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Honestly I think the first two episodes were great.
Really nice work!
“Remember, the Force will be with you. Always.”
I’m ready to have some fun.
Just watched the premiere and so far very disappointed with the production quality of this series.
Peace is a lie
There is only passion…
Honestly I think the first two episodes were great.
Spoilers:
Although bringing Leia into the story might be contrived, I think it is worth it for the character interactions. Seeing young Leia and Obi-Wan together is fun to see, and it expands on the character relationships in an interesting way. Would I have written the show this way? No, but I’m okay with the set up and can have fun with the story they’ve decided to tell.
My least favorite thing is definitely the Inquisitors. Honestly, they should’ve just given them all helmets and the bad acting and make-up would no longer be a problem. If there are any fan edits of this series, I would definitely like to see their scenes trimmed up and some put helmets on them if some fx wizard could manage it.
I kind of don’t like the way the Inquisitors fight and bicker, but on the other hand, it kind of exemplifies the idea of the Sith inevitably being focused on taking each other down, and why the Rule of Two was invented.
I really enjoyed the episodes.
Spoilers:
I loved when Kenobi was talking to Leia about her mom and she didn’t know. Then we see her real father in a bacta tank. I really feel sorry for Leia and Luke. Also, when Kenobi found out about Anakin was really good, great reaction from Ewan McGregor.
I’ve been so burned by Star Wars stuff recently that I’m just happy for a Star Wars show that is approaching its story in the way that it is.
It may not be the plot or production value I would have expected or even wanted, but its measured storytelling and solid character work is all I’ve been asking for from this franchise. I like that the drama and action is derived from intersecting character motivations (and they feel like characters, not templates!), I like that Kenobi’s psychology serves as the personal, thematic throughline. It’s more engaging than the pulpy, trope-driven Favreau shows and more emotionally interested than Filoni’s fables.
It’s just good TV, perhaps in a cultural moment with an abundance of great TV, but it’s solid work.
And this is Star Wars. It’s Obi-Wan! I care more than I’d often admit, but I do enjoy these actors and this “lore” enough that competent work within it makes me happy.
The Inquisitors were definitely the hardest part to get onboard with, but The Third Sister is compelling enough by the end of those two episodes. You really get a feel for why she is the way she is, and they haven’t even explained it yet. It’ll be interesting to see her aggressive campaign cross over with the Vader/Kenobi feud. She’s out of her depth there, and not [just in] her skills and ambition.
I wouldn’t have had Leia in this show at all, but she was fun here. I enjoyed seeing Obi-Wan connect with her a bit, and it makes all the sense for her to be the only thing to draw him out. I kinda wished Obi-Wan had been more reminded of Anakin with Leia, rather than Padme. Leia’s snarky, fiery spirit feels more like her father’s thing. Luke if anyone was more like Padme between the two.
not a Jedi apologist or a Jedi hater but a secret third thing
Loved the first two episodes.
Like NFB, I thought Obi-Wan was comparing Leia to Anakin at first before he elaborated, but given how much of the rest of the show is about Anakin, I suppose it’s good to have a moment for the least-appreciated member of the prequel trio, especially since Leia does go on to become a political leader and aggressive-negotiator like her mother. Young Leia is adorable and I love how savage she is, especially when interacting with Obi-Wan; definitely gives the show more energy. Ewan is as entertaining as ever. I particularly enjoyed the scene where he confronted Haja, and of course all of the long shots of him looking sad. I also really enjoyed Alderaan, and Bail, and the homeless Clone Veteran, and Owen, and Obi-Wan’s nightmares, and the Jawa swindling him, … etc.
The Inquisitors are pretty daft and stiff looking, but that sort of works given that they’re not supposed to be the true big baddies like Vader or Palpatine, just Dark Side interns - doubly so with Reva since she’s got that Kylo Ren insecurity. Very interested to see how well they execute Vader next week, what with JEJ presumably not coming back (they would’ve said if he was).
After watching these two episodes…
I went back to watch Alec Guinness’ performance as Kenobi when Leia’s message played for him and Luke. His reaction to the message hits different for me now, than it did before. I love that he knows her personally and not just as Princess Leia of Alderaan or Luke’s sister.
I love watching this and how they fill in these characters backstories, I’m excited to see what’s next.
