This year's Obi-Wan Kenobi is the latest Disney+ show to conclude set in the Star Wars universe and it's clear that this is such an integral piece of storytelling for the wider galaxy far, far away. There are multiple links to the expanded canon within the show that indicates how important the narrative is when being brought together with other shows, books, comics, films, and games.
Some of these connections tease upcoming narratives, elevate previously told tales or perhaps act as fun easter eggs for fans to spot. There are also some answers as to who might have survived Order 66 and a promise that upcoming adventures will be just as exciting.
Tera Sinube
Tera Sinube was a beloved character from The Clone Wars animated series. As one of the older Jedi in the Order, he was often overlooked. But in one particular moving arc, he mentored Ahsoka Tano and taught her something new about patience and finding a new angle to a problem
It's not the connection that fans would have hoped for, but it was revealed that Tera Sinube did not survive the purge of the Jedi and Order 66. His corpse was found by Kenobi in the tombs of the Inquisitor's lair, alongside countless other dead Jedi. It's a tense and heartbreaking moment.
Vader's Broken Mask
The showdown between Kenobi and Darth Vader was a replay of the battle that happened on Mustafar with Anakin. Vader even managed to gain the high ground, potentially getting the redemption in combat that he was looking for before he was ultimately defeated.
Interestingly, Kenobi slashes across his mask, revealing part of Vader's face and giving him the scar that would later be seen when he takes his mask off. This also happened in Rebels, with Ahsoka Tano damaging the other side of his mask. It's quite poetic that the Master and the Padawan both made the same move, but on opposite sides of the iconic helmet.
The Inquisitors
The Inquisitors aren't original to Obi-Wan Kenobi. In fact, they've appeared across plenty of Star Wars stories, with the various brothers and sisters of this dark Sith-based Order, featured in a range of sinister narratives. Jedi: Fallen Order, Rebels, and the Star Wars main comic line are just some examples.
The Grand Inquisitor in particular was a major threat to the Rebels and was ultimately bested by Kanan Jarrus and Ezra Bridger. Although he might have been revived in a comic later, for a brief time, his story in Kenobi only sets up the antagonist that he will one day become; much stronger than he ever was.
Fortress Inquisitorius
The Inquisitors might have been seen many times over, but Fortress Inquisitorius was a unique location for the Jedi: Fallen Order video game. Players get to visit this dangerous Sith temple and re-enact a similar sequence that's seen in Kenobi.
While the tombs are never found, the underwater areas are used in an action moment that parallels Obi-Wan's use of the sea. The model itself for the Fortress is identical, and there are some familiar areas seen throughout the show that gamers would have already explored.
Quinlan Vos
Not everyone knows but Quinlan Vos was a mainstay of the expanded universe, with Dark Disciple and The Clone Wars becoming notable stories involving the Jedi. He was an unpredictable force that took the Jedi code to a different place, even feeding into his emotions in a way the Council wouldn't approve of.
Fans assumed that Vos might be dead, but he actually survived Order 66. Kenobi revealed that Vos had been saved and was still out there in the galaxy somewhere. That could very much be a hint that the warrior could return, perhaps even on screen someday.
Birth Of The Rebels
The Rebels and the Resistance started forming in the early days of the Empire and at the start of Kenobi though their influence was fairly limited. The Empire had such a tight hold on the galaxy that it seemed impossible to imagine anyone standing up to that immense force.
But there were hints towards the formation of the Rebels, with a couple of familiar safehouses used to rescue Kenobi and Leia. Characters like Haja and Tala Durith might be a part of the origins of some Rebel cells, as they are inspirational heroes that help to turn the tide, day by day.
Learning From Force Ghosts
Force ghosts can be found throughout Star Wars lore, and there has been a deeper exploration of them within the confines of the expanded universe. Very rarely are Force ghosts actually seen in the main Star Wars saga though and Qui-Gon Jinn's return was a surprising one.
The finale of Kenobi indicated that Ben would be traveling with his former Master, to learn the way of the Force in a manner he never had before. The secrets of the Jedi have been researched in the animated series especially, with Yoda gaining knowledge about the ghosts in particular, which he could attempt to pass on to Kenobi.
You're My Only Hope
The meeting of Kenobi and Leia is a perfect setup for A New Hope. The character reaches out to Ben Kenobi stating that he is her only hope in a dire situation. That idea was only built based on the trust the two have with one another, because of this adventure.
It was an unexpected component of the show, but there is another payoff too. In A New Hope Luke briefly mentions that he is aware of the old man known as Ben Kenobi. That's because he meets him in Kenobi, thus bringing both arcs full circle and foreshadowing the future.
A Clone Trooper
There have been so many variations of the Clone trooper across the Star Wars timeline and shows like The Bad Batch, have investigated what happened to these soldiers once the war was over. For many they were left forgotten, perhaps overturning their prime directive to execute Order 66.
There is a Clone featured briefly in Kenobi, with the face of Jango Fett, linking back to the prequel trilogy. It's an interesting concept to bring in a war veteran like this and a nod toward other Clones like Captain Rex, who are finding their way in the new world.
Obi-Wan's Costume
When Luke and Obi-Wan meet for the first time, he's sporting a familiar costume. It's not one that's been seen on screen before, as the Jedi is often wearing darker clothing. However, the white costume and even the goggles are a nod to Issue 15 of Star Wars from Marvel Comics.
In the issue, the front cover itself includes this exact look, with Kenobi living on Tatooine much like he is in the show. Everything is always connected in the galaxy far, far away, even down to what the characters are wearing which is an incredible example of attention to detail.