Obi-Wan Kenobi review: Live

To mark the occasion, we live-reviewed both episodes as they hit Disney Plus, following with every twist, turn and lightsaber twirl as they played out onscreen. Check below to see how it all went down...

Obi-Wan Kenobi live blog review

09:32AM:

Anyway, that seems like an apposite point to end on. Next week, UK fans can enjoy Obi-Wan Kenobi episode three during the comforting day off of a bank holiday Friday thanks to the Platinum Jubilee, while hopefully Obi-Wan himself has less trouble with royalty than he did in these opening episodes.

Hopefully we'll see you then for more Obi-Wan Kenobi coverage. And as the man himself might say, May the Force (and plenty of drugs) be with you.

09:28AM:

Presumably, now Vader knows his old Master is out there it won't be long before the pair of them face off once more. Though where else this story goes is a bit of a mystery to me. Is the Leia storyline now over? Will Obi-Wan spend more time with Luke? or do they have something else in mind for us?

09:25AM:

Also also, cool to see Order 66 again. If you've watched any of the spin-off shows or played the games that's been done a bit recently, but it's nice to see that moment being mined for drama given how important it is to Star Wars lore.

09:23AM:

I'll be interested to see whether we meet Kumail Nanjiani's character again - feels like he has potential to play another role. And will the rest of the series see Reva find other ways to hunt down Obi-Wan?

Also, how under a rock (or in a cave) was Obi-Wan to not know about Darth Vader? He's probably quite famous! He talks to Senators and things.

09:20AM:

And that's the first two episodes! A good start for Obi-Wan Kenobi I think. As had been suggested, it's a bit more film-y than the other Disney Plus Star Wars shows, but I think that works for this story.

Leia was on the cusp of being annoying, but I think they just about walked that tightrope. They're really making us wait for lightsaber stuff though.

Oh, and how random that they cast Flea as one of the bad guys? Very weird.

09:18AM:

Cut to: Anakin looking pretty bad in a Bacta tank, suddenly connected with Obi-Wan (it seems). Our first look at Darth Vader this series!

09:16AM:

"You didn't know? He's alive Obi-Wan. Anakin Skywalker is alive. He's been looking for you for a long time."

Was it common knowledge that Vader and Anakin were the same guy?

Hey, she killed the Grand Inquisitor! That shouldn't happen! He's still around in Star Wars Rebels!

Anyway in all the canonical confusion Obi-Wan and Leia got away.

09:14AM:

Leia reminds Obi-Wan of Padmë...sad times. But they don't have long to reminisce before Reva turns up doing her "Warriors, come out and play-ay" thing.

09:09AM:

Leia jumps off a building, and falls...poor old Obi-Wan has to use the Force to save her...clearly it's an effort after a long time. "You really are a Jedi..."

Kumail turns up to help him - he's not quite so nasty after all. He offers them a way off-world, and they have no choice but to trust him.

He also faces off with Reva to gain time...and unfortunately she stole the info she needed from his mind.

09:04AM:

Cute little bonding moments for Obi-Wan and Leia. But now she doesn't believe him because everyone's hunting for him...or something. She is more trouble than she's worth.

Obi-Wan should do some Jedi tricks for her or something. Instead he has to chase her around Daiyu while bounty hunters shoot at him.

09:01AM:

"If I use the Force, it'll draw attention to us."

There's a little explanation for you. Leia is needling Obi-Wan a bit, and he's impressed by her perspicacity.

Keep your hood up Obi-Wan! Everyone has your Revenge of the Sith mugshot!

08:57AM:

Ha, Obi-Wan drug bombed them. And he rescued Leia.

"You're a Jedi? You seem kind of old...and beat up." Charming. Reva's hunting him down, and once again the Inquisitors are annoyed.

Got a little backstory that they basically think Reva's a bit common for some reason. Anyway they want her to stand down, but instead she John Wick 3-s him and sics every bounty hunter on Daiyu in his direction.

08:54AM:

Obi-Wan does some cool fight moves, but it's all a trick! The baddies knew he was coming and have caught him.

"You're not a Jedi any more, Kenobi...you're just a man."