Hugely disappointed with this show.
Spoilers:
the beginning started out giving me some hope for this series. The “purge” scenes were handled better than in ROTS, however brief they were. Then we got to the inquisitors. Jesus, they looked worse than a cheap cosplay group. The Grand inquisitor was quite intimidating in the animated series, but here he just looked like Mr potato head dressed in ill fitting black costume. We have already seen his race in ROTS, and the animated character is based upon that race, so why does he look so bad in this? Then the acting for the most part is horrendous, the inquisitors being the worse offenders. So many scenes were ridiculous. They catch the jedi in the bar, the sister goes to cut him down with her sabre only to be stopped by the GI’s force use mid swing. But the saber is cutting into his shoulder. So why the hell didn’t he just move out the way? Instead he stands there and gives out this pathetic whimper and only runs off when the GI force pushes her away. And he gets away so easily. The fifth brother just basically stands there doing nothing.
Then we come to Obi-Wan. His introduction was nothing more than a rip off of Rey in The Force Awakens. She works hard scrubbing scrap she has collected, Ben working as a butcher. Rey goes back to her “home” , rehydrates the food , seeing it inflate, then sits outside and ponders, then is interrupted by the sound of BB-8. Ben goes back to his “home” , rehydrates the food, seeing it inflate and he sits outside and ponders then is interrupted by the sound of a Jawa. Then we get the “oh it was ben who got Luke the skyhopper model” moment. Jesus, not everything we see in the OT has to be bloody explained. When the Jedi asks Ben for help he refuses and it results in his death. Now all those who complain that “that wasn’t Luke in the sequels” dare not think this characterisation of obi-wan is any different. Because it’s not. Both are broken men. Both lost faith in the Jedi. Both refuse to help until persuaded by another party. But i guess they will called it " character building" or some such, for obi-wan because this isn’t the sequels. Yet he took pity and helped out the damn clone trooper later on?
The bickering with the inquisitors gets on your nerves after a while, especially with such bad acting.
Then we get the whole leia bit. These bits were a breath of fresh air after all that. the child who plays Leia was good. But the forest scenes looked like it was dragged from a standard US TV show. Very bad cinematography there.
So Ben is persuaded to go and look for leia, knowing the inquisitors would be after him. So, what does he do? Does he wear the same outfit that he is wearing on Tatooine? No, he decides the best way to not stand out is to dress like a bloody jedi. Really?The first part of EP 2 is nothing more than fluff. he wasn’t interested in the jedi before yet he is suddenly excited about another jedi being on this planet? Turns out out be a con man. We see this guy happily con a woman and her child out of money. but later he just helps obi-wan? And Ewan keeps slipping into an american accent in places.
Now we get to the rooftop scenes. The worse part of this was the Sisters rooftop jumping. My god, that was laughably badly executed. You’d never guess she was on a wire 😉 And finally we get to the reveal. She tells him that anakin is still alive. But, wait a minute… How does she know that obi-wan thinks anakin is dead? That whole scene just seemed like it was rushed in there just so we could get the anakin reveal in the end, with the super wide head. Obi-Wan’s realisation that Anakin is still alive could have been handled so much better, but they screwed it, just for the Duff Duff moment ending ( UK peeps will probably get the eastenders reference here)
This suffers with the same problems BOBF did. And with them showing obi vs jango in the opening recap montage in ep 1, i’m half expecting Boba Fett to turn up at some point.
Hopefully things will get better. I’m going to stick with it until the end. But, after BOBF, i’m not expecting it to deliver anything more than a nostalgia trip for prequel fans with OT bits thrown in.
Currently I think it’s
“Get over violence, madness and death? What else is there?”
Also known as Mr. Liquid Jungle.
Hugely disappointed with this show.
Spoilers:
the beginning started out giving me some hope for this series. The “purge” scenes were handled better than in ROTS, however brief they were. Then we got to the inquisitors. Jesus, they looked worse than a cheap cosplay group. The Grand inquisitor was quite intimidating in the animated series, but here he just looked like Mr potato head dressed in ill fitting black costume. We have already seen his race in ROTS, and the animated character is based upon that race, so why does he look so bad in this? Then the acting for the most part is horrendous, the inquisitors being the worse offenders. So many scenes were ridiculous. They catch the jedi in the bar, the sister goes to cut him down with her sabre only to be stopped by the GI’s force use mid swing. But the saber is cutting into his shoulder. So why the hell didn’t he just move out the way? Instead he stands there and gives out this pathetic whimper and only runs off when the GI force pushes her away. And he gets away so easily. The fifth brother just basically stands there doing nothing.
