So You Just Watched Kenobi?
**Spoiler Warning**
The Obi-wan Kenobi show picks up 10 years after seeing the famous lightsaber duel between Obi-wan and his apprentice-turned Darth Vader, Anakin Skywalker, in Revenge of the Sith. It also is 9 years before Star Wars: A New Hope, where the world was first introduced to Darth Vader in 1977. Until recently, the events during the 19 years between Revenge of the Sith and A New Hope have been relatively unknown.
In 2014, the animated series Star Wars: Rebels was released, giving us a look into the height of the Galactic Empire and the rise of the rebellion. The show also introduced us to The Inquisitors. They are force-sensitive individuals trained in the dark side of the force to hunt down the remaining Jedi. Led by Vader, the Inquisitors were ruthless. Their goal was to capture Jedi or force-sensitive children to train in the dark side to carry out the will of Vader and Emperor Palpatine. Since the release of Rebels, The Inquisitors have been seen in many different mediums within the Star Wars expanded universe. Most recently, in the video game Jedi: Fallen Order. With the recent announcement of the sequel to Jedi: Fallen Order, the next game, Jedi: Survivor, takes place during the same year as Kenobi. There is hope that Jedi: Fallen Order's protagonist, Cal Kestis, and his adorable little droid, BD-1, will appear in the Kenobi series.
Are we going to see Vader?
It has been confirmed that Darth Vader will appear on-screen during Kenobi. This will be Vader's first on-screen appearance since 2016's Rogue One, where we saw Vader's epic hallway scene as he tried to board the Tantiv IV, which led to the opening scene of Star Wars: A New Hope. For most Star Wars fans, the appearance of Vader on the screen will be more exciting than seeing Obi-wan again.
It has been 10 years since Anakin Skywalker made his transition to Vader. A period of hate, suffering, and frequent pain. After suffering defeat from his former master Obi-wan, and the loss of limbs and almost his life, Vader completed his transformation from human to mostly machine. To quote Obi-wan: "[Anakin is] more machine now than man." The young little Ani that we remember is all but gone. The cybernetic suit that gives him his famous breathing keeps him alive and drives him to the edge of insanity. The suit was a specific creation by his new Master, Emperor Palpatine. It is full of needles that poke and prod him to keep him focused on the dark side. To fuel his anger and keep him powerful. While giving him the strength to stay alive, his suit also fuels his hatred. When we see Vader appear in Kenobi, you should be afraid. Obi-wan should be frightened. Anakin was one of the most powerful Jedi and is now full of hate and rage. Nothing will stand in his way.
What Do I Hope to See in Kenobi?
The weeks leading up to the finale of Kenobi are like the weeks leading up to Christmas. I get to stay up late, write my Christmas list, and cross my fingers that I get my Red Rider BB Gun.
My Red Rider is an epic rematch between Kenobi and Vader. We have already caught a few glimpses of the emotional state that Obi-wan has been in for the last 10 years. 10 years since Obi-wan last saw his apprentice burning in the lava on Mustafar. 10 years where Kenobi has had to live with the guilt that he might have been why Anakin became Darth Vader. 10 years of living in seclusion on the sands of Tatooine. 10 years since the fall of the Republic, the rise of the Empire, and the death of most members of the Jedi order. Kenobi's mental state is destroyed, and when he learns that Anakin lived and had become Lord Vader, his heart is crushed. To see Obi-wan face off against Vader will be an epic sequence of good vs. evil and hate vs. compassion.
Fans were surprised to see young Leia appear in the first two episodes. That was a treat, to say the least. We were given a shot of young Luke in the trailer but never did any of us think we might get to see Leia.
I hope to see other characters from the Star Wars universe make appearances: Mace Windu, Qui Gon Jinn, clone commander Cody, Ahsoka Tano, Emperor Palpatine, and even Jabba the Hutt? While these are all on my wish list, there is still a chance we could see a few of them make an appearance.
Hope
Star Wars is all about hope, family, and community. It's been 45 years since its original release. 45 years of inspiring hope and inspiring the next generation. The hope of a better future, change, and not to back down from those who oppress others has been inspiring to many. I was 9 when my parents first introduced me to Star Wars. It's been a massive part of my life, and something my son is now obsessed with. Seeing Star Wars through his eyes for the first time has been so cool! The franchise has done a fantastic job of remaining fresh and telling new stories of some of our favorite characters and introducing new ones. Above everything else, my hope is that Kenobi will inspire a new generation of fans that will continue to spread the joy of the force to the rest of the galaxy.