Luckily Obi-Wan had an improvised smoke bomb, and he escaped. He also could have used the Force and/or his lightsaber, right? They already know who he is.

08:53AM:

Why is Obi-Wan always looking for drugs these days? Life on Tatooine getting to him.

08:48AM:

So far Obi-Wan has bought some drugs and paid a little child to help him out. Not a brilliant start. But apparently he's about to meet another Jedi.

Kumail Nanjiani is the 'Jedi", but I'm pretty sure he's a fake. Using little tricks and so on. Quite funny.

Bi-Wan threatens to expose him, and he agrees to help find Leia.

08:46AM:

We're kicking things off on Daiyu, which sort of seems like Coruscant but wetter.

Oh wow - a Clone! "Help a veteran get a warm meal," he says - and he's played by Temuera Morrison! Great little cameo and nod to Kenobi's time in The Clone Wars.

08:44AM:

OK, episode 2! I think I might just about be able to skip the recap of the last episode...it's still pretty fresh in my mind.

08:43AM:

Anyway as the credits roll, I enjoyed that episode. A good start. Be interesting to see how things unfold now.

08:40AM:

Turns out the whole Leia kidnap is just a plot to draw Obi-Wan out of hiding. In reality, you just have to look at him and he is fully dressed as a Jedi now with a big cloak and a lightsaber on his hip. Where's the subterfuge?

He's heading off-world...and that's the end of episode one! Time for me to kick back, relax and take a big swig of coffee until next week...

Wait, there's another one? Right now? Better put my big hooded cloak back on.

08:39AM:

Poor Lola! Got smashed up by the nasty kidnapper.

Meanwhile Obi-Wan is still brooding out in the desert. Has he come to dig up his lightsaber? Guess Rey did have her reasons for burying them in Episode 9 after all. Maybe it's a thing.

Aw he has Anakin's in there too.

08:36AM:

Back in the town, young Benny Safdie Jedi has been strung up in the square. Guess he didn't last long without Obi-Wan's help.

Bail Organa turns up, and gives him some tough love.

"You couldn't save Anakin, but you could save her."

Little Star Wars music creeping up as Bail asks him for "one last fight".

08:34AM:

"It's been 10 years...I'm not who I used to be. Find someone else, she'll be better off."

Man Obi-Wan really is a funsponge eh?

08:32AM:

Unfortunately Leia's run into a creepy gang of bald people in the woods. I wonder if this is how Obi-Wan is going to get involved in her story...

She's pretty handy even as a 10 year old, has some good escaping moves. Sadly the palace guards are less useful.

Back on Tatooine, Obi-Wan's old communicator is going off...the Organas need him to help find Leia. I was right!

08:30AM:

Bail Organa, aka Jimmy Smits, is a great space dad. I already feel worse about them blowing up Alderaan.

08:28AM:

Interesting to see Alderaan, pre-kablooey. Looks very fancy, especially during these sort of fancy diplomatic meetings.

"You're not even a real Organa," Leia's cousin tells her. Leia reads him to filth in return. Is that her diplomacy, or a little Force connection.

08:24AM:

Unfortunately Reva has singled out Owen for some reason, maybe sensing that he knows something. Even the other Inquisitors think she's a bit overboard for some reason.

Reva's still thinking about Kenobi. Apparently she wants "what [she's] owed." Mysterious! Maybe Kenobi was mean to her in the Jedi Temple when she was a little 'un.

08:22AM:

Anyway, back to the Inquisitors looking for the lilc Jedi. The Second Brother tries to be diplomatic, but Reva is already chopping off hands etc.

08:21AM:

Yep, Owen isn't happy with him dropping off toys.

"He must be trained."

"Like you trained his father?"

What is it with Uncle Owen and roasting? Himself or others...

08:19AM:

Leia is clearly a bit bored being a rich girl, and has a cute little droid with ears called Lola. She should try moisture farming in the desert for a bit! Check your privilege!

However a Bad Man looms from the shadows ready to kidnap her. Uh-Oh.