Then we come to Obi-Wan. His introduction was nothing more than a rip off of Rey in The Force Awakens. She works hard scrubbing scrap she has collected, Ben working as a butcher. Rey goes back to her “home” , rehydrates the food , seeing it inflate, then sits outside and ponders, then is interrupted by the sound of BB-8. Ben goes back to his “home” , rehydrates the food, seeing it inflate and he sits outside and ponders then is interrupted by the sound of a Jawa. Then we get the “oh it was ben who got Luke the skyhopper model” moment. Jesus, not everything we see in the OT has to be bloody explained. When the Jedi asks Ben for help he refuses and it results in his death. Now all those who complain that “that wasn’t Luke in the sequels” dare not think this characterisation of obi-wan is any different. Because it’s not. Both are broken men. Both lost faith in the Jedi. Both refuse to help until persuaded by another party. But i guess they will called it " character building" or some such, for obi-wan because this isn’t the sequels. Yet he took pity and helped out the damn clone trooper later on?
The bickering with the inquisitors gets on your nerves after a while, especially with such bad acting.
Then we get the whole leia bit. These bits were a breath of fresh air after all that. the child who plays Leia was good. But the forest scenes looked like it was dragged from a standard US TV show. Very bad cinematography there.
So Ben is persuaded to go and look for leia, knowing the inquisitors would be after him. So, what does he do? Does he wear the same outfit that he is wearing on Tatooine? No, he decides the best way to not stand out is to dress like a bloody jedi. Really?The first part of EP 2 is nothing more than fluff. he wasn’t interested in the jedi before yet he is suddenly excited about another jedi being on this planet? Turns out out be a con man. We see this guy happily con a woman and her child out of money. but later he just helps obi-wan? And Ewan keeps slipping into an american accent in places.
Now we get to the rooftop scenes. The worse part of this was the Sisters rooftop jumping. My god, that was laughably badly executed. You’d never guess she was on a wire 😉 And finally we get to the reveal. She tells him that anakin is still alive. But, wait a minute… How does she know that obi-wan thinks anakin is dead? That whole scene just seemed like it was rushed in there just so we could get the anakin reveal in the end, with the super wide head. Obi-Wan’s realisation that Anakin is still alive could have been handled so much better, but they screwed it, just for the Duff Duff moment ending ( UK peeps will probably get the eastenders reference here)
This suffers with the same problems BOBF did. And with them showing obi vs jango in the opening recap montage in ep 1, i’m half expecting Boba Fett to turn up at some point.
Hopefully things will get better. I’m going to stick with it until the end. But, after BOBF, i’m not expecting it to deliver anything more than a nostalgia trip for prequel fans with OT bits thrown in.
Couldn’t agree more.
The leaked plot line gave me the impression that they got everything right from a narrative standpoint but alas watching it now the execution couldn’t have been more wrong.
I hate that I’m saying this but so far the series gives off this very tacky feeling that the cynic in me interprets as a quick, hastily made cash grab (sorry to say). The Andor trailer only makes this more baffling to me (strange how an unknown B list character gets a film level production, but The biggest and most anticipated heavy weight come back gets relegated to a B list backlot gig).
From the set design, Costume design ( Even Vader wasn’t spared) lighting (sometimes SNL skit level flat) , acting (at times even Ewan sounds like he’s putting on an impression, and other times sounding like his character from Halston trying to put on a British accent) and lazy writing sprinkled through (everything so happens at the right place just at the right time.)
Even the music is just the same theme by John Williams played over and over again with some generic synth in between.
I think this series could be saved with fan editing but I just hate that it has to come down to the fans…again🙄
Peace is a lie
There is only passion…
Show really just needs to be Obi and Vader. Remove Reva and the Grand Inquisitor almost entirely if possible.
Tbf everything but the first 10 minutes (including recap) was a disappointment.
