Warning! Spoilers ahead for the first two episodes of Obi-Wan Kenobi.
Disney+ has finally premiered the long-awaited Obi-Wan Kenobi series. To reward Star Wars fans’ patience, the streamer has dropped two episodes at once. “Part I” reintroduces Obi-Wan’s hermit life on Tatooine, then “Part II” whisks him off on an adventure across the galaxy.
Ewan McGregor’s reprisal of the titular Jedi fugitive is every bit as fun and nuanced as fans had hoped. But his young co-star Vivien Lyra Blair, playing a wisecracking young Leia Organa, keeps stealing the spotlight. Blair isn’t just doing a Carrie Fisher impression; she captures Fisher’s spirit: plucky, ferocious, and dryly hilarious.
When She Pranked Her Parents
Leia pulls a prank on her adoptive parents – and the audience – when she’s first introduced in Obi-Wan Kenobi. As a young princess is dressed by handmaidens on Alderaan, fans are expecting to see Leia Organa under the veil.
But the face under the veil is unrecognizable, because Leia has switched herself out so that her handmaidens would dress the wrong kid. This scene instantly re-establishes one of Leia’s key characteristics: her sense of humor.
When She Bonded With Her Droid Lola
From Luke Skywalker and R2-D2 to Poe Dameron and BB-8 to Cassian Andor and K-2SO, there are plenty of wholesome human-droid friendships in the Star Wars universe. The two-episode premiere of Obi-Wan Kenobi has introduced fans to the latest adorable human-droid duo: young Leia and her little floating A.I. assistant, Lola.
With the full name “L0-LA59,” Lola is a fascinating little droid. She’s not played by a human in a suit, like C-3PO or R2-D2; she’s a CG creation who follows Leia around like Tinker Bell or Jiminy Cricket.
When She Insulted Her Cousin
Young Leia exemplifies Carrie Fisher’s trademark biting wit when she takes her arrogant cousin down a peg for making fun of her politeness to droids. She argues that it’s just good manners to thank droids for doing favors, even if they are programmed to do it no matter what.
Leia’s cousin scoffs, “You don’t need manners when you’re talking to lower lifeforms,” and she hilariously quips back, “So I guess I don’t need manners when I’m talking to you.”
When She Took Her Abductors On A Wild Goose Chase
When the big, strapping, menacing members of a criminal gang surrounded her in the woods, Leia didn’t give up easily. She got caught in the end, but she put up a heck of a fight for a 10-year-old being hunted through the woods by bounty killers.
This chase scene was pretty slow-moving, but it’s more forgivable than the Vespa chase from The Book of Boba Fett, because space bikes have no speed limit whereas a 10-year-old can only run so fast.
When She Stood Up To A Bounty Hunter
Flea has a surprise supporting role in Obi-Wan Kenobi as Vect Nokru, the bounty hunter sent to kidnap Leia. The Red Hot Chili Peppers bassist gives a chilling turn as a side villain who has no qualms about hurting children. When Nokru confronts a captive Leia on his ship, he ominously tells her she’ll never see her family again.
But Leia remains fearless in the face of Nokru’s threats and assures him her father will send an army to save her. This fearlessness harks back to the similar fearlessness she demonstrated when she was interrogated by Darth Vader on the Death Star in the original 1977 Star Wars movie.
When She Asked Obi-Wan Too Many Questions
When Obi-Wan arrives to save Leia, she’s surprised to learn that her father only sent one guy when she was expecting an army. She asks where the army is, but Obi-Wan quickly proves that he’s a one-man army in his own right.
As they try to escape from Daiyu, Leia constantly questions her Jedi guardian. She argues that keeping secrets from her is more detrimental to her safety than telling her sensitive information. Obi-Wan jokes that she doesn’t act like she’s 10.
When She Protested Being Called “Your Highness”
Throughout the entire saga, Leia has shown time and time again that she isn’t interested in any of the luxuries or amenities that come along with being royalty. After saving Leia from the bounty hunters who kidnapped her, Obi-Wan keeps referring to her as “Princess” or “Your Highness,” as is the royal protocol on Alderaan.
But Leia insists that he doesn’t need to keep using her official titles. She hates answering to those titles, and perfectly articulates the reason why: “I’m just Leia.” This feels like a self-aware nod to the argument between calling her “Princess Leia” or “General Leia” – she’s just Leia.
When She Reminded Obi-Wan Of Padmé
When Obi-Wan stops in his tracks and tells Leia, “You remind me of someone,” it initially seems like a reference to Anakin. Leia certainly exhibits shades of her estranged father throughout the episode, like her recklessness and self-confidence.
But, as it turns out, Obi-Wan is actually referring to her mother, Padmé. He explains, “She was fearless, too, and stubborn,” and a great leader – something Leia herself is destined to become when the Rebellion rises up to fight the Empire.