There’s no question that Obi-Wan Kenobi is one of the most beloved characters in the history of Star Wars, and thus it was only a matter of time until he earned his series. Disney+'s Obi-Wan Kenobi series has received significant praise from critics, not everyone has been as enamored of it.
Many of the users of Reddit in particular have vented their spleen about the various aspects of the series that they do not like. Some have relatively minor unpopular opinions, but others have much more substantive disagreements about the most important and central aspects of the series.
The Series Shouldn’t Exist
Any time a series like Obi-Wan emerges, it is inevitable that there will be those who will wonder whether its existence is justified at all. This is especially true with Star Wars, which has a very devoted fanbase and very extensive mythology.
Gozii55 says this of the new series: “Star Wars has gotten away with some pretty big continuity errors in the past, but this one takes the cake [...] he's just been in the desert the whole time. That's how George Lucas intended it to be." However, this opinion ignores the fact that Lucas himself was very willing to fill in gaps in the existing mythology.
Disney Is Just Milking The Star Wars Brand
Disney has been both acclaimed and praised for its takeover of Star Wars, and while there have been many strong Star Wars series, others have come in for their fair share of criticism. In particular, many in the Star Wars fan base express the unpopular opinion that the entertainment giant is doing nothing more than milking the brand, draining it of its artistic integrity.
Iamnumber1967, for example, writes: “Disney is just getting their money's worth. They have built a whole business out of changing old stories around and then milking the merchandise. It is what they do best.” While some of this might be true, it is also the case that Disney has given the franchise an entirely new breath of fresh life.
There’s No Similarity Between McGregor’s Character And Guinness’s
There’s no question that Obi-Wan is one of Ewan McGregor’s best roles, and in many ways, he is a fitting person to play the younger version of the character immortalized by Alec Guinness. However, not everyone agrees on this point, and there are some in the Reddit community who think that the younger actor cannot do justice to the iconic role.
Present_Marzipan8311, for example, asks how: “can you draw any parallels between Ewan McGregors character and Alec Guinness character. They aren’t in any way similar.” Unfortunately, this comment ignores the fact that McGregor has done a great deal to capture some of the mannerisms of his predecessor.
There Are Better Characters Than Obi-Wan
Even though Obi-Wan is arguably one of the best Jedi to have appeared in the Star Wars saga, there are of course many others who have occupied a particularly prominent place in the hearts and minds of fans. Thus, it was probably inevitable that there would be some wondering whether Obi-Wan was even worthy of his series.
Twixupmysleeve writes: “ I think Anakin or Mace Windu or even a few characters from the popular knights of the old republic game are far better characters than Obi-Wan.” While there are certainly many other important characters, few would go on to play as significant a role in the events of the original trilogy.
Leia’s Character Is Insufferable
Few characters in Star Wars have acquired quite the status of Leia. She looms large in both the lore of the series and in the minds of many fans. She is also a staple of the new Obi-Wan series, as he sets out to rescue her from the clutches of the Inquisitor.
However, she was not to everyone’s liking, and Ordinary-Picture7399 says that “I can't stand little children that are way too smart-a** and then inexplicably run away from their rescuer because it suits the scenario.” While Leia is precocious in the series, that is precisely what makes her one of its best and most fun characters.
The Entire Series Is A Continuity Error
Given how sprawling the series is, it’s unsurprising that many fans, particularly those on Reddit, would be concerned about how Obi-Wan fits into (or doesn’t) the existing stories. Nifaryus writes: “The entire series is a continuity error and filled with plot holes.”
Though it is tempting for many to want to see the series through their own very hostile lens, the truth is that there are enough gaps in the original mythology–particularly in the original trilogy–for it to be possible to see how a series like Obi-Wan fits into the story.
It’s Nothing But Fan Service
Few issues are sure to arouse the ire of fans more than, ironically, something being perceived as fan service. This is particularly true in very popular franchises like Star Wars, which have such a very loud and involved fandom. Some have come to see much of what Disney has offered as little more than this.
Louiselebien-aime says that “Star Wars has just been about fan service since the sequels came out.” This, however, ignores the many strong series that have emerged, including Obi-Wan, which explores weighty issues such as trauma.
It Was A Mistake To Disregard Legends
The Star Wars Legends continuity has many great novels, and it was a blow to many in the fandom when Disney chose to push them out of the official canon. Obi-Wan, of course, was as much a part of those novels as any of the major characters.
Delirious_85 argues: “The biggest mistake was to disregard the extended universe. So many great stories they could've made I to movies and series.” However, as others in the thread noted, this ignores the many ways in which Disney has opened up the saga to new stories.
It’s Too Much About The Inquisitors
The Inquisitors are some of the most terrifying villains in the Galaxy, and with their relentless pursuit of the Jedi, they can be very intimidating. For some, however, they are one of the weakest things about the Obi-Wan series. MMOsAreNotRPGs was particularly outraged, stating they should “Just rename the show "The Inquisitor: Origins" and list Ewan as a supporting actor.”
Though it is tempting for some to disregard the Inquisitors as stealing attention from Obi-Wan, the truth is that it is almost always the case with Star Wars that they excel at creating fascinating villains.
It’s Almost Unwatchable
Obi-Wan succeeds as a series because it manages to capture the magic of both the original and the prequel trilogies. It is, thus, a pleasure to be among characters that the audience knows and appreciates. However, it has also earned the opprobrium of several viewers, such as knievel. They write: “That show is such a slap in the face for any Star Wars fan, it's action and flow of events is borderline unwatchable.”
Such a criticism, however, ignores the fact that the series fleshes out the backstory, in a convincing fashion, of one of the saga’s most fascinating and complex characters.