I don’t understand why the production quality is so low as well. What the!?
Disney needs to start hiring proper storytellers. This production should have been written by the Breaking Bad writers, directed by Roland Emmerich and envisioned by George Lucas. Then you get a-class storytelling, an eye for cinematography and action and the Star Wars spirit.
This shit needs to be fanedited like it’s a hamburger that fell on the floor.
WHAT HAVE I DONE?
The Ancient Lore
Kenobi: A Star Wars Story
Harry Potter Revisited
Game of Thrones Film Edits
Titanic Restructured
… and more.
And also, the acting… besides Ewan and Owen actor this was pathetic. I’ve seen better acting in an epileptic whorehouse (if you know you know).
WHAT HAVE I DONE?
The Ancient Lore
Kenobi: A Star Wars Story
Harry Potter Revisited
Game of Thrones Film Edits
Titanic Restructured
… and more.
Alright, after having slept on it more, here are more of my thoughts…
Things I liked:
Things bad:
Anyway, everyone who wasn’t excited about this was right to be so, this just about met (and a little less) my generous expectations. I’m just happy to see stuff like this with a character I like.
not a Jedi apologist or a Jedi hater but a secret third thing
directed by Roland Emmerich
The conspiracy nut who believes that Shakespeare didn’t write Shakespeare and whitewashed the Stonewall Riots? No thank you.
Kenobi seems just fine. It’s inessential, like every piece of media in this franchise since 1983. I wouldn’t call it awful, just ok.
directed by Roland Emmerich
The conspiracy nut who believes that Shakespeare didn’t write Shakespeare and whitewashed the Stonewall Riots? No thank you.
Just because people are good at one thing doesn’t mean that they are good at all things. You think Deborah Chow did a good job? I’ve seen better television in unaired pilots from the 1940’s.
WHAT HAVE I DONE?
The Ancient Lore
Kenobi: A Star Wars Story
Harry Potter Revisited
Game of Thrones Film Edits
Titanic Restructured
… and more.
directed by Roland Emmerich
The conspiracy nut who believes that Shakespeare didn’t write Shakespeare and whitewashed the Stonewall Riots? No thank you.
Just because people are good at one thing doesn’t mean that they are good at all things. You think Deborah Chow did a good job? I’ve seen better television in unaired pilots from the 1940’s.
I think you’re being a tad bit hyperbolic, but that’s just me.
Deborah has had a decent track record before this. Makes me think that the a big chunk of the budget just went to drag these big name actors back into the franchise.
I actually think her performance directing and emotional blocking was the strongest part of all this, if anything. I think her weaknesses are related to the Volume and where she is in that technology curve. (And certainly not the pioneer Favreau is in that regard).
Budget constraints and the less-than-stellar script certainly don’t help but her character work has always been strong.
not a Jedi apologist or a Jedi hater but a secret third thing
For all the “Muh volume” and “prequel green screens baad” in all the press and PR it looks like those films will age far more gracefully than this me thinks.
Peace is a lie
There is only passion…
For all the “Muh volume” and “prequel green screens baad” in all the press and PR it looks like those films will age far more gracefully than this me thinks.
That’s because of the more vibrant colours compared to Disney’s bizarre policy that all SW shows must have a washed out colour palette.
Deborah has had a decent track record before this. Makes me think that the a big chunk of the budget just went to drag these big name actors back into the franchise.
My thoughts exactly.
I have to say I loved everything about this. Young Leia most of all.
The story picks up where I expected it to, with Obi-wan making his way on Tatooine and keeping an eye on Luke. How he spends his time is fittingly dull one for a Jedi-in-hiding. From there the story was engaging. The Cinematography was outstanding. The acting perfect. In many scenes I was drawn in by the amazing colors. Some of the city vistas were jaw dropping. Some were quite muted, but the Tatooine scenes felt right and felt like they fit with the original. Owen felt older and closer to the original.
I have a couple of minor nitpicks, but they didn’t impact my enjoyment in the slightest.
I am so enjoying all these new shows. I can’t wait to see what Andor and Ahsoka are like. And outside the Star Wars universe, there is Picard and Strange New Worlds which are also both excellent. These short format series (very British) are really great. It is fun to see how different teams handle the material.