Kenobi Episode 5 Review: A Road Well-Mapped

Episode 5: A road well-mapped…

Note: My normal practice is to view each episode twice before reveiw – once to watch for enjoyment and general impressions, and a second time to take detailed notes. Due to a previous commitment, I won’t have time to view the episode a second time if I want to get this review up in a timely manner. As such, this review is based on a single viewing.

Impressions: The penultimate episode of Obi-Wan Kenobi continues the trend of Episode 4. Things do happen in this episode, but nothing that the audience didn’t anticipate all the way back in Episode 1. The draw for most viewers will be a flashback to the Attack of the Clones era – unfortunately, the rest of the episode marks (and wastes) time.

****SPOILERS****

This episode of Obi-Wan Kenobi was a gut-punch for me. Throughout the series, I have been trying to keep an open mind, and forgiving of some obvious issues with the show. My hope up to this point was that the showrunners had something truly special planned – something worthy of the anticipation that has built for this story over the last 17 years. Aside from brief flashbacks to a training duel between Anakin and Obi-Wan, there is little to recommend this episode. Obi-Wan Kenobi is a show that think that it is more clever than the audience. What are intended to be reveals were telegraphed from the first episode and carry no weight. The final two episodes of this series are crucial for how it will be remembered – but most of the episode is spent focusing on characters not named Obi-Wan. Guest stars who appeared earlier in the series pop up on Jabiim, in a “Hey, remember me? I’m in this show!” kind of way. We’re back to Tala giving advice to Obi-Wan so that he will know what to do. Worst of all, when the show had the opportunity to do something truly brave – it opted to take the safe path.

On a technical note – I try very hard in reviews not to call out the special effects. I believe that to properly review a show or movie, there has to be a partnership between the audience and the creators to suspend disbelief and buy into the story the filmmaker is trying to tell. However, this episode really begins to show some of the limitations of the Volume. As this is a relatively new filmmaking technique, some of this can be forgiven – but given the pacing issues with this show and the constant swings in quality (and tightness of story), I can’t help but wonder if cutting or drastically shortening this episode and the last might have led to better pacing and more budget to deal with technical issues.

The episode begins with a duel between Anakin and Obi-Wan, circa Attack of the Clones. The goal of this scene is to show how Anakins lust for victory cause him to make reckless, shortsighted decisions that can be exploited. It is good to see Coruscant, Obi-Wan, and Anakin again. The fight choreography is not up to the standards of the prequels, but they’re doing a passable imitation. We cut to Reva arriving on the Devastator, informing Lord Vader that the tracker has placed Obi-Wan on Jabiim. Vader rewards Reva with the title of Grand Inquisitor. Obi-Wans transport arrives at Jabiim. Hajaa is here, havig fled Daiyu because he is now a wanted man. Weirdly, he suggests that there may be opportunities to fleece the other refugees, continuing the bizarre plot point that this is a good man who robs the people he helps. His appearance is mainly to remind the audience that Kumail Nanjiana is in this show. Roken informs Obi-Wan that the movement of the other refugees along The Path was delayed because of his help of Obi Wan. He claims that these refugees have been waiting for months, and that an old trade route was used to transport them, but that “the window is closing.” (Are trade routes seasonal?) Obi-Wan offers to help in any way he can.

Back on the Devastator, Vader orders Reva to lock down the Refugee facility on Jabiim. She transmits instructions to Evil Lola, who cuts a breaker in a ventilation shaft (this will be a plot point later), which seals the exits the refugee transports use to leave Jabiim. As the refugees being to panic, Obi-Wan senses Vader in orbit and knows that he has come for him. He tells Roken that this will not be a prolonged siege – Vader doesn’t have the patience and will batter their defenses. We cut back to the flashback duel, where this impatience is demonstrated. Obi-Wan gives the group instructions – he informs them that they don’t need to fight the Empire – only hold them off until they could escape. Roken claims it will take 3-4 hours to open the blast doors, but Obi-Wan says they only have one. Imperial Troop Transports land and disgorge troops, who set up a heavy cannon.

