Star Wars has repeatedly suggested Obi-Wan was waiting to train Luke Skywalker on Tatooine. The Obi-Wan Kenobi trailer hints that’s no longer so.
Star Wars‘ maiden Obi-Wan Kenobi trailer appears to shift the purpose behind Obi-Wan’s Luke Skywalker mission on Tatooine. Unlucky enough to be born in the immediate aftermath of Order 66, Yoda protects Anakin and Padmé’s twins by putting each in a separate hiding place. Luke goes to Shmi Skywalker’s relatives on Tatooine (which seems a little obvious, but who are we to judge?), while Leia is adopted by Alderaan’s Organa family. Obi-Wan Kenobi elects to accompany young Luke, watching over the boy from afar until A New Hope.
Star Wars moments from across the franchise strongly signal that Obi-Wan’s mission is to wait for the right time before ultimately training Luke in the ways of the Force. When Yoda first suggests splitting the twins in Revenge of the Sith, he adds, “Until the time is right, disappear, we will…” And when Obi-Wan defeats Maul in Star Wars Rebels, the dying Zabrak asks if Luke is the “chosen one” who will avenge them both, which Kenobi confirms. After Luke finally learns the truth about “old Ben Kenobi” in A New Hope, the Jedi Master insists Skywalker begin training immediately, later admitting to Yoda, “That boy is our last hope…”
For years, Star Wars has given the impression that Obi-Wan didn’t train Luke at a younger age out of respect for Uncle Owen’s wishes – and probably also because unleashing the latent Force powers of Anakin Skywalker’s son might attract unwanted attention from Darth Vader himself (disturbances in the force, and so forth). However, Disney+’s Obi-Wan Kenobi trailer changes the emphasis of why its title character remains on Tatooine. As the images roll by, a voice-over from Ewan McGregor’s Jedi recluse solemnly utters, “The fight is done… We lost. Stay hidden.“
This depressing admission feels contradictory to Obi-Wan planning on someday training Luke into a Jedi worthy of overthrowing the Empire. Obi-Wan Kenobi‘s hero clearly isn’t planning for a future comeback, as Yoda previously indicated, but has conceded defeat to the Empire completely. The Jedi lost; the Empire won – there’s no fight to be fought, not now, nor in the future. The “stay hidden” line feels particularly pointed toward Luke Skywalker. Perhaps Obi-Wan has come to agree with Owen Lars, believing Luke can enjoy a happier life ignorant of his Jedi heritage, remaining anonymous on Tatooine farming moisture and shooting womp rats. At this point, then, Obi-Wan Kenobi‘s bearded Jedi Master is watching over Luke solely as a protector, with little intention of making him a padawan down the line.
Obi-Wan’s darker mindset makes perfect sense for this chapter of his Star Wars story. According to Ewan McGregor, several years of Imperial domination has left Obi-Wan Kenobi devoid of optimism, and his Disney+ solo series is all about rekindling that spark of hope. Even in the Obi-Wan Kenobi trailer, text reading “HOPE SURVIVES” fades over an image of the title character’s miserable, desolate expression. He’ll begin Obi-Wan Kenobi believing the only course of action is hide and give up, then move toward a position of hope – specifically, hope in Luke Skywalker – as the TV series progresses. That would explain those deathbed comments to Maul in Star Wars Rebels, and Obi-Wan’s attitude toward Luke in A New Hope.
One all-important question remains – what makes Obi-Wan cheer up? How does he evolve from Mr. We Lost, Get Over It to the hopeful, graying Jedi portrayed by Alec Guinness? Maybe young Luke does something to change Obi-Wan’s mind, or perhaps it’s a pep talk from the Force ghost of Qui-Gon Jinn. Whatever brightens his dreary outlook will surely be central to Obi-Wan Kenobi.
- Rogue Squadron (2023)Release date: Dec 22, 2023
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