Obi-Wan Kenobi Prep Material

Well people, we have our release date! The Disney+ Obi-Wan Kenobi series will be debuting on May 25 (45th anniversary of Star Wars) on the streaming service.  Aside from Luke Skywalker, Obi-Wan Kenobi is my favorite Star Wars character.  He has so much tragedy in his life, yet through it all he proceeds with nobility, hope, and snark. From what it seems we'll be getting, I am psyched! On top of the Obi-Wan vs Vader rematch we're being promised I'd love to see some Clone Wars flashbacks.  Ewan McGregor and Hayden Christensen are back, and both actors have barely aged, so it wouldn't take too much CGI to give us some moments back when they were brothers-in-arms.  

Joel Edgerton and Bonnie Piesse are also coming back as Uncle Owen and Aunt Beru.  Maybe we even get a little Luke Skywalker too?  Concept art shows Obi-Wan could be going off world, some Inquistors, and more!  As I mentioned, I'm super excited for this Deborah Chow directed-series and I can only imagine all the Obi-Wan merch I will be buying when the show premieres (and at Star Wars Celebration). 

With all that in mind, I figured I'd suggest a few Obi-Wan based materials leading up to the timeline of Obi-Wan Kenobi.  Just some things to possibly check out in the next few months to dive deeper into the character.  Obviously, the prequels are a must review, but here are a few novels, comics, and The Clone Wars episodes I think are great to learn more about Obi-Wan Kenobi.  

*I only included current Canon stories*

Master & Apprentice

This novel by Claudia Gray sees Obi-Wan and his master, Qui-Gon Jinn, years before Episode I. You get to see more of their relationship as they take on a Jedi assignment, more about Qui-Gon's intrigue with "The Prophecy", and the epilogue flashes forward to Obi-Wan's thoughts during Qui-Gon's funeral.

The Phantom Menace

Every Saga has a beginning.  Padawan Obi-Wan Kenobi and his master, Qui-Gon Jinn, travel to Naboo to settle a trade dispute.  The whole thing turns sideways and before they know it, they're battling the first Sith Lord seen in a millennia.  

Obi-Wan and Anakin

Several years into his training, young Anakin Skywalker is doubting his choice to become a Jedi. He ventures with his master, Obi-Wan Kenobi, on a mission that may be their last.  To be honest, the assignment isn't really important. It's the epiphany of Obi-Wan knowing that if Anakin leaves the Jedi Order, Obi-Wan must go with him.

Attack of the Clones

Padme Amidala is in trouble.  On the verge of a Senate vote to create an army for the Republic her life is in danger.  Obi-Wan and Anakin have been tasked to protect her.  Their investigation leads Obi-Wan to Kamino and the creation of a secret clone army. But what are Anakin and Padme doing on Tatooine while he's getting shot at by Jango Fett and his bratty son, Boba?

Brotherhood

This book isn't going to be released till May 10, and I'm sure it will be a great read right before Obi-Wan Kenobi premieres, being that it deals with the relationship of he and Anakin.  From what we know, it takes place right as The Clone Wars are starting.  Anakin is now a Knight, and Obi-Wan a Master.  Their roles have changed, so how will their relationship change?

THE CLONE WARS

Below are various episodes of The Clone Wars animated series where Obi-Wan plays a pivotal role and each is a step in his Star Wars journey.  We learn about his past with a possible former love, as well as see an old foe come back into his life seeking revenge.  In one storyline, Obi-Wan goes undercover as a bounty hunter and tangles with Cad Bane, and in another he, Anakin, and Ahsoka land in the middle of a mystical family squabble that has deep ties to The Force and Anakin's future. 

Season 2: The Mandalore Plot, Voyage of Temptation, Duchess of Mandalore

         Season 3: Overlords, Altar of Mortis, Ghosts of Mortis

         Season 4: Deception, Friends and Enemies, The Box, Crisis on Naboo, Revenge

         Season 5: Revival, Eminence, Shades of Reason, Lawless

         Season 6: The Lost One 

Revenge of the Sith

The Clone Wars are winding down. Anakin and Obi-Wan's rescue of the Chancellor ended with the death of Count Dooku.  Obi-Wan is off to take down General Grievous and end the war while Anakin starts to make trouble back on Coruscant. Order 66 changes the galaxy and everything Obi-Wan knows.  

                      From the Journals of Obi-Wan Kenobi

From the pages of Marvel's Star Wars title, After Luke Skywalker has blown up the Death Star, he returns to Tatooine and finds the journal of Obi-Wan in hopes it will help him continue his Jedi training. In various tales we see Obi-Wan take on the scum of Tatooine, keep little Luke out of trouble, and even have a run in with the wookie bounty hunter, Black Krrsantan.

