From its first episode, Obi-Wan Kenobi reminded viewers why the title character has long been one of the most beloved and respected by fans. Ewan McGregor brings a powerful, brooding intensity to his character, and each episode shows just how heavily the burden of his past–particularly his relationship with Anakin Skywalker–weighs on him.
However, while he is certainly the most important character in the series, the drama is also full of a number of other important personages, all of whom can be ranked according to how much intelligence they display as they face or embrace the growing power of the Empire.
Fifth Brother
The Inquisitors are some of the most terrifying beings in the Galaxy, particularly since they are so effective at hunting down the Jedi. Fifth Brother may not be quite the ruthless and brutally cunning person that his superior The Grand Inquisitor is, but he still shows that he knows how to navigate the fraught politics of their world.
In particular, he realizes, in a way that some of the other Inquisitors do not, that it is sometimes best to follow the orders one is given rather than going off in another direction entirely.
The Grand Inquisitor
The Grand Inquisitor is another of this series’ most imposing characters. From the moment he appears, he seems to have a tightly-wound cruelty, the type of threat that can erupt into violence at any moment. He is also a subtle thinker, someone who is able to navigate the politics of the Empire.
Unfortunately, he is not quite smart enough to see the threat that is posed by Third Sister Reva, who manages to outwit him. In his case, his intellect is outweighed by his own arrogance and self-regard.
Third Sister
Reva is sure to be seen as one of the best villains of Star Wars. Sinister and determined, she is absolutely committed to Darth Vader and his vision of what the Galaxy should be. She also shows that she has a calculating mind, as she demonstrates when she sets in motion the kidnapping of Leia, which she hopes to use to lure Obi-Wan within her reach.
Her intelligence is matched only by her ruthlessness, and she lets nothing stand in her way of getting what she wants. Unfortunately for Reva, her passion for cruelty seems to hinder more than it helps.
Owen Lars
Though he has relatively few scenes in the series, Owen Lars' return is still memorable and meaningful. He has an earthy and grounded intelligence that is not always in evidence in Star Wars. He also has little patience with Obi-Wan and with the Jedi.
Most notably, he has the type of smarts that allows him to evade Third Sister’s rigorous questioning. He knows that, when it comes down to it, he might have to say things that he doesn’t really believe in order to avoid the wrath of the Empire and its minions, and he can do so convincingly enough to evade danger.
Haja Estree
Kumail Nanjiani has been in many great roles, and he brings his own particular brand of charisma to the character of Haja Estree. Estree is clearly the kind of shrewd and calculating person who knows how to get away with almost anything. He matches this intellect with a powerful charm that leads people to believe that they can trust him.
The fact that he has been able to rescue people from the clutches of the Empire, largely without being detected, is a powerful testimony to the kind of sharpness that he can muster.
Darth Vader
Darth Vader is one of the best villains in the history of science fiction. Brooding and powerful, he is deeply scarred, both physically and emotionally, by his earlier encounters with Obi-Wan. Though he is as relentless as he has always been in this series, he is also clearly as bright as his former mentor.
He is canny enough to realize that all it takes to lure Obi-Wan out of hiding is to torture and kill innocent people. He might have lost his humanity to the Dark Side, but his mind is as strong as ever, and his only real weakness seems to be letting his emotions come before his intelligence.
Tala Durith
Though Obi-Wan is the primary hero of this story, he is joined by many others who also care deeply about doing the right thing. One of the most notable of these is Tala Durith, who uses a position from within the Imperial bureaucracy to rescue those seeking to escape.
She clearly has a great deal of cleverness and cunning, as evidenced by the fact that she has so far managed to evade the detection of those who would gladly destroy her for her acts of treason.
Bail Organa
Bail Organa has always been one of the most likable characters in the Star Wars universe, and he clearly loves his daughter, and his people, very much. He also shows that he is one of this series’ smartest characters, particularly when it comes to matters of the heart.
When he recruits Obi-Wan to rescue Leia after her kidnapping, he reminds him that he can’t live in the past forever. It’s one of those moments where Bail’s innate wisdom shines through. It’s no wonder he goes on to a successful career as a ruler of his planet.
Leia Organa
Leia Organa is one of the most beloved characters in the original Star Wars trilogy, and viewers get to see her as a child at last. Precocious and independent, she doesn’t like to take orders from anyone. Unsurprisingly, even at a young age, Leia showed the type of intelligence that would allow her to become one of the most formidable and respected leaders in the Galaxy.
Indeed, Obi-Wan has everything he can do to keep her under control, for she is smart enough to see through any kind of deception that he might try to use against her.
Obi-Wan Kenobi
Obi-Wan is inarguably one of Ewan McGregor’s best roles, and he makes sure to let the viewer know that he bears a heavy burden after the events of the prequel trilogy. While he can be stubborn and headstrong at times, there’s still no doubt that Obi-Wan is this series’ most intelligent character.
He knows how to navigate the fraught territories of the Empire and, as he shows with his encounter with the Stormtroopers, he has the type of intelligence that allows him to spin a good story, even for a hostile audience.