‘Obi-Wan Kenobi’ Episode 4 Review: The Second Act Of The Story Finishes In An Underwhelming Way
Obi-Wan Kenobi is getting closer and closer to its last few episodes, and the show has been a letdown. The show has been controversial, to say the least, and it has found both defenders and retractors in these past few weeks. However, not even the most hardcore defenders will find a way to defend the fact that Obi-Wan Kenobi is just not what Obi-Wan Kenobi, the character, deserves. The show simply doesn’t have the creative juice to do justice to such a legendary character.
At this point in time, Disney has been able to launch two seasons of The Mandalorian, one season of The Book of Boba Fett, and also this series. And yet, with each new episode, the show keeps repeating and making mistakes that could only be accepted if this was their first try doing a Star Wars TV show. But that is not the case, The Mandalorian was the first try, and they killed it right there. This is why it feels funny that what could have been an event series, feels so much like a fan film.
This should not be the case. But these last few episodes of Obi-Wan Kenobi really are proof that at least, at the moment, Jon Favreau and Dave Filoni, are the secret ingredients when it comes to delivering a powerful modern take inside the Star Wars Universe. Andor, the next TV show in the pipeline, will be another test of fire, to see if the universe can survive without these two taking a supervising role in the productions. Tony Gilroy has a lot to prove, let’s hope he is successful at that.
The big problem with Obi-Wan Kenobi is that when having the name of one of the most legendary fictional characters ever, as the title of your show, expectations begin to arise. The show was always in a battle with itself and sadly, the production just didn’t have enough money, the time, and the writers to fulfill those expectations. The result then has been four episodes where very little has happened.
Ewan McGregor keeps trying to keep this thing afloat, and he barely manages to do it in this episode. Director, Deborah Chow, delivers her most solid episode to date, and Obi-Wan Kenobi even has a couple of action moments that are worth pointing out. And yet, it doesn’t feel enough. There is so little focus on Obi-Wan Kenobi himself that sometimes it feels like they are doing it on purpose, and the reason behind those decisions feels baffling.
Instead of focusing on Obi-Wan Kenobi as a character, the show keeps pushing both Leia and Reva as the main characters. A lot has been said about these two performances. Vivien Lyra, who plays Leia, is just a small child, and she can properly enter the character at this stage in her life. She does what she can, and we are thankful for that, but she and the character of Leia should not be on the show in the first place. Her presence not only contradicts stuff that we saw in the original trilogy, but also takes screen time from Obi-Wan.
Moses Ingram’s performance as Reva also leaves a lot to be desired. Many awful people have attacked the actress just because she is a person of color, and that type of criticism has no substance nor relevance in reality. However, sadly, Ingram doesn’t really prove those awful people wrong with a performance that just doesn’t feel intimidating enough, although that is what the episodes try to convey. The character hasn’t received any sort of development at all, and with just two episodes left. It feels like a waste.
Tala, played by Indira Varma plays the main role in this episode, and she does well. Varma is a veteran and her acting abilities are not put into question. However, she isn’t at all what people want as the main character in a show called Obi-Wan Kenobi. So, even when her character is the one that gives us more drama and conflict, it feels like she should belong in another story, at another time.
Direction and visual effect are a lot better in this episode, but there is nothing to write home about either. There is some sense of composition at least, especially when the episode arrives at the villains’ HQ. The deck especially feels very well done, but no one really cares about what happens in there. The series keeps stretching the conflict we want to see more and more. With that idea in mind, Obi-Wan Kenobi as a movie instead of a show, sounds each time like a better idea.
There are only two more episodes for the miniseries to be over, and they will need to be really impressive if the show wants to save some sort of face in front of the fans around the world. The last season of the Mandalorian, and even the weaker Book of Boba Fett, had a very solid couple of final episodes. So it might be that this is also the case here with Obi-Wan Kenobi, but no matter what happens the show’s overall perception will not be a good one, in the end.
