In a galaxy not so far away, the Star Wars saga continues to unfurl, enticing viewers with its interstellar narratives and, of course, those enduring characters. But did you know that the very creator of this universe, George Lucas, deems Obi-Wan Kenobi as one of the crowning jewels of his epic franchise?
Yes, Lucas’ true feelings for the Disney+ series were revealed recently by the executive of Lucasfilm. But can fans’ sentiment, steeped in both adoration and criticism, align with the vision of the master storyteller?
The show centers on surviving Jedi Master Obi-Wan Kenobi and is set ten years after the events of Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith (2005).
Unbelievable for Fans: George Lucas Ranks Obi-Wan Kenobi as The Best Thing in Star Wars
Bridging the gap between Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith and the original Star Wars film, the television series Obi-Wan Kenobi follows the adored Jedi master during a pivotal moment in the Star Wars timeline. While the show may not have received the same level of praise as other Star Wars projects, it seems to have acquired a special place in George Lucas’ heart.
Pablo Hidalgo, a creative executive at Lucasfilm and something of a “Star Wars lore advisor” for the company, stated in an interview with the Full of Sith podcast that Lucas was a huge fan of Obi-Wan Kenobi (via ScreenRant):
“Early on there was a conversation with George [Lucas] over what his thoughts were, and whether or not, honestly, he bought the whole concept, and he was one hundred percent supportive. And I’ve heard it’s one of his favorite things that’s come out of Star Wars.”
Hearing Lucas support Obi-Wan Kenobi is a constant source of nostalgia for the franchise’s devotees. Let us hear some opinions from fans:
The worst Star Wars product since the Disney take over and of course, Lucas loves it. Yes, it was worse than Last Jedi and it should have been an easy home run.
— danimalsden (@danimalsden) May 10, 2024
Obi-wan was terrible, and everyone at Lucasfilm knows it.
— Rafeeq (@Rafeeq3281) May 9, 2024
Poor George, the Disney star wars shows/movies have been so bad that he has tricked himself into thinking Obi-Wan was good.
— lasthavenmedia (@carpingobserver) May 9, 2024
I believe that. IMO, Obi-Wan Kenobi’s not a very good show but it has a lot of stuff in it that I have a feeling George would like and the whole show kind of feels like a love-letter to the prequels as well as a proper narrative bridge between the PT and the OT.
— Robert Bowlin 🖖🏼 (@rbowlin86) May 9, 2024
Yeah, that’s a bunch of crap. Obi-Wan was barely even in the show lol
— Iccanui.sol 🫡 (@Iccanui) May 9, 2024
He has such awful taste
— SitaRose🌹 (@SitaRose27) May 9, 2024
To put it mildly, Hidalgo made the very high-caliber claim that Lucas’ “favorite” Star Wars project is Obi-Wan Kenobi. This is a rare glimpse into Lucas’ thoughts on the current state of the Star Wars universe, as he has generally remained quiet on the matter.
Decoding George Lucas’ Fondness for Obi-Wan Kenobi Amidst Criticism
Pablo Hidalgo expounded on George Lucas’ admiration for Obi-Wan Kenobi later in the interview, saying that it was “because he recognizes so much of what he did in the prequels, basically brought forward and celebrated in a way that I am sure surprised him.”
While the series was harshly criticized upon its initial release, a new generation of fans has grown to love it in the years since. Notwithstanding some criticism of the writing, critics gave the series generally positive reviews, praising the character-driven story, and the series’ emotional impact.
According to Metacritic, one user brought up the fact that Obi-Wan is shown as a weak, “cowardly” fool in the series. Notwithstanding the criticism, the user felt that the story was unsatisfactory and unworthy of being included in the Star Wars saga, even though they agreed that the idea was fantastic and the actors did a respectable job acting.
Another user pointed out that the show was severely lacking in both production value and narrative depth, and that it lacked the appeal of “nostalgia”. The fan further projected that the series would go down in history as a “failed” endeavor.
Ultimately, it seems that not all Star Wars fans are in tune with George Lucas’ view of Obi-Wan Kenobi as one of the finest aspects of the franchise. While some recognize the series’ “potential” as a whole, others are disappointed with the character’s execution and portrayal.
Obi-Wan Kenobi is streaming on Disney+.
