8 Things You Should Know Before Watching Obi-Wan Kenobi

Despite being one the most well-known Jedi in all of Star Wars, there are several things you might not know if you are only familiar with the movies. Here are eight things you should know before watching the new Obi-Wan Kenobi series on Disney+.

8 Things You Should Know About Obi-Wan Before Watching the Obi-Wan Kenobi series on Disney+

1. The Emperor Used Inquisitors to Hunted Jedi Survivors

Shortly after the Revenge of the Sith, Emperor Palpatine creates the Inquisitorius to hunt down surviving Jedi. Led by Darth Vader and The Grand Inquisitor, the Inquisitors also abducted Force-sensitive children and dealt with political dissidents. They are often cruel and sadistic in their pursuit of Jedi. Based on the trailer, these Inquisitors might be hunting Obi-Wan, Luke, or even Leia.

2. Obi-Wan was Rebellious as a Youngling

While Obi-Wan became a dedicated and responsible Jedi, he had a reputation for breaking the rules as a youngling. About thirteen years before The Phantom Menace, Yoda decided the best way to deal with young Obi-Wan was to give him a Master that was just as rebellious. The only way to disobey an unorthodox Master like Qui-Gon Jinn was to follow the rules. Kenobi’s rebellious childhood could impact how he trains a young Luke in the ways of the Force in the Obi-Wan Kenobi series.

3. Kenobi Is Experienced in Dealing with the Criminal Underworld

Throughout his life, Obi-Wan had several run-ins with the Hutt Clan, the Pyke Syndicate, the Hondo Ohnaka pirate gang, and notorious bounty hunter Cad Bane. He even faked his death and went undercover as a bounty hunter to uncover a plot to kidnap Chancellor Palpatine. If the series is set on Tatooine, Kenobi could likely cross paths with any number of unsavory beings.

4. Darth Maul Lives

Perhaps shocking, but Darth Maul does not die in The Phantom Menace. Fueled by hate, he survives in the outer rim for more than a decade. Eventually, he takes control of Mandalore, wins the Darksaber, and runs one of the largest crime syndicates in the galaxy. Although the criminal organization falls apart and he loses control of both Mandalore and the Darksaber, Maul forms a new crime syndicate, Crimson Dawn.

Although anything is possible, a Maul cameo seems extremely unlikely since he believes Kenobi died during Order 66. Maul eventually learns Kenobi is still alive, but not until seven years after the events of Obi-Wan Kenobi. It would take some serious writing or a major retcon for him to appear in the Obi-Wan Kenobi series. If he does appear, it will likely be in connection with Crimson Dawn.

5. Kenobi Had Many Encounters with Mandalorians

The story of Mandalore is a complex tragedy full of war, betrayal, bloody revolutions, and death, and Obi-Wan has seen some of that history firsthand. Along with his master, Qui-Gon Jinn, he served as a peacekeeper during the Mandalorian Civil War, about ten years before The Phantom Menace. Later, he went on several missions to Mandalore during The Clone Wars.

6. Obi-Wan Fell in Love

While assigned to Mandalore during their civil war, Kenobi formed a close bond with Duchess Satine Kryze. Only teenagers at the time, they eventually fell in love. Satine also gave Obi-Wan the name Ben, which he used while evading Mandalorian insurgents.

Despite their feelings for each other, Satine became the leader of Mandalore after the civil war while Obi-Wan stayed with the Jedi Order. They only confessed their love for each other many years later during The Clone Wars, with Obi-Wan telling her he would have stayed if she only asked.

7. Kenobi Almost Left the Jedi Order

Although Obi-Wan is often considered the ideal Jedi, he actually thought about leaving the Order twice. The first was after he fell in love with Satine. The second is a few years after taking Anakin as his Padawan.

Overwhelmed by the pressure of having his life decided for him from such a young age, Anakin confided in his master that he thought about leaving the order. Worried about where that path would take him, Kenobi pledged to protect him from the dark side even if it meant leaving the Jedi. However, Anakin, and ultimately Obi-Wan, stayed.

8. Maul Murders Satine in Front of Obi-Wan

After taking over Mandalore in The Clone Wars, Maul learned of Satine and Obi-Wan’s history. Seeking revenge, Maul lays a trap for Kenobi and ends up killing Satine with the Darksaber in front of him. Maul then imprisons Obi-Wan, planning to torture him for years. However, Satine’s estranged sister Bo-Katan helps Kenobi escape. Yep, the same Bo-Katan from The Mandalorian.

What Can We Expect from Obi-Wan in This Series?

The Obi-Wan we see in this series may be quite different from the Jedi in the Original Trilogy or the Prequels. He could easily hold himself responsible for Anakin’s fall to the dark. Plus, he could still be processing the death of Satine and nearly the entire Jedi Order. He might even disconnect from the Force altogether, like Luke when we first see him in The Last Jedi.

 

When Does Obi-Wan Kenobi Take Place?

Set in 9 BBY, Obi-Wan Kenobi takes place approximately ten years after Revenge of the Sith and nine years before A New Hope in a mostly unexplored period of the Star Wars timeline. The only other thing close to this time is Solo: A Star Wars Story, which takes place about a year before the Kenobi series.

Obi-Wan Kenobi is 45 years old and Anakin Skywalker, now Darth Vader, is 39. While we only expect to see Luke, he and Leia are 10. Although we don’t expect to see them, Lando is around 34, Han is 23, and Chewbacca is 191. We could see Emperor Palpatine, who is 73.

Where Does Obi-Wan Kenobi Fit with the Other Disney+ Star Wars Series?

In terms of the other Disney+ series, Obi-Wan Kenobi takes place eighteen years before The Mandalorian and The Book of Boba Fett. Andor, which comes out later this year, will take place approximately five years after the Obi-Wan Kenobi series.

Boba Fett is in his early twenties, so a cameo isn’t impossible. The Mandalorian, Din Djarin, is a teenager and a cameo seems doubtful. Unlikely, but Bo-Katan could appear in the series as well. Her exact age is unknown, but she is in her late 20s or early 30s. Also improbable, but Cassian Andor is 17.

Since some of the series takes place on Tatooine, a cameo by Amy Sedaris’ sharp-witted mechanic Peli Motto isn’t out of the question. Given their history, bounty hunter Cad Bane could also appear.

Other potential cameos from the Star Wars saga include Jabba the Hutt, Yoda, Emperor Palpatine, Hondo Ohnaka, Qui-Gon Jinn, Commander Cody, and Ahsoka Tano. Except for Jabba, they all have a long history with Obi-Wan.

When Does Obi-Wan Kenobi Come Out?

The first two episodes of Obi-Wan Kenobi come out Friday, May 27th on Disney+. The remaining episodes drop each Wednesday through June 22nd.

Ewan McGregor reprises his role as Obi-Wan Kenobi, with Joel Edgerton, Bonnie Piesse, Jimmy Smits, James Earl Jones, and Christensen also returning from the Prequels.

Moses Ingram stars as the Force-sensitive Imperial Inquisitor Reva. Rupert Friend plays The Grand Inquisitor, while Sung Kang plays the Fifth Brother. The cast also includes Kumail Nanjiani, Indira Varma, O’Shea Jackson, Jr., Simone Kessel, and Benny Safdie in undisclosed roles.

The original release date for the Obi-Wan Kenobi series was Wednesday, May 25th, the 45th Anniversary of Star Wars: A New Hope. However, Lucasfilm and Disney+ changed the release date to coincide with Star Wars Celebration Anaheim.