Obi-Wan Kenobi isn’t just titled “Kenobi” for a specific reason, as the Disney+ show tracks Ewan McGregor’s Obi-Wan’s transformation into Ben Kenobi.
Warning! Spoilers ahead for Obi-Wan Kenobi.
Obi-Wan Kenobi may seem like an overlong title, but there’s a reason why Lucasfilm chose it over just “Kenobi”. As Disney and Lucasfilm will soon release another Disney+ series titled Andor about Cassian Andor, this may seem strange. The limited Disney+ series, Obi-Wan Kenobi follows Ewan McGregor’s Obi-Wan during the time between Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith and Episode IV: A New Hope. Obi-Wan’s symbolic transformation into Ben Kenobi (originally played by Alec Guinness) is a key part of the series, and its title reflects that.
Former Jedi Master Obi-Wan is in bad shape at the beginning of Obi-Wan Kenobi. Haunted by memories of his failure to stop Anakin Skywalker (Hayden Christensen) becoming Darth Vader, Obi-Wan isolates himself from people and the Force on Tatooine. He is far from the wise Master Luke Skywalker meets in A New Hope, but his adventures alongside a young Princess Leia and eventual rematch with Darth Vader help him find the strength to become a Jedi once more.
The title Obi-Wan Kenobi reflects Obi-Wan’s inability to let go of the past and his trauma from his duel with Vader on Mustafar and the elimination of the Jedi through Order 66. He is constantly pulled back into this world, despite his refusal, and characters like Bail Organa and Reva Sevander continue to call him Obi-Wan, despite his desire to let that identity go. If the series had simply been titled “Kenobi”, this subtle detail that signals his inability to move on would not have been so effective.
What Disney+’s Obi-Wan Kenobi Title Reveals About The Series’ Timeline
Obi-Wan is not ready to become Ben Kenobi yet at the beginning of Obi-Wan Kenobi. He thinks he is, but he must forgive himself for his role in letting Anakin become Darth Vader before he is able to accept he is a new Jedi. This is also shown in Obi-Wan Kenobi episode 6, where Obi-Wan and Vader duel (without John Williams’ iconic “Battle of the Heroes” music) and Anakin briefly appears to tell his former master that Vader has consumed his identity. Once Obi-Wan has accepted this apparent truth, he is able to finally take up the mantle of Ben Kenobi, demonstrating why the show’s title needs to emphasize the “Obi-Wan” part of his name. It also explains why he calls Vader “Darth” in A New Hope instead of Anakin.
From an out of universe perspective, Lucasfilm is also likely aware that the Disney+ series would see more viewers if the show was called Obi-Wan Kenobi. For the casual audience who are not as interested in Star Wars, the name “Obi-Wan Kenobi” is much more recognizable than just “Kenobi”. This is not a problem with lesser-known characters like Rebel Leader Cassian Andor, which is why his show is simply called Andor. Calling the show Obi-Wan Kenobi serves a story purpose and makes sense from a marketing point of view, demonstrating how Obi-Wan is slowly transitioning into his Original Trilogy self, played by Alec Guinness.
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