Obi Wan Kenobi Review (I do not own copyright to the artwork) (also
there are most definitely a spoiler or two since it’s been available to view
for a minute)
This series was an overall enjoyable experience if you’re a Star Wars fan,
either super intense and knowing all the content by heart or just a normie. I’m
personally somewhere in between. An accurate description of my geek level here
would be this –
Episodes IV – VI are what I grew up with and I will love them forever.
Episodes I – III were mostly disappointing with the exceptions of Darth Maul as
a Sith and Ewan McGregor as Obi Wan. Some kick ass light saber scenes also
peppered the newer trilogy and that helped me a bit. The animated stuff was
“meh”; I sort of half-watched “Rebels” and “Clone
Wars” as they just weren’t yanking my entertainment cord. “Rogue
One” killed it and has been the only new Star Wars in movie format that
really provides those old-timey vibes. The newest movies are stale as hell and
are a shameless exhibition in fan pandering. *puke* Finally, “The
Mandalorian” also slayed. Thank you, John Favreau. Your love of Star Wars
is evident in your presentation. Bravo. Ok, now that you understand from a Star
Wars perspective where I stand so far, let’s get it on like Obi Wan.
Ewan McGregor continues to be the absolute stuff as this character – let’s
just get that out of the way to begin with. The mannerisms, facial expressions,
and speech were all on point. Sorry, Alec Guinness, Ewan is officially Obi Wan
Kenobi in our hearts and minds.
The plot was well thought out to a certain point, then a couple breakdowns
ensued, then it became adequate again in the last couple episodes. They took a
turn from the very beginning, which was unexpected and very cool in taking our
old Jedi friend off Tatooine and sending him out to aid in the recovery of
Princess Leia who has been kidnapped by some jerks working for our newest
villain, Reva.
We learn later that Reva used to be a padawan and now has some weird shit
vendetta against Obi Wan because he wasn’t just hanging around the Jedi temple
to help when Anakin went evil nutters and killed the younglings. Too bad, so
sad. She is the Third Sister among the Inquisitors. Honestly, I wasn’t a big
fan of the character – the whole story with her seemed superfluous. The
Inquisitors are an awesome team and I think they missed a real opportunity here
to introduce Ventress, a totally badass villain that already has a Star Wars
plotline behind her as a Jedi hunter. Moving on.
Vivien Lyra Blair embodies a young Leia. Honestly, kudos to the casting
people here. The dynamic between the two characters is well written and well
executed. Unfortunately, we have to get to my first problem, or should I say my
ONLY problem with this series. It just so happens that the same issue keeps
coming up for me over and over again. Sometimes whoever is in charge just wants
the story to go a certain way so with a stroke of terrible writing they just
make it happen. Lazy!!
So these goons go to Alderaan to steal our princess and being that she is
Leia Organa, she doesn’t just faint off and go. She runs. Here’s the thing,
kids. This little girl, who is very small for a supposed 10 year old, outruns 3
grown men for way longer than she should have been able to. Apparently none of
these men could run at full speed, see large branches right in front of their
faces, or manage a little underbrush in the forest. They grab the kid after a
terrible chase scene. Whatever, I’m maybe over it. Let’s move along.
Once Obi Wan finds Leia, it’s all bread and butter and it’s good. The Jedi
is a little tired, jaded, and struggles to regain his intimacy with the Force.
As they try to get back to her parents on Alderaan, they run into mishaps along
the way and receive aid from an underground unit that works to help people
escape from the Empire. We’re jamming along pretty well when all of a sudden we
have another one of those writing brain farts. At this point, Reva is hot on
their heels, so to speak. Obi Wan and Leia are separated and the princess is
running down this hidden corridor to meet a pilot that will shuttle her away
from danger. Reva finds the hidden corridor waaaaaayyy after Leia makes a break
for it. Then when the princess gets to the rendezvous point, we see the pilot
down and out and Reva waiting menacingly for her. WHAAAAATTTT? How did that
even happen? No, no, and no!! If you needed her to get captured for plot
purposes, write it better!!
But we get a nice cherry on top of this sometimes dubious sundae – the
Vader/Obi Wan interaction is so much fun! Totally engaging and it’s how you
really want to see Vader moving as an old school fan. We only got to see the
slow, clunky Vader before and a small, kickass scene at the end of Rogue One. We
know he is a gangster with the Force, but never get to see it very much. And
our good friend, Obi Wan, comes up with some new moves as well. They very much
did these two characters justice both in battle and the emotional push and pull
between them. Winning.
Now, my last complaint. So Reva is working for Vader, but also working
towards killing him herself. He left her half dead when she was a kid, then
what does he do when the confrontation occurs? Does it again!! Ok, I don’t even
have any words for that one. Let’s get it on and sum up here.