The Scythe arrives with Reva, who takes command. She gives the order to begin trying to blast through the main entrance. Roken is having no luck getting the hangar doors open. Because the breaker switch is for some reason located in a tiny vent high up in the wall filled with a womp rats net of wires, he can’t get in there to access it. (Convenient for an important piece of equipment.) Leia is tapped to climb into the vent and reset the breaker. Hajaa is tapped to keep an eye on her. While doing so, Obi-Wan receives a transmission. A voicemail has been left by Bail Organa – he has not heard from Obi-Wan, and is afraid of what may have happened. Bail informs Obi-Wan that if he does not hear from Obi-Wan soon, he will head to Tatooine, because Obi-Wan may need help with Luke.

This is one of the most nonsensical things that has happened in this show, but is used to justify a predictable plot point later. It is a shame that a character who has generally been well portrayed up to this point could do something so irredeemably stupid now.

Tala arrives and shares her backstory – once more showing up the main character of the show, and repeating a trope that has grown tiresome in all of Star Wars – the strong female who has to show the way for the hapless male. What a waste. As the Imperials make progress in cutting through the front entrance, Obi-Wan resolves to stall them. He sends a message to Reva that he wants to talk. Weirdly, they whisper to each other through heavy durasteel doors. In this conversation, they do address the issue of Reva knowing Vaders identity. Reva reveals the truth we have already sussed out – that she was a survivor of the purge, seen in the first scene of the first episode. Her plan is ultimately to kill Vader. Reva doesn’t trust Obi-Wan – she blames him for not being there to save her and her friends. She loses her temper, and cuts here way through.

As the doors open, the Imperial Stormtroopers follow the example of the British in the revolutionary war, and line up in ranks marching forward in a line while chanting “Shoot me, Shoot me.” They pour into the breach, leaving many casualties.

Hajaa annoys Leia, who is still trying to find the breaker amid the mess of wires. As the refugees retreat down the tunnels, Tala is finally shot. Ned attempts to shield her with her body, and she buys time for the rest of the refugees escape. As she urges Obi-Wan to go, the blast doors close and she arms a thermal detonator, taking out more stormtroopers. Obi-Wan senses Vaders arrival, and flashes back to the end of his duel with Anakin during the Clone Wars. Obi-Wan tells Roken that he is going to surrender, because Vader wants him – not the refugees. He gives Hajaa his com-link and blaster, and lightsaber, and tells him to look after Leia. Obi-Wan surrenders, and is brought before Reva and forced to his knees.

Reva tells him that he will die soon, and Obi-Wan informs her that she is not bringing Vader to him – he is bringing Vader to her. The wheels turn, Obi-Wan appeals to her memories of what happened in the Jedi Temple all those years ago.

Vader arrives – Obi-Wan is not here. Reva claims he’s been secured inside, and Vader says that he will bring him in himself. Leia has a very brief interaction with Evil Lola, and removes the restraining bolt that has subverted her programming. She flips the breaker, and the transport doors shoot open. The refugees board the ships….and Hajaa drops the com-link Obi-Wan left him. As Vader strides into the hanger, the transport is seen taking off – Vader holds it with the Force and forces it down – ripping it open like a tin can, to reveal that it is empty. While distracted, another transport holding the refugees escapes.

Another flashback to the Attack of the Clones duel, and how Obi-Wan achieved victory, even after being disarmed. Reva arrives, behind Vader, and attacks – but Vader has sensed it, and stops her in her tracks. A brief duel ensues, and Reva is stabbed. This is the moment when Lucasfilm could have been brave and actually subverted the audience expectations in a satisfying way – had Reva died here, I believe she would have been viewed positively in the long run. Unfortunately, she is only wounded – the true Grand Inquisitor is revealed to be alive (a pointless plot twist that was also obvious and served no purpose other than to fuel Reva’s ambitions).

As Reva lays gasping on the floor, Obi-Wans dropped com-link activates, replaying Bail’s mission – and she knows he is headed towards Tatooine and Luke. Back on the refugee transport, Roken tells Obi-Wan that the transport hyperdrive is down, and the Devastator is behind them. Obi-Wan senses Revas newfound knowledge, and the dangerous web of events that is unfolding. Back on Tatooine – a sleeping Luke is unaware of the danger coming for him.

While this episode is an improvement over last week’s, I fear that there is not enough time left in the series to now build into something meaningful. There will only be time for further predictable plot points which must unfold – surprising nobody. That’s my take – what is yours?

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