SPOILER Obi-Wan Kenobi Ep. 3 Discussion

I'm enjoying the first 3 episodes. It's difficult to break down each episode since this really is less "episode of the week." The fire thing is a bit clunky since Vader could have simply pulled Obi-Wan through the fire. However, we've seen time and again how the Sith struggle with overconfidence. Vader isn't worried about Obi-Wan getting away. He's more concerned with torturing his old master. He could have killed him already, but chose to burn Obi-Wan. Vader wants to terrorize Obi-Wan even more. It's pretty sick. I like how they've handled things so far. It's not perfect, but Star Wars is rarely perfect.

 

You can speculate as much as you want but it doesn't take away the continuity error in the first place. A simple line of dialogue would've solved this issue perfectly. And don't say "Not everything needs to be explained", because that argument only goes so far and is usually better applied to the "show, don't tell" argument. Sure, you don't need to go into unnecessary details about everything, but simple throwaway lines can actually make a huge difference in the greater sense.

As for Vader, Grogu might be world-famous but he definitely doesn't have the same iconography or nostalgia tied to him as Vader.

 

Like everything else in SW, a 'continuity error' is in the eye of the beholder.

Whatever. I have no clue how a character's 'iconography' or 'nostalgia' would blind susceptible fans to the show flaws you see.

 

Nope. I guess the line you're looking for is "art is in the eye of the beholder". Continuity errors is something you can prove by simply looking at the script.

If you have no clue why a character's iconography and nostalgia can affect people's ability to notice flaws, I guess we're not making any progress here.

 

The sad thing is maybe we will get no more than 4 hours or so.

Yeah, that's sad. Imagine if a Jedi like Obi-Wan would not have lived through these dark times.

 

If we are talking about the Inquisitors' lack-of-mystery surrounding the Grand Inquisitor's death, most fans got it. I'm afraid the continuity error is in your head.

 

I didn’t know you spoke for ”most fans”. Besides, I have seen plenty of videos on YouTube highlighing all of the issues I mentioned in my first post and not just the one about the Grand Inquisitor.

On the other hand, I do know that there are plenty of fans out there who will eat and swallow everything Star Wars without questioning stuff.

 

Okie dokie. I felt differently -- and responded to your perceived error. As with anything on the internet, you can always find like-minded people. I just haven't heard this voiced by anyone I know or by my go-to Star Wars YouTube reactors as an issue.

I suppose. If you've read my posts in the various SW forums you know I'm not one of them.

 

I supposed this was a reaction to Obi-Wan leaving him to slowly burn to death on a Mustafar lava bank, instead of quickly kililng him.

 

I loved the ominous foreshadowing: "You should have killed me when you had the chance."


EDIT:

I am underwhelmed by the entirety of the Imperial Inquisitors.
They are boring and unimposing.

Star Wars was always perfect, as is.

 

I was wondering why Vader sounded younger and better than he did in R1- if you look at the credits of episode 3, it turns out that James Earl Jones actually "didn't" voice Vader. It was the same AI which they used for Luke in Mando and TBOBF.

Now it makes sense why JEJ was never listed as one of the returning cast members.

IMO the AI works well here because Vader is a machine after all. Haha!

 

Thanks for the info, NinjaRen. I had guessed that's what they'd do (JEJ is 90 afterall) but it's nice to know that we'll forever be blessed with Darth Vader's voice in any future project.

I know that Mark Hamil was directly and intimately involved in bringing back Luke -- and no doubt got paid handsomely for it -- but I'm curious how this AI voice business works. I would assume that the original voice actor gets paid whenever his voice is used, even if it's using AI, correct? Does anybody know?

 

I made a wall post earlier about how impressive the difference was. This is good intel.

Voice acting is typically VERY low pay. Animated shorts can bring 10K for a performance, but we're talking about a Legacy Character in STAR WARS, so who knows how JEJ's deal works.

 

If we've learned anything in the internet age it's that YouTube truly makes everyone an expert.

I have always found the Inquisitors boring. Fallen Order did a better job telling a story with them and Reva seems to be the most interesting of the ones we've seen in live action.

The AI does use JEJ's voice though, just the younger version of it they've recorded in the past. This goes back to my point about some of the comments about Luke in Boba Fett. His voice sounded fantastic, but making it sync with the lips is a challenge. That's not an issue here since Vader wears a mask. It sounds perfect.

