7 Things an Obi-Wan STAR WARS Show Needs to Succeed

After years of speculation, it is now seemingly confirmed that Ewan McGregor will indeed return as Obi-Wan Kenobi at last, in his own streaming series on Disney+. Although it was at first rumored to be a movie, the box office disappointment of Solo put a kibosh on any new “A Star Wars Story” films. But it seems those stories are just finding a new home on the Disney+ streaming service. This is good news, as it means we’ll be getting several hours of new Obi-Wan content instead of just two.

So what can an Obi-Wan series tell us about the character that six movies didn’t already tell us? Well, keep in mind all those films were about Obi-Wan’s relationship to his fallen apprentice Anakin Skywalker. A solo series entirely divorced from the whole Darth Vader situation would be the perfect vehicle to explore who Obi-Wan Kenobi really is outside of the context of his relationship to his fallen padawan. Here are seven essential things that a proper Obi-Wan Kenobi solo series should include in order to succeed.

Keep All The Present Day Action On Tatooine

While Star Wars films usually feature multiple worlds, an Obi-Wan Kenobi standalone series should emphasize his time during his two decade exile on Tatooine. I think if we find out that Old Ben, as he is known now, was going back and forth from Tatooine and other worlds in the period between Revenge of the Sith and A New Hope, it’s kind of a cheat.

We know that Tatooine has plenty of different species living on it to give it a unique flavor, and the fact that Obi-Wan is “trapped” on this dustball of a planet should be a focal point to the tragedy of his story. There is another way to see more of the galaxy than Tatooine on this show, which leads us to our next idea for this series…

Use Flashbacks

Obi-Wan’s exile on Tatooine should be peppered with plenty of flashbacks to his life before everything went to hell. So much of Obi-Wan’s life revolves around Anakin in the films, it would be interesting to see his what his life was like before the Skywalkers entered it. You could also flashback to different adventures during his heyday with the Jedi Order. Some flashbacks could go to the Clone Wars era (with a wee bit of digital de-aging), and some to his childhood, presumably with a different actor.

The flashbacks shouldn’t be too extensive, just enough to give us an idea who Obi-Wan was as young Jedi Padawan, growing up in the capital of the Republic under the guidance of Qui-Gon Jinn and Yoda, revered Jedi Masters. This would provide a stark contrast to his life today, on the planet Luke would later describe as the furthest distance from the “bright center of the universe.” And if we do go back in time and visit a campaign of General Kenobi’s during the Clone Wars? Maybe give fans our first live-action version of Ahsoka Tano! Now that would be the cherry on top of the galactic sundae.

Make It A Western

It seems each of these Star Wars spin-off projects each have a specific flavor to them. The upcoming Mandalorian series seems to be a Western, but could Obi-Wan’s series also be influenced by that genre? If we assume the show will take place during his two decade exile on Tatooine, then Obi-Wan is basically a loner looking for redemption while in dusty isolation. Given that fact, it would be a shame if it weren’t a Western. If The Mandalorian is a “Man With No Name” style Western, maybe Obi-Wan should be more of the Unforgiven kind. Some recent Marvel comics have explored this idea, but we’d love to see it played out in live-action.

Explain His Motivations In A New Hope

When we meet “Old Ben” in A New Hope, Obi-Wan is very determined to get off the planet of Tatooine, and take a young Luke Skywalker with him. But why is he so certain that he should be the one to train him, after the disaster with Anakin’s training? It seems there was something–perhaps a mission where he found his purpose again–that renewed confidence in his own abilities to guide those in need. The Obi-Wan series could go into detail about just what this mission was, and how “Obi-Wan got his groove back.”

Let Old Ben Have A Love Interest For Once

The original Star Wars films feature not even a hint of Obi-Wan’s romantic life. (We’re not counting the fact that  Clone Wars featured an Obi-Wan love interest named Satine). It makes sense of course, as the prequel trilogy make a big deal out of the fact that Jedi Knights are expressly forbidden for making any attachments of any kind, a rule Anakin Skywalker very much broke. But at the point we find old Obi-Wan once again, the Jedi Order is in ruins, and so are its archaic rules. Let Obi-Wan find some sort of love on his solo adventure, even if that love is ultimately doomed, as we know it must be.

Explain Obi-Wan’s Reputation With Tatooine Locals

So just how did Obi-Wan receive the reputation from the locals on Tatooine as “a crazy old wizard?” And aside from dropping a kid off at his front doorstep, why does Luke’s Uncle Owen seem to hate Obi-Wan so much? Doesn’t it feel like there’s an unknown story there, maybe about how the local farmers wanted protection from the Sand People from the ex-Jedi, and Obi-Wan’s refusal to cooperate led to disaster? It seems like Obi-Wan’s relationship to the residents of Tatooine should be the heart of a solo series about the character.

Keep The Empire Out Of It

See these guys up above? Yeah, they shouldn’t really be in this show. A New Hope established that, for the most part, the Empire doesn’t care much about that ball of rock called Tatooine. So some kind of local problem Obi-Wan has while living on the planet should not draw their attention. In fact, I say we keep the Empire out of the whole thing, aside from a few casual references, and maybe a stormtrooper in the background in a crowd scene somewhere. This movie shouldn’t be about Obi-Wan vs. The Empire. Now, Obi-wan vs. Jabba the Hutt? That could be interesting.

Featured Image: Lucasfilm