I love Obi-Wan Kenobi. He’s one of my very favorite Star Wars characters. And I love Ewan McGregor when he plays Obi-Wan Kenobi (and maybe some other times, too!) Suffice to say; I am counting down the days to the upcoming Disney Plus Obi-Wan Kenobi series like a little kid counting down to their birthday. Waiting is hard – but I’m passing the time by revisiting my favorite past Obi-Wan content. And yes, it’s helping! If anybody else is feeling in need of a little Obi-Wan right now, this list is an excellent place to start.
DISCLAIMER: The following post may contain spoilers. Please proceed with caution!
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Obi-Wan & Qui-Gon
Obi-Wan Kenobi wasn’t always the wise old man (Alec Guinness) whom Luke Skywalker (Mark Hamill) left Tatooine with in Star Wars: A New Hope. Once upon a time, he was a young – and somewhat hotheaded – padawan to Qui-Gon (Liam Neeson), who made his share of mistakes. Claudia Gray’s Master & Apprentice novel does a great job showcasing the relationship between Obi-Wan and Qui-Gon – and sets up the pivotal Obi-Wan/Qui-Gon moments of Star Wars: Phantom Menace nicely. Following up that book and that movie with Gray’s “Master and Apprentice” short story from the anthology, From A Certain Point of View, makes for a remarkably poignant reading experience.
Obi-Wan Raising Anakin
One way the Legends’ books still have the canon novels beat is in their depiction of the Anakin/Obi-Wan apprentice/master relationship. One of the reasons I connect with Obi-Wan is for the way he functions as a father to Anakin, a child with a personality very different from his own. As a parent, I relate to his struggles. This aspect of Obi-Wan is particularly showcased in Rogue Planet, in the Anakin/Obi-Wan sections of the Outbound Flight novel and in The Approaching Storm. Rogue Planet particularly, in its depiction of a twelve-year-old Anakin, puts Obi-Wan’s parenting skills to the test.
We know that Hayden Christensen will be returning to the role of Dark Vader in the new Disney Plus series. Perhaps that’s a sign that we’ll be getting more insight into Obi-Wan and Anakin’s relationship going forward.
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Obi-Wan & Satine
The Star Wars: The Clone Wars episodes featuring Satine (Anna Graves) and Obi-Wan have me longing for a novel (tv series or anything!) that tells the story of that year on the run that Obi-Wan mentions to Anakin. Considering the level of anxiety Anakin had about letting Obi-Wan in on the secret of his relationship with Padme, Obi-Wan’s history with Satine – the woman for whom, by his own admission, he would have left the Jedi Order if she’d asked – is particularly pivotal Star Wars history.
Was it scarring from this relationship (and its end) that turned Obi-Wan into the kind of master who would leave Anakin feeling the way he did about trusting him? Was it something to do with the way Qui-Gon handled Obi-Wan throughout that time? Think about it: Qui-Gon, Obi-Wan and Satine were on the run. It’s hard to believe Obi-Wan and Satine could be falling in love with each other right in front of him and Qui-Gon somehow didn’t notice! How did he react to that? These episodes are just as frustratingly tantalizing in their revelations as they are interesting – but I love them anyway.
Obi-Wan & Darth Maul
Obi-Wan’s life was affected in some extremely potent ways by his connection with Darth Maul (Ray Park/Sam Witwer). To understand this, you have to watch Star Wars: The Phantom Menace, where it all began. From there, go to the Darth Maul/Savage arc in Star Wars: The Clone Wars – where Obi-Wan reencounters Maul. (The episode, “Revival” [S05E1], is particularly intense.) And then move on to the Darth Maul episodes in Star Wars: Rebels. This content is admittedly light on the actual Obi-Wan appearances, but it does do an excellent job of illuminating the depth of Maul’s obsession with Obi-Wan – and, of course, shows us how it all ends.
Post Order 66 Obi-Wan
If I could pick one piece of Legends material to turn into canon, it would be Kenobi by John Jackson Miller. (I would also like Mara Jade to exist and know Luke. But that’s an argument for another article!) I love this book and part of the reason I do is that it so wholly depicts the Obi-Wan who lives in my head. Not every author’s (or artist, or movie director) perception of a character matches my own and that’s to be expected.
But when you find one that does, it’s perfect. That’s why I like Claudia Gray’s Obi-Wan stories, too. Kenobi takes place when Luke is a baby and toddler, so he’s not a direct part of the tale. It’s more about Obi-Wan’s transition from Jedi Council member and Clone Wars general to guy-who-has-to-lay-low-and-live-like-a-hermit. It’s a rough transition for him and Miller does an absolutely fantastic job of telling that story. It sets a high bar for the Obi-Wan Kenobi series!
I’m so excited for Disney Plus’s Obi-Wan Kenobi series. May 27, 2022, can’t come fast enough! What great Obi-Wan material did I miss? I’d love to see your suggestions in the comments!
This article was originally published on April 18, 2022.
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