Summary
Some observantStar Warsfans may have picked up on some hidden depth in Obi-Wan Kenobi’s earliest appearance from the franchise. But is it simply excellent acting that stands the test of time? Or was it truly a sign that creator George Lucas had certain plans from the start?
Given how longStar Warshas existed as a franchise, it’s never less than inevitable that fresh context will be added to older entries with each new addition to the lore. Right from the start, lines like “you fought in the Clone Wars?” sparked the imaginations of countless fans, wondering just what sort of fantastical untold story was being alluded to. In most other series, such mentions would retain their mystery. But given the existence of theanimatedStar Wars: The Clone Warsseriesand its ever growing menagerie of spinoffs, that’s just one aspect that has proven this franchise’s potential for exponential growth.
Fans in theStar Warssubredditmay have now picked up on perhaps one of the most subtle instances of this retroactive phenomenon.They noticed that Obi-Wan Kenobi’s line “I was once a Jedi Knight” inStar Wars: Episode IV: A New Hopeappears to hide some complex emotions in Sir Alec Guinness' delivery.But what sort of emotions remain up for debate, at least among the fans discussing it. Given what long-time viewers now know of the character, it could certainly go a number of ways.
The original post posits that the delivery seems to contain some derision for Obi-Wan’t time as a Jedi, which makes sense given what was eventually revealed about theJedi Order during the time of the Republic. After all, the Order fancied itself as detached peacekeepers who then turned into actual military officers on the front lines of war. It’s not difficult to see why one might scoff at such a significant turn. But another user quickly offered another, slightly adjusted theory: that he was more detached than spiteful.
The comment in question explains in detail howObi-Wan’s proud past as a Jedi Knightand eventual Jedi Master came crashing down so spectacularly that he has no choice but to be detached for his own sake. “Kenobi was a great Jedi, but he was too attached to the institutions of The Republic and The Jedi, and (somewhat related) he takes too much on himself,” they offer. “By contrast, he now realizes those institutions were not infallible, and he speaks of them from a place of broader perspective.” Others agreed, even pointing out how Guinness, operating on relatively little information about his character, managed to put on a performance that created depth based on what he knew.
“[Guinness] obviously knew as the character was an exiled Hermit living in hiding he wouldn’t be the proud Jedi he once was and acted accordingly.”
This heavy weight from a mysterious past is not only expanded upon inThe Clone Wars, but also through someimportant moments in theObi-Wan Kenobiminiseries. But Guinness' performance given what little he (and everyone else) knew of the character remains a masterclass of working with what one has. Sure, it’s undeniable that context was added after the fact. But it’s hard to imagine Obi-Wan being such an impactful character in those early days with anyone else behind the wheel.