Fairly, I think this series gets a strong B+ to A-. Leia gets home safely
and the story line is left open for Obi Wan to have a few more adventures
before Luke grows up and starts whining about going to the tosche station for
his stupid ass power converters. Even though there were some plot holes and
things I personally would have changed, it was fun to watch, the story moved,
and the action was good. The imagery throughout the entire event was
spectacular. Just beautiful. And it was just so cool to see a slightly
weathered Obi Wan getting after it with some new moves.
May the Force be with us, friends.
Until next time,
Ms. Snow
Locke & Key review –
For those of you who have already enjoyed the two seasons of this show, yes, I am a wee bit behind the curve on this one as it’s been on Netflix for some months now. To the curious who have not yet parceled out the time to watch Locke and Key or to anyone who simply hasn’t heard of it, the show is definitely worth the view once through. This is especially true if you’re a fan of magic oriented fiction tales. Ahead there are a couple small, tiny, infinitesimal spoilers – but nothing incredibly specific, I swear! This series is for any age group really (barring young kids) although right off the stick, I gotta tell ya, the older you are, the less you’ll probably enjoy it.
Let’s do the thing.
The premise and storyline is refreshingly original. The show is based on the comics by Joe Hill and Gabriel Rodriguez. Points all around to the writers, creators, and to the person who believed this would cross over well onto screen.
After the death of Rendall Locke, his widow and three children move to his childhood home in Massachusetts – Key house – for a fresh start. Most of the plot centers around the kids, two teens and one of grade school age. Tyler, Kinsey, and Bode, respectfully. They soon begin to discover hidden keys within their new home. The keys “whisper” and only the Locke kids can hear them. Each key performs a different magical task. One is a key that transports the user anywhere in the world. Another is called the ghost key. The head key allows the character to go inside their own mind or even someone else’s. Etc….etc. There turns out to be a cornucopia of keys.
Additionally positive, the plotline through most of the episodes is pretty solid. The youngest – Bode – is the first to hear the keys. He uses one to enter a well house on the property and accidently releases a demon. And it goes from there. I won’t give anymore specifics on that. Suffice it to say that the rest of the series is mostly spent warring with the demon, discovering more keys, and uncovering family secrets. There are definitely some twists and turns. There are characters to hate and others to root for. Again, all in all, fun and solid. Also, while we’re doling out the compliments – the actors cast were quite adept at bringing their characters to life on the screen in a believable way. The performances seemed sincere, fluid, not forced. I won’t go crazy and say that there’s a “character for everybody”, but the variety was there. None of the themes were super woke or super traditional. No matter what the underlying situations are, it’s so repulsive when a film or show tries to ram ideologies down your throat. Locke and Key steered clear of that, thank you very muchly.
So what was unpalatable about this show? In Season One – nothing much. The teens’ behavior in their romantic attachments seemed a little loosey goosey for me, maybe a little slutty – yes, I still use that word because it is a thing. This left me, a grown adult, wondering if this is just how young people are now in modern times. Whatever. It didn’t stop me from enjoying other aspects of the series. Another thing about Locke and Key is that it’s one of those shows that is not only centered around the kids; they also seem to be the ones in charge and mostly running things. Again, not a big enough deal to put me off liking it. Perhaps I’ve been spoiled by a lot of 80’s films and even “Stranger Things” wherein the focus was on the kids, but they still acted like school aged children and the impression was never given that they were more sensible or in charge than their parents or teachers. The personalities and interactions were just more believable.
Season two carried forward season one’s creativity and was fun to get into because it allowed the viewer to settle in with characters and storyline that already felt familiar while continuing to pump out the plot twists.
What changed?
Well, in the last four or five episodes, the director became obsessed with doing a boatload of close-ups during tense conversations between characters. It became a bit jarring and undeniably noticeable since it was not a prevalent technique throughout the previous season. Once more, obviously not a deal breaker for me. My biggest criticism is that in the last few episodes there were a handful of inconsistencies as the action progressed. Now, were they contrived because the writers/director needed the story to move in a certain direction? Were they there because the action was derived directly from the comics? Were they simply over-looked? No idea. I really want to give an example without spoiling too much. Ruining someone else’s viewing experience is not my bag at all.
Ok – smallish spoiler. There comes a point when one of the characters is wearing the “Hercules belt” they found. (When the corresponding key is inserted, it gives the wearer mega strength.) During this particular scene, the device proves to be nearly useless when it had previously been used to do extremely powerful acts. It legit didn’t make any sense. It is one thing to suspend belief to enjoy a show or movie – let’s face it, that’s part of the thrill! However, precedents set forward earlier must be carried through for that sense of consistency.
Overall – good show; fun show; I will watch season three because the story is that good. My only real complaint, not criticism, complaint – People never close that damn front door when entering Key house. It drove me nuts! Seriously. Whoever is in charge of that crap while filming needs to get…on…it. It’s a HUGE house, in Massachusetts, in the winter and most of the characters act like they skipped that part in life where we all learned how to close a damn door.
If you find some time on your hands, Locke and Key is worth it. Until next time…
Chill,
Ms. Snow
Red Sonja Snow 