leia
Reddit mighmackerel expressed one of their favorite things about the show, saying "I love the actress they got for Leia she’s amazing and Carrie Fisher would love her." Very few fans had anticipated the huge role that Leia would play in the show, but there's no denying that she added a whole new layer to the story that really raised the emotional stakes.
Vivien Lyra Blair was certainly entertaining to watch, and seeing the character return to the screen once again, even if it was a version that audiences had never really seen before, was great.
The Well-Structured Plot
One of the most frequently-posed criticisms of Disney's Star Wars is that the recent projects often fail to develop a clear, focused narrative. This was particularly the case with The Book of Boba Fett, which recently fell under fire for its messy plot and lack of focus.
Reddit _insertmemehere claims that Obi-Wan Kenobi's "cohesive plot" immediately makes it stand out from the other projects, which is a huge bonus. The show was a clear character study, observing Obi-Wan closely as he navigates this emotional story.
Vader's Presence
There's a reason that Darth Vader is so frequently cited as the greatest sci-fi villain of all time, and this was only solidified during his scenes in Obi-Wan Kenobi. Every time he appeared on screen, the stakes were raised tenfold and it became immediately clear that he was no longer the Anakin Skywalker that audiences thought he might be.
The show also included several lightsaber battles featuring Darth Vader, which quickly proved that Anakin's near-fatal injury in Revenge of the Sith hadn't negatively impacted his battle skills. Redditor sin_of_the_sark says they were "absolutely terrified" whenever Vader was on screen - a feeling that many fans will relate to.
Obi-Wan's Inner Conflict
The character of Obi-Wan Kenobi is obviously a very complex one, and before this show, fans had been given very little insight into how the events of Revenge of the Sith had affected him psychologically. What the show does brilliantly, according to Redditor king-of-the-raves, is showing Kenobi "ruminate" on his complex past.
Since the show follows Kenobi's character so closely, it's easy to see how he changes throughout the course of the show. He's initially hesitant to go against Anakin in battle - because of their previous friendship - but he soon realizes that Anakin is no longer the hero, but the villain.
Planet Design
Reddit ergister comments on the exceptional design of many of the alien planets shown in Obi-Wan Kenobi, noting that "Daiyu and Nur" in particular "look amazing." The design of alien landscapes has always been one of the things that Star Wars gets right, and that stands with Obi-Wan Kenobi.
Almost every episode of Obi-Wan Kenobi takes place on a different planet - including those that fans will be familiar with, alongside plenty that they might not be. It really helps build the unique atmosphere of the show, and it's the one thing that Star Wars consistently excels at.
More Screentime For Owen
Owen Lars has always been a ing character, both in the original trilogy and the prequel trilogy, but Obi-Wan Kenobi gives him a little more screentime and explores his relationship with Obi-Wan a little bit closer. The two have long-standing conflicts that the show does a good job of revolving.
According to alphabladeyiII, the show's exploration of Owen Lars as a character was one of its "highlights." It's not often that Star Wars gives so much screentime to its ing characters, and Joel Edgerton really made this character feel like one of the show's strongest aspects.
Great Production Quality
It shouldn't really come as much of a surprise thanks to its studio development and a huge budget, but plenty of fans were blown away by the production design and visual effects in Obi-Wan Kenobi. Reddit jepyang even describes it as "the most cinematic of the [Star Wars] TV shows".
Shows like The Mandalorian are often praised for their pioneering cinematography and use of special effects, and fans are seemingly feeling the same about Obi-Wan Kenobi. The narrative might have been lacking at times, but there was never a moment when the show was unpleasing to look at.
Reva's Character Arc
The Third Sister - or Reva - had plenty of memorable moments and iconic quotes over the course of Obi-Wan Kenobi, and there's no denying that she ended up being one of the show's most unforgettable characters. She was a great addition to the Star Wars universe, and she really added a fresh dynamic to Obi-Wan's journey.
Reddit randomguyonline71 praises Reva's character, claiming that "a great villain has to be evil," and her constant pursuit of Obi-Wan (alongside her torturing of Leia), certainly made her unlikable for the majority of the show.
Obi-Wan and Anakin's Dynamic
One of the biggest selling points of this show was the reunion of Ewan McGregor and Hayden Christensen as Obi-Wan Kenobi and Anakin Skywalker. The two had an incredibly complex relationship throughout the prequel trilogy, which ultimately culminated in an explosive finale in Revenge of the Sith.
Obi-Wan was extremely influential in Anakin's transformation into Darth Vader, and that's something that Kenobi has had to deal with for several years before this show even takes place. The show does a great job of expressing his shame and guilt, particularly in a scene "where Obi-Wan sees Anakin in a field", which Redditor iralscavenger describes as "awesome."
Ewan McGregor's Return
In the years since their release, Ewan McGregor has defended his prequel trilogy in the face of critics who believed that they didn't live up to the legacy of the original films. And ever since fans have developed a recent appreciation for the trilogy, they've been demanding that McGregor returns to the franchise in order to redeem himself and close his character's journey in a fulfilling way.
For many fans, McGregor's return was enough to justify this series' existence in itself. He clearly loves this character, and it was a huge treat to see him in this universe again. Summing up the thoughts of an entire generation of Star Wars fans, Reddit leicam6guy writes: "I'm super happy to see Ewan back as Obi-Wan."