08:17AM:

Cut to...Alderaan, where it seems like we're catching up with a young Princess Leia. Maybe we'll find out how she knew to get in touch with Obi-Wan specifically by the time of A New Hope.

08:15AM:

The young Jedi guy finds Kenobi! Obi-Wan eventually tells him to go and bury his lightsaber in the sand.

"What happened to you? You were once a great Jedi."

"The time of the Jedi is over."

Sort of see his point...go and live a normal life, kiddo!

08:13AM:

Now he's off spying on kids. He's going to end up on some kind of register.

Only joking! He's watching over young Luke, who clearly wants to become some sort of pilot, just like his father. Kenobi leaves the toy he bought for him, but I can imagine that's going to go down badly with Uncle Owen.

08:11AM:

Obi-Wan having terrible dreams of the prequels, just like Ewan McGregor after he read the reviews at the time.

He tries to get in touch with Qui-Gon, but has no luck. Clearly he needs to go on some sort of emotional journey over the next few episodes.

08:09AM:

When Obi-Wan first visited Tatooine, bet he never thought he'd have to invest in real estate. Or buy merch off Jawas who keep robbing him.

They stripped a Jedi's old ship and tried to sell him the parts. "I've heard the Jedi are all but extinct," Obi-Wan offers.

08:07AM:

Kenobi has a depression beard, and unlike the younger Jedi doesn't interferer to try and help someone in trouble. He's having a tough time!

Anyway he goes back to the city, gets his weird horse anteater thing and then heads off to his pad in the country, aka a nasty little cave he's squatting in.

08:04AM:

Reva (Moses Ingram) gets bored and throws a knife, reveals Benny Safdie as the hidden Jedi. Uncut Kyber Crystals, anyone?

Still, they're not very impressed with this guy. Reva would rather look for Kenobi, who she's fixated on. That's convenient, given who's working on a building site or quarry nearby. Or is it a butcher's?

08.01AM:

Disney make a Star Wars show that doesn't go to Tatooine challenge!

Anyway looks like the Inquisitors have arrived. They're basically like Sith, but we pretend they're not so that nobody breaks the 'there can only be two Sith' rule.

"In actuality I would say, the Jedi hunt themselves." Now Rupert Friend, aka the Grand Inquisitor is going to do his little monologue about Jedi compassion being a curse.

07:58AM:

Ah a flashback to Order 66! Looks like we won't be free of Youngling death after all.

Nice that we actually have Clones in armour rather than the all-CG ones from the prequels. Anyway looks like that short scene (quite cool) is all we're getting for now, and we cut to '10 years later' on Tatooine.

07:55AM:

I see they skipped over the bit where he killed all those kids. But Obi-Wan still has the high ground.

Interesting to see the bits they've really focused on reminding us of. Looks like Qui-Gon will play a role.

07:53AM:

A long time ago in a galaxy far, far away...

What a cool recap! A little run through the prequels to remind us where we left off McGregor's Obi-Wan. Love it.

Hope the movie level effects here don't show up the TV budget in a moment though.

07:52AM:

Normally I'd have some general chat here about what we might expect, but the episodes are here already so let's get stuck in!

07:45AM:

Welcome! Never fear, this is the review you're looking for... from a certain point of view. Rather than looking back at the episode after the fact, we'll be reacting to the launch episodes of Obi-Wan Kenobi as they unfold onscreen, live blogging every moment as it happens.

Hopefully, it'll be fun and there'll be lots of cool lightsaber battles for us to gush over. But if Obi-Wan spends the entire opening two-parter helping Uncle Owen fix a moisture vaporator in real time, well, we'll cover that too. We got up early, so we might as well go all in at this point.

We'll kick things off properly at 8:00AM as the episodes drop, so until then sit tight! Excitement awaits. As well as Ewan McGregor's slightly weird Alec Guinness impression.

• Read More: How Obi-Wan Kenobi series fits into the Star Wars timeline

The Obi-Wan Kenobi series will air on Disney Plus on Wednesdays at 8am GMT. You can sign up to Disney Plus now for £79.90 for a year or £7.99 a month. If you're looking for more to watch, check out our TV Guide or visit our Sci-Fi hub.

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