Obi-Wan Kenobi Between the Trilogies
The six episodes of Obi-Wan Kenobi are patterned after the original six episodes of the Skywalker Saga.
In both Episode I and “Part I,”
there are scenes on Coruscant, Tatooine, and a forest-and-lake planet ruled by a monarchy (Naboo/Alderaan);
Obi-Wan is either on a mission to save a queen (Padmé) then tasked with raising a boy (Anakin), or tasked with protecting a boy (Luke) then on a mission to save a princess (Leia);
a Sith hunter with a double-bladed lightsaber (Maul/Reva) arrives on Tatooine, looking for Obi-Wan and one other Jedi (Qui-Gon/Nari); and
a Skywalker boy (Anakin/Luke) wears goggles and has a passion for flying.
In both Episode II and “Part II,”
Obi-Wan descends into the underworld of a grimy, neon-lit city to protect Padmé or her daughter;
refuses an illicit drug from a quirky hustler and gets intel from a local (Dexter/Haja Estree);
discovers a fraudulent scheme carried out by a rogue/fake Jedi (Sifo-Dyas/Haja);
gets into a tussle with a bounty hunter (Jango Fett/Vect Nokru); and
meets a clone of Jango Fett.
In both Episode III and “Part III,”
robotic arms put Anakin into his Vader suit;
the need for order is cited (by Palpatine/Freck) as justification for Imperial force;
a woman (Padmé/Tala) describes her realization she chose the wrong side;
Obi-Wan evades capture thanks to someone working to undermine the Empire from within (Bail/Tala);
people shelter and smuggle hunted Jedi;
either Obi-Wan or Anakin sets the other on fire; and
Obi-Wan wants to commune with Qui-Gon’s spirit while grappling with Anakin’s presumed death/unexpected survival.
In both Episode IV and “Part IV,”
Obi-Wan infiltrates an Imperial base to rescue Leia, who is being interrogated for the location of a Rebel base by someone (Tarkin/Reva) who insists Obi-Wan is dead;
the Imperial base is under-protected because an attack is not expected, though Obi-Wan is almost apprehended by two stormtroopers who hear a noise;
Leia’s rescue costs someone’s life (Obi-Wan/Wade) and a tracker is placed on the fleeing ship.
In both Episode V and “Part V,”
the Empire besieges a Rebel base after it is exposed by a spy droid;
a ship fleeing a Star Destroyer has a malfunctioning hyperdrive;
someone (Vader/Obi-Wan) tells an enemy (Luke/Reva) that by working together they can defeat a common foe (Palpatine/Vader); and
when Obi-Wan does not help someone (Luke/Reva) confront Vader, that person is maimed and left for dead.
In both Episode VI and “Part VI,”
the person who lost to Vader in the previous episode (Luke/Reva) reappears on Tatooine, shrouded in a black robe;
the hero (Luke/Obi-Wan) tells an upset Leia that he must leave the Rebels because Vader is nearby looking for him;
Palpatine questions whether Vader’s feelings for the hero compromise his loyalty;
the hero talks to the spirit of his dead master (Obi-Wan/Qui-Gon) about possibly killing Vader;
Vader says “Anakin is gone”/“It is too late for me,” to which the hero responds, “Then my father/friend is truly dead”;
the hero maims Vader but won’t kill him;
the hero sees Anakin’s face behind Vader’s mask, and the ghost/s of his old master/s in the final scene.
Obi-Wan Kenobi is not only a narrative bridge between the trilogies, but a poetic one.
EXPLORE FURTHER…
Characters: Anakin Skywalker / Bail Organa / Darth Vader / Freck / Haja Estree / Leia Organa / Luke Skywalker / Nari / Obi-Wan Kenobi / Qui-Gon Jinn / Reva / Tala
Films: Episode I: The Phantom Menace / Episode II: Attack of the Clones / Episode III: Revenge of the Sith / Episode IV: A New Hope / Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back / Episode VI: Return of the Jedi
Shows: Obi-Wan Kenobi
GO DEEPER INTO THE ARCHIVES…
Concepts: rhyme schemes
READ MORE ABOUT…
Follow The Jedi Archives on…