The new Disney+ series set in the Star Wars universe is upon us, and this time it’s Obi Wan Kenobi who stars. The opportunity to return to the history of the character, from his youth with Qui-Gon Jinn to his death at the hands of Darth Vader.
Since its acquisition by Disney in 2012, the Star Wars license has undergone many changes. Under the leadership of Kathleen Kennedy, it has expanded with a whopping 5 films (a new trilogy and two spin-offs), two series (The Mandalorian and The Book of Boba Fett), an animated series (The Bad Batch) as well as some other side projects (Star Wars Vision for example).
Disney does not intend to stop there. A gaggle of series are already in preparation. Ashoka Tano, Cassian Andor, Lando Calrissian, or even a remake of the animated series A droid story (which we told you about just a few days ago) are just some of the examples of what awaits us.
But before that, it’s another character, and not the least, who has the right to his own series: Obi Wan Kenobi. The famous Jedi knight, master of Anakin and Luke Skywalker returns from next May 27, the time of six episodes. For the occasion, we have decided to return in detail to the career of this character with a fascinating story.
Note : following the takeover of the license by Disney, a major cleaning was done in order to define what is canonical and what is not. The vast majority of events depicted in the novels, comics, and other Expanded Universe content have been rendered obsolete, and have joined what is now known as the Legends universe. We will therefore leave this data aside for this article in order to focus on the Common universe, which currently represents the canon of the series.
The apprentice
Obi-Wan Kenobi’s origins are poorly developed in the Common universe. We know, however, that he was born on the planet Stewjon, a rather forgettable world, and that he was spotted very young by the Jedi, around his 6 months. Yes, in Star Wars, value definitely does not wait for the number of years.
It is therefore very young that he begins his training at the Jedi Temple on Coruscant, and that a certain Yoda teaches him the basics of Jedi philosophy. He is very quickly entrusted to the custody of Qui-Gon Jinn who makes him his apprentice and continues his apprenticeship.
At 15, Obi-Wan and Qui-Gon are sent to Mandalore to protect Satine Kryze, the leader of the place threatened by insurgents. For a year, he protected her from various attacks, saving her life several times. A period during which their feelings will develop into a love that will never materialize, Obi-Wan leaving Mandalore in order to continue his Jedi training.
Alongside Qui-Gon Jinn, he develops his Jedi abilities, and learns the workings of galactic politics, making him a formidable field agent, as good a negotiator as he is a fierce fighter. Forming a thunderous duo with his mentor, he is the Jedi’s envoy of choice for complex missions, and this is how he finds himself at 25 years old on Naboo, at the dawn of the events depicted by The Phantom Menace.
Obi-Wan and Anakin: A Forged Beskar Friendship
Things heat up for Obi-Wan during The Phantom Menace. Within days, he loses his master at the hands of Darth Maul, sends ad patres so says Sir Maul and becomes a Jedi Knight for his feats of arms during the Naboo War. He also inherits the passage of the new apprentice of the late Qui-Gon Jinn, a certain Anakin, out of loyalty to his former master, despite the disapproval of the Jedi Council and the reluctance of Yoda.
The following decade saw the development of a solid relationship between the young master and his no less young apprentice. Attack of the Clonesthen the animated series The Clone Wars allow you to discover how Anakin and Obi-Wan form a close-knit and powerful team. Saving each other’s lives countless times, they develop a strong friendship based on mutual respect.
The Clone Wars are particularly trying for Obi-Wan who fights on the front lines as commander of the 212th Battalion of the Galactic Republic. During this period, he again confronts Darth Maul, who has returned from the dead thanks to the power of the dark side. After taking her master away from her on Naboo, the Sith will kill her lifelong love, Satine Kryze, before her eyes in an attempt to tip her over to the Dark Side.
Law and Order (66)
The events of the Revenge of the Sith mark the end of the friendship between Anakin and Obi-Wan, and the fall of the republic. Corrupted by Senator Palpatine, aka Darth Sidious, consumed by his fears, in particular that of losing the woman he loves, Anakin gives in to the Dark Side and betrays all his values by exterminating the young generation of Jedi. Order 66, launched by Palpatine, marks the death knell for the knights and grand masters who are decimated by the clone army.
Obi-Wan, who escaped death after his duel against General Grievous, returns to Coruscant and hides himself aboard Amidala’s ship, on his way to join Anakin. This is how he arrives on the planet Mustafar where he meets his former student for the last time. Unable to reason with him, he faces Anakin in a duel, and defeats him after a final battle that leaves the young man on the ground, without arms or legs, and slowly devoured by molten rock…
Alone on the sand
Betrayed by his best friend, hunted down by the regime that now calls itself the Empire, Obi-Wan sets himself up as the leader of the surviving Jedi, and begins to organize the Rebellion with his allies. Having saved the twins from Anakin, he decides to devote himself to the protection of Luke on Tatooine while Leïa is entrusted to Senator Organa on Coruscant. He then settles on the planet and lives as a hermit under the name of Ben Kenobi.
For 19 years he lives alone and protects, in the shadows, the young Luke from the dangers of the outside world. The animated series star wars rebels reveals to us some snippets of information about this period of exile, in particular the existence of a third and final confrontation between Darth Maul and Obi-Wan at the end of which Maul is reconciled with his lifelong enemy, after having had confirmation that Luke was the chosen one supposed to rebalance the Force.
His exile ends during the events told by A new hope. Contacted by the young Luke, he embarks at his side to save Princess Leïa and counter Palpatine’s plans. It is during the rescue of the princess on the Death Star that he crosses paths with Darth Vader and sacrifices himself to give the young generation (the famous new hope of the title) a chance to flee.
This sacrifice does not mean the end of Obi-Wan. Always one step ahead, he used an old (and practical) Jedi technique to become a Force Ghost. He thus reappears in the following two episodes to give some advice to Luke, and to help him rebalance the Force.
Discover the Obi-Wan Kenobi series on Disney+ from May 27
For its series devoted to Obi-Wan, Disney + has decided to explore an unknown part of the history of the Jedi master: his exile on Tatooine. Set between the events of Revenge of the Sith and A New Hope (Episodes III and IV), the story told here introduces us to an aging Obi-Wan Kenobi who will have to deal with the consequences of the downfall of his former apprentice. .
Hunted by the henchmen of Darth Vader, and in particular the Grand Inquisitor (already seen in the animated series star wars rebels), he will have to save his own skin while taking care that the young Luke is not discovered.
Ewan McGregor and Hayden Christensen reprise their roles as Obi-Wan and Darth Vader, joined by a three-star cast (Joel Edgerton, Kumail Nanjiani, Indira Varma, Friend), while Deborah Show, director of two episodes of The Mandalorian and series like Jessica Jones, Better Call Saul Where American Gods will take care of the production of all the episodes.
The first two episodes ofObi-Wan Kenobi are already available on Disney+ and the following four episodes will be broadcast in the coming weeks at the rate of one episode per week. To take advantage of it, nothing complicated since all you need is a subscription to Disney+. The latter is available for 8.99 euros per month, or 89.90 euros per year.
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