5 characters you need to know before watching Obi-Wan Kenobi on Disney+

Legendary Jedi Knight Obi-Wan Kenobi is gracing the screens once again after a 17-year absence.

In the new Disney+ series premiering on May 27, viewers will get to find out exactly what happened during the period between Revenge of the Sith and A New Hope. 

Before you catch Obi-Wan Kenobi, it will be helpful to take a look back on his story – and perhaps some of the other characters too. 

Here is a list of five characters that you need to know before watching Obi-Wan Kenobi on Disney+.

Before he was the legendary Jedi Knight who trained both Anakin and Luke Skywalker, Obi-Wan was a Padawan learning under his mentor Qui Gon Jinn. His first on-screen appearance was in the original trilogy, where he begins Luke’s training in the ways of the force.

You can also learn of Obi-Wan’s history with Anakin in the prequel trilogy.

Darth Vader may not feature much in the prequel, but his dark presence looms over the three films, which cover his origin story from promising young Jedi to face of the Empire. 

In these movies, Anakin marries Padmé Amidala, which is at odds with the Jedi Orders’ mandate against forming attachments as they lead to the Dark Side. This rings true for Anakin, who is finally seduced away from the light by Chancellor Palpatine, aka Darth Sidious.

While it is still unclear as to what role Darth Vader plays in the new series, it is clear that he’s still not a hero this time.

Having not made their debut on Star Wars movie screens, many might not be familiar with this mysterious organisation known as the Inquisitors. 

In the Obi-Wan Kenobi trailer, we meet three Inquisitors. The first is the Grand Inquisitor, the leader of this unnerving group, who was once a former Jedi temple guard, and even a Jedi Knight. 

The second Inquisitor we meet is known as the Fifth Brother. Fans of the animated series Star Wars: Rebels may already be familiar with him. 

His story in the animated series involves not one but two prominent members of the Sith. You can catch up with the other members of the Sith by watching Star Wars: Rebels.

When Jedi forsake the light side to become Inquisitors, they are expected to forsake their names. 

However, what’s particularly interesting about the Third Sister is that unlike the rest of the Inquisitors, she does have a name. The meaning of this will be explored more in the series.

In the movies, Owen Lars isn’t a major character at all. In fact, he plays a very minor part. 

But he occupies a very important role in the Star Wars universe: it is his and his wife Beru’s death that serves as the catalyst for Luke leaving Tattooine to train with Obi-Wan.

Owen is also seen in Episode II: Attack Of The Clones when Anakin returns to his home planet of Tattooine to find his mother, Shmi. Instead, Anakin finds a family he never knew he had, including a new step-brother in Owen.

We don’t see much more of Owen in the prequels, but the character in the original trilogy seems to disapprove of Obi-Wan, a trait that carries over into the new series. 

It can be seen by Owen’s fraught conversation with the Jedi Knight in the trailer. But Obi-Wan was the one who put the infant Luke in Owen and Beru’s care, so how did their relationship become so sour?

Obi-Wan Kenobi will unpack that question and more of Obi-Wan’s journey throughout the series.

The first two episodes of the new series is now available for streaming on Disney+.