Previously on Star Wars…

The first moments of Obi-Wan Kenobi, the latest entry in the Star Wars Universe premiering Friday on Disney+, catch you up with where the show is in the timeline. Ewan McGregor returns as the titular Jedi in this tale set during his time he spent hiding out on Tatooine, which is ten years after Order 66 and the end of Revenge of the Sith.

Carefully watching over a young Luke Skywalker, ensuring that he’s safe and looking for any signs he may be developing force potent abilities, Obi-Wan encounters many foes and ordeals that threaten the hermit Jedi and those he watches over. 

Tensions are high between Obi-Wan and Luke’s adoptive father Owen Lars (Joel Edgerton). Owen has not forgotten what happened with Obi-Wan’s last apprentice, so he is reluctant to let Obi-Wan spend any time with Luke. While this happens, an elite group of Empire soldiers known as the Inquisitors land on Tatooine, hunting down fleeing Jedi and any child that possesses the force. The group is led by The Grand Inquisitor (Rupert Friend) and a hot headed Inquisitor named Reva (Moses Ingram), as they search for a Jedi on Tatooine. 

Far away from Tatooine, we see events taking place on Alderaan. A young Princess Leia (Vivien Lyra Blair), is struggling with learning her royal duties and is going through a rebellious phase. Guided by her adoptive father Bail Organa (Jimmy Smits), she does her best to learn the ways of a member of royalty. That is, until she is kidnapped by the Inquisitors to lure out Obi-Wan from hiding. 

On his search for Leia, Obi-Wan meets a shady character named Haja Estree (Kumail Nanjiani), who sells information while posing as a Jedi. During an encounter with the Inquisitors, Obi-Wan learns that his former apprentice Anakin still lives; of course, he is now known as Darth Vader. Hayden Christensen is reprising the role of Anakin/Vader, foreshadowing some great moments to come. 

While the first two episodes that released weren’t spectacular, they did a great job of laying the ground work for the series as it continues, highlighting good directing by Deborah Chow. There’s great action set to the signature Star Wars score, which results in a fun start to an interesting show.

Obi-Wan Kenobi will have four more episodes released each Wednesday for the weeks to come.