 

The GI is brought up fairly soon in the episode. In the conversation between Reva and Vader.

REVA: He will pay for the Grand Inquisitor's-
VADER: The Grand Inquisitor means nothing. Kenobi is all that matters now.

She’s referring to Obi-Wan paying for what happened to the GI. So it’s obvious that she’d lied and told everyone Obi-Wan did it. But, ultimately yes, he doesn’t care.

The other inquisitors also bring the GI up just a little bit later.

5THBRO: You are not in charge here. That seat is mine, not yours. I am the next in line.

He’s referring to a line of succession and that Reva is trying to bypass him for the position of GI. The position is only available because of what happened.

So I’m kind of fuzzy on what the continuity error here would be? Is it that no one explicitly comments on him being dead? Do you think maybe there might end up being a reason for that?

 

Yes To add another "dimension" to it.

When Yoda was fighting Palp in the senate (in the book), there was a point which he "pierced" the shadow of the dark side and saw the way. There Yoda got a glimpse of the future and what needed to be done. In general the Jedi always tried to see the "way" through the Force, and "The Dark Side has clouded ..." does not get the attention it deserves (as I see it).

It seems to me that rigid organizations like the Jedi, need a overall compass, need the way. This is why the Dark Side clouding everything hit them so hard. They didn't actually know where they were going. Judging from the end result...well they didn't. Even the Grand Master got lost. They had lost the "way".

Obi is afraid because he can't see the way - for now. Luke got lost later on too, and the end results was the same; a broken man.

 

I just don't like the inquisitors. Point blank. Ever since they were introduced in Star Wars Rebels, and even today. Now I'm not going to lie, I have grown tolerant of seeing them appear in films and television. That is only because we WILL continue to see them.

I know my opinion will garner dislikes and negative reactions and I don't like to focus on the negatives, but they are here and have been for quite some time.

Here's my long unraveled question.

Why make so many!? I understand Vader cannot fight every outcasted Jedi, but wouldn't it be better to centralize a plot around just multiple Inquisitors or just a Jedi Hunting Group of some sort (a group of 3 or 4) that we get back stories and actually feel something for? We could've been introduced to so many better-developed concepts. I mean I could've come up with a better idea than what they've given us. What about an elite stormtrooper/clone unit tasked with finding and secretly eliminating the Jedi. These individuals have either been raised from birth, brainwashed, or show high levels of aptitude needed for these tasks, on top of that, they are paired together with former Jedi who must hunt their own kind to stay alive. Sooner or later once the Jedi threat is no more they are all disposed of.

I just see no substance in these stories today. The music isn't even on point which is a big part of feeling something, those melodies evoke emotions and invest you into the story. They make you feel like you are there.

 

Well they are a "practical" choice. As you said, they were introduced in Rebels. What did you need there ? Some form of lightsaber fight (force wielders vs clones isn't that incenting) but not strong enough (else the good force wielders will get their .. kicked). They were the enemy needed for Rebels. Nothing more nothing less. Mediocre powered "bad guys" for mediocre powered "good guys". Their number just creates the needed "fighting against the odds" when the "good" guys face them. Rebels was on a tangent so it was a good choice (in that context).

Now, they are once again, the logical practical choice. You need some "kind of ok" bad guy. Vader is ruthless and if you don't show him as such you are done for. So you need a bad guy, who is not pure evil like Vader, and gets the "minute in - minute out" job done, i.e., you can't / don't want to have Vader all the time on screen else you will "burn" your asset.

Mrs bad will turn super good at the end - which is kids/family friendly- and all is good

 

I liken them to the Nazgul in the Lord of the Rings but with more individuality between them. They're dangerous and nasty but not as badass as Darth Vader.

 

The initial thought of Vader leading a bunch of angry force misfits gave way to: "Wait, why does he need any of them?"
And -- here we are, with characters we really don't need.

Best of the lot, thus far...

With the Malacore arc in Rebels a solid second for me.

Everything else is meh.

The same ol gutter story and obligatory line have diminished my initial enthusiasm for the Third Sister.... and now they are all back being to boring.

It really was perfect.

***

Aside from the ultra cardboard cutout lackeys' that serve Vader, my only real issue with the series so far is Kenobi's lightsaber color.
It was just a little too deep with the blue and seemed extra bright to me.

9/10.