The trailer for the latest Disney+ Star Wars series reveals a hopeless Obi-Wan Kenobi and might resolve a costume-related plot hole from A New Hope.
The long-awaited trailer for the next Star Wars series on Disney+, Obi-Wan Kenobi, has finally landed, giving fans their first look at Ewan McGregor’s return as the legendary Jedi Master. The series picks up ten years after Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith and the trailer teases an Obi-Wan who is still reeling from the defeat of the Jedi Order and the fall of the Republic. While he is continuing to keep watch over the young Luke Skywalker, Obi-Wan’s faith in the Jedi and the fight against the Empire appears to be waning, with the trailer giving no sign of his signature blue lightsaber, nor his Jedi robes.
While Obi-Wan’s new wardrobe, which incorporates hooded cloaks and earthy tones, is evocative of his Jedi robes, it makes sense that he has chosen to stop dressing as a Jedi. The series takes place at a time when the remaining Jedi are being actively hunted down by the Empire’s Inquisitors. The tunics and robes worn by Jedi Knights are a distinctive mark of the Order’s members; continuing to outwardly signal his allegiance to the Jedi Order would defeat the point of Obi-Wan going into hiding. However, by the time of Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope, the old Jedi Master is once again dressing in the iconic Jedi apparel. It’s an apparent plot hole that many Star Wars fans have questioned, but Obi-Wan Kenobi could explain why its protagonist chose to don his robes once more.
The real-world explanation for Obi-Wan’s seemingly conspicuous fashion choice in A New Hope is fairly simple — George Lucas had not intended for the costume Alec Guiness wore as Obi-Wan Kenobi to be any kind of Jedi uniform. Instead, Obi-Wan’s iconic robes were meant to help him blend in on Tatooine, a desert world where loose-fitting robes offered comfort and practicality. Characters such as Luke Skywalker’s Uncle Owen and the bartender of the Mos Eisley cantina can even be seen wearing outfits similar to Obi-Wan’s. Obi-Wan’s particular robes would only become a mark of the Jedi Order when work started on the prequels and Lucas decided the look of the Jedi should stick close to the image A New Hope had already sown in audiences’ imaginations.
This decision obviously created an issue for A New Hope — why would a Jedi Master in hiding still so clearly dress as a Jedi? Since the first promotional images for Obi-Wan Kenobi were released, fans have known the series would see Obi-Wan take on a more covert look during his time in exile on Tatooine. But the story teased by the series’ first trailer could also explain why he eventually returns to his Jedi look. The series is set to introduce a broken, defeatist Obi-Wan Kenobi, who is heard claiming “The fight is done. We lost.” Of course, thanks to A New Hope, which sees Obi-Wan quickly committing himself and Luke to helping Princess Leia and the Rebellion, fans already know that Obi-Wan will eventually regain his faith in the fight against the dark side. This transition in the character could be mirrored by his outfit.
Little is known of the adventure that awaits Obi-Wan Kenobi in the upcoming limited series, except that it will take him away from Tatooine and pit him against Inquistors and Darth Vader. However, in a sense, the series’ ending is already known. Ultimately, Obi-Wan Kenobi will end up back on Tatooine, more willing to take up his lightsaber, train Luke Skywalker as a Jedi and stand against the Empire. If the Jedi Master’s more simplistic wardrobe, as seen in the Obi-Wan Kenobi trailer, reflects his withdrawal from the Jedi Order and the ways of the past, his inevitable return to Jedi attire can be cast not as an absent-minded disregard for his own anonymity, but as a proud mark of defiance against the forces of the dark side.
If Obi-Wan Kenobi is the story of the Jedi Master regaining his lost hope, it could also be the story of him rediscovering his purpose as a Jedi. By the series’ end, perhaps Obi-Wan’s primary concern will no longer be remaining hidden from the Empire, but committing himself to training the son of Anakin Skywalker in the ways of the Jedi. If so, he may no longer wish to hide his calling as a member of the Jedi Order.
Obi-Wan Kenobi premieres May 25 on Disney+.
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