‘Obi-Wan Kenobi’ Theory: The Star Wars Show Rhymes with Episodes I-VI

“It’s like poetry. It rhymes.” Star Wars fans have been dropping that George Lucas quote ever since he was captured saying it during a behind-the-scenes featurette about The Phantom Menace over 20 years ago. It’s kind of an all-purpose quote, one that can be used to drag Star Wars stories you don’t like for being unoriginal, or it can be used to defend Star Wars stories you love against haters who don’t see the symbolism. But this is what Star Wars does! It lovingly recycles fairytales, tropes, myths, and legends, and that was kinda the point back when George Lucas finally got to do his dream sci-fi/fantasy opera back in 1977. This is what Star Wars is.

So with that in mind, it’s kinda cool that Obi-Wan Kenobi seems to be rhyming with not just certain moments or even just one movie. Obi-Wan Kenobi just may be rhyming with two entire trilogies. Seriously! There are six episodes of Obi-Wan and so far the first four all have elements that correspond with their episode in the franchise. Obi-Wan “Part I” rhymes with The Phantom Menace, “Part II” rhymes with Attack of the Clones, etc. etc. This hit me when I saw the title of Obi-Wan “Part IV.” I have Star Wars brain in that I can’t see the Roman numeral IV without thinking of Episode IV, which is A New Hope. And then boy oh boy, “Part IV” is very Episode IV-y! But I’m getting ahead of myself.

Obi-Wan Kenobi “Part I” takes place on a desert planet (Tatooine) and a breathtakingly lush planet (Alderaan).

Star Wars: Episode I — The Phantom Menace takes place on a desert planet (Tatooine) and a breathtakingly lush planet (Naboo).

Obi-Wan Kenobi “Part II” features a chase sequence on a city planet (Daiyu).

Star Wars: Episode II — Attack of the Clones features a chase sequence on a city planet (Coruscant).

Obi-Wan Kenobi “Part III” shows us a vision of Anakin Skywalker in his Darth Vader robes.

Star Wars: Episode III — Revenge of the Sith features the debut of Darth Vader in his Sith robes.

Way more importantly, though, Obi-Wan Kenobi “Part III” includes a heated showdown between Darth Vader and Obi-Wan Kenobi wherein Obi-Wan gets burned.

And Star Wars: Episode III — Revenge of the Sith includes a heated showdown between Obi-Wan Kenobi and Darth Vader wherein Vader gets burned.

Obi-Wan Kenobi “Part IV” has a whole lot in common with Star Wars: Episode IV — A New Hope. First, Ben Kenobi goes on a mission…

… to rescue Princess Leia…

… and also someone leaves a comlink on a desk at a high stakes moment.

This cannot be a coincidence — and I’m sure I’ve missed a few other echoes between the original trilogies and Obi-Wan in this quick roundup.

But I gotta point out that this is in no way shade at Deborah Chow and the Obi-Wan team. Like a lot of Star Wars before it, Obi-Wan is paying homage to the Star Wars that came before it. That’s kinda what makes it feel so Star Wars-y. Each episode still has plenty of new ideas that will surely echo throughout future projects. It also feels pretty impossible to guess what’s going to happen in the final two episodes even though they’re likely going to have Empire Strikes Back