The Star Wars spin-off series, Obi-Wan Kenobi has now reached its conclusion and is certainly divisive. The show brings back Ewan McGregor and Hayden Christensen from the prequel trilogy, leading to a long-awaited reunion between Obi-Wan Kenobi and Anakin Skywalker (now Darth Vader).
More surprisingly though, a young Princess Leia and a new character, Reva, also have large supporting roles in the story. Although it certainly has its exciting moments to get fans talking, some were left disappointed by narrative decisions and other elements of the new show.
No Star Wars Transitions
Redditor MurielHorseflesh is disappointed with Obi-Wan Kenobi's stylistic differences to other Star Wars media. They say, "there’s zero Star Wars screen transitions. No side wipes, no vertical wipes, no swirls, circular fades. Nothing. Those transitions are what makes Star Wars Star Wars and they’ve completely left them out."
The creators clearly want the show to have a different feel from the movies but it's important that it still has the same Star Wars DNA. The movie saga features many unique transitions that are an underappreciated yet integral part of the series. The spin-off show lacks these expected transitions, which ultimately isolates the hardcore fans of the franchise.
The Action Scenes
Star Wars features many iconic action scenes, such as the duel between Luke and Darth Vader. Audiences expected the Obi-Wan series to follow suit, but some have been disappointed by these scenes. Redditor r-throwaway5675 states "Honestly I think every single action scene in this show is laughably bad and it’s taking me out of the story."
A lot of the action scenes on the show lack the high-stakes of the saga movies, as most of the characters' fates are already known. Also, several of these scenes feature contrived or convenient elements, such as Reva's men failing to capture Leia despite her running at an obviously low speed.
Obi-Wan And Vader's Reunion
After many years, the reunion between Obi-Wan and his former apprentice was highly anticipated. That being said, some fans have been left feeling disappointed by the moment they finally come face to face again in the show. Redditor Sonic-Sloth says "Very disappointed with how the meeting of Obi Wan and Vader went. It wasn't very dramatic at all, and the fight was poorly shot."
Considering their prior relationship and the intensity of their last meeting, the reunion scene lacks the emotion many fans were expecting. What could have been a tense and tragic scene between the former friends becomes a low-stakes action moment.
Wasting Hayden Christensen
Redditor Giacchino-Fan states, "Hayden Christensen has maybe 2 minutes of screen-time and he was practically advertised as being part of the main cast." While Christensen dons the iconic Darth Vader helmet and suit throughout the season, fans expected him to get more screen time as pre-Vader Anakin.
After McGregor and Christensen were announced for the show, fans were excited to see them reunite, whether that be through visions, the Force, or flashbacks. The season only features one new flashback scene between the pair, which is surprising considering the major promotion of Christensen's return to the franchise. More scenes like this one between Obi-Wan and Anakin could have added more emotional depth to the show.
Minimal Flashbacks
As well as wanting more scenes of Christensen as Anakin, many fans were hoping for more flashbacks in general. Redditor Mickey101010 says, "I’m so p***ed we have had one clone wars flashback only." Considering the popularity of the Clone Wars animated series, it's surprising Obi-Wan Kenobi doesn't feature more flashbacks to this era.
Part of Reva's storyline also features flashback scenes to Order 66 and shows Anakin killing her youngling friends. That being said, the show would benefit from more flashbacks to add further context to Obi-Wan and Darth Vader's relationship and also to further enforce the parallels between Leia and her parents.
Reva/Third Sister
One of the most divisive aspects of Obi-Wan Kenobi is a new character, Reva, and her storyline. One reason for this is the amount of focus the character gets, with Redditor ssperry94 saying, " I feel like she gets way more screen time than any of our favorite characters."
For most fans, seeing characters such as Obi-Wan and Anakin/Vader again is the main draw of the spin-off show. A new character getting so much screentime is disappointing, as it takes away from these fan favorites. Reva may be the latest in a line of Star Wars characters who returned to the light side, but she's unfortunately not as compelling as many of the others, and her motivations feel confused at times.
Bland Locations
Many exciting planets were introduced in the Star Wars prequels, but some are disappointed by the locations used in Obi-Wan Kenobi. Redditor DoktorFreedom says "Star Wars needs to stop driving into the California desert just because it’s close and easy to film in. Oh look. More Tattooine."
Tatooine is an important location in the saga but a lot of time is spent here and in other familiar locations. With so many planets in the Star Wars universe, the spin-off series could have explored more new and unique locations. Ultimately, many of the locations used in the show are either familiar or visually uninteresting.
The Writing
Some are also disappointed by the writing and the general story of the show. Redditor bookwyrm713 states, "it’s Obi-Wan’s writing that disappoints me the most." The Redditor discusses the lost opportunity of not exploring Obi-Wan's internal traumas further and abandoning the plot where he struggles with the Force.
For a show about Obi-Wan, the character's trauma is never properly explored or dealt with. One of the most exciting possibilities about the spin-off is showing how the titular character transitioned from the man at the end of the prequel trilogy to the elderly hermit he's first introduced as in the original trilogy.
Young Princess Leia
Obi-Wan Kenobi sets up the future of Star Wars in several ways but it also contains several links to the franchise's past. Several familiar characters appear in small roles within the show but most fans didn't expect young Princess Leia to be featured as heavily as she is.
Redditor Rough_Appearance1776 is disappointed by the character's inclusion in the show with them saying, "I am sick of kids in dramatic TV/film. I don't want a quirky kid, talented as she may be, in a show delving into a damaged Obi Wan. I especially don't want that to be Leia." Obi-Wan spends a lot of the season trying to save Leia, and while the two form an endearing bond, a lot of viewers don't want it to be the focus. It's difficult for the story to truly delve into Obi-Wan's trauma while he's in the company of young Leia.
The Amount Of Episodes
With the show only being six episodes and several of these focusing on Obi-Wan's rescue of Leia, there's little time for the story to properly develop. Redditor KCKnights816 states, "I have no clue why they made this show so short! More time would allow for further development and the resolution of major plot holes."
With the show being so highly anticipated, many are disappointed to get such a short season. A longer season could have shown more of Obi-Wan's time alone and introduced some exciting new side characters for him to interact with. If the show continues, it would be great for the seasons to be longer.