Obi-Wan

Another piece of literature set to help ramp up for the Disney+ series, all we know about this miniseries is that is supposed to come out in May and follow Obi-Wan through various parts in his life.  I believe it is supposed to be a 5-issue miniseries so I would recommend youngling, padawan, knight, master, and then hermit.  Either way, I'm in!

What if 'Revenge of the Sith' Was the Only Star Wars Prequel?

Last week's announcement of the Episode VII title has got fan boys a buzzing.  We're all wondering how "The Force Awakens" reveals possible plot points to J. J. Abrams upcoming film.  So many people want this film to be great so it will restore the Star Wars good name after the prequel films.  I don't think Episodes I-III were a good follow up the greatest film trilogy EVER, but I do think they have some redeeming qualities to them.  

Not so long ago a heard about an different order to watch the Star Wars saga that did not include The Phantom Menace.  A person would watch Episode VI and then Episode V.  Then that person would watch Episodes II and III to see how Anakin Skywalker became Darth Vader.  Then the viewer would finish with Episode VI. People say it doesn't spoil the "I am your father" reveal, but doesn't watching Revenge of the Sith before Return of the Jedi destroy the "Leia's my sister" reveal?

It sounded like a good order, but the other day I thought; why do we need Episode II as well?  Even those who curse the prequel films will agree that Episode III is the best of the three.  And it's what we all wanted to see; Anakin Skywalker become Darth Vader.  So what if the only prequel film we got was Revenge of the Sith?

Last night I went back and re-watched Episode III with fresh eyes.  I tried to forgot The Phantom Menace and Attack of the Clones existed to see if Revenge of the Sith was a film that could stand on it's own.  And in doing so the film actually seemed....better.  

It opens with the Ob-Wan and Anakin on one of their classic adventures.  They are off to save the Chancellor at the tail end of The Clone Wars. This highlights their skills and friendship.  We also see Anakin's relationship with Palpatine and Anakin battling his dark impulses.  Next, we learn Anakin is married secretly to a Senator and she is about to have their baby. As the film progresses we see appearances by Yoda, C-3PO, and Chewbacca.  Obi-Wan and Anakin battle to the death, thus resulting in the birth of Darth Vader and the rise of Emperor Palpatine.  Finally, Obi-Wan hands Luke off to Owen and Beru before going into hiding.  This is the gist of what everyone wanted to see in the prequels; right?

Now, you have to forgive some dialogue references such as "remember what you told me about your mother, and the sand people" as well as "Qui-Gon?"  And yes, some of the other dialogue in the film is best to be forgotten as well.  "She has lost the will to live"  is the worst line ever in a Star Wars movie.  But, the cheesy exchange between Anakin and Padme on her balcony lets us know these two new characters are deeply in love.  Also, no Episode I and II means no Jar Jar Binks, say a half-second shot.  And for that pleasant thought, you are welcome.

The performances of Ewan McGregor and Hayden Christensen shined as they started out friends at first and enemies in the end.  Yes, Christensen's performance I dare say was good when you look at just this one performance as everything we need to know about Anakin Skywalker.  The travesty in this viewing though is the same as when I first watched Episode III; Natalie Portman is nothing more than a supporting love interest.  However, we would not have had two films to see her be a strong character, so with just knowing Padme in one film isn't as insulting. We also didn't get Ian McDiarmid drawing out his Darth Sidious ruse to where, by the end of the trilogy, you're screaming at the screen, "Of course he's the Sith Lord you dumb ass!"

Blocking out the two other prequel films also made the fight sequences at the end much more enjoyable.  We see Yoda and Palpatine, two characters who were slow-moving in the original trilogy, really show off their powers as they go at it.  Meanwhile, the Obi-Wan vs Anakin fight sequence jumps off the screen.  They are so fast in their swashbuckling it would have been exciting to see it be the next lightsaber duel following Return of the Jedi.

Sure, after it was over I was curious how Obi-Wan and Anakin met, and how Anakin and Padme fell in love.  But after The Phantom Menace I was curious to know more about what the characters were like in their past, and some times not knowing is better.  Which is really what most say about the other prequel films anyway.

I think that if Revenge of the Sith was the only prequel film ever released Star Wars fans might not have felt as cheated.  I believe everything we wanted in a Star Wars prequel was in this one movie and we never needed the two before it.  So I challenge you to go back and watch Star Wars: Episode III: Revenge of the Sith just as a single film and forget any other Star Wars prequels exist.  I think you'll like it better, from a certain point of view.