REVIEW - Obi-Wan Kenobi (Spoiler Free)

Star Wars The Phantom Menace came out when I was nine years old. It blew my tiny mind. My parents were just as excited for it to be released and let me watch the original trilogy before going to see Phantom Menace. We hired them from the local corner shop video store (not a big name one like Video Ezy or Blockbuster!) and I think I ended up watching them out of order because the first three films were just constantly hired out.

The Phantom Menace was probably my first "obsessive" moment. I wanted so desperately to be a part of Star Wars. I wanted to be Princess Leia or Queen Amidala (yes I did dress up as Amidala for my ninth birthday). I was the weird kid who loved Star Wars. There were others in my class who liked it, but I was completely captivated. "I love you" "I know" is still one of the most romantic scenes in history to me (I may have some rejection issues). I do think though that the main factor that drew my obsession was Ewan McGregor. I was trying to think last night if I would have seen him in

something else before Star Wars, but I doubt I had seen Trainspotting at 9!! (It wasn't out of the question, I had seen The Exorcist by that age). What a gorgeous beast of a man Ewan McGregor is. Then a couple of years later he's in Moulin Rouge? He was perfection (and may still be) in my eyes.

I must admit I'm not a huge fan of things going outside of a series. I'm always scared they're going to ruin them. Like, I'm happy with how that ended, I don't need anymore. I'm full, ya know. I haven't watched any of the Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them movies, I haven't read The Cursed Child and I haven't seen a single Star Wars film outside of the first two trilogies. (I will admit I was going to watch the sequel trilogy, but after Carrie Fisher died it made me too sad).

To watch Obi-Wan Kenobi was a big step for me, but I trusted that Ewan McGregor wouldn't come back unless it was worth it.

Obi-Wan Kenobi definitely isn't the quality of the prequel/original trilogy, but it does stir up a lot of nostalgia. It fills that gap between the Prequel and the Original trilogy in such a nice way, that they feel much more in sync with each other. You have a better understanding of Luke and Ben's relationship, as well as why Leia sees Obi-Wan as "their only hope".

Obi-Wan Kenobi The Series, has clearly had the Disney treatment. It lacks the grit and turmoil of the originals and is unquestionably aimed at kids to watch with their parents. It doesn't necessarily make for a bad watch, but it does mean that the storyline is quite simple. There are relationships between characters which you expect to be much more complex, including Darth and Obi-Wan, but they are watered down. As a fan, you keep waiting for that depth and further involvement we have grown to love from the Star Wars franchise. Instead, you are left feeling a little empty.

Nine-year-old me is very satisfied with Obi-Wan Kenobi the series, but thirty-two-year-old me feels a little unfulfilled.

Obi-Wan Kenobi is now streaming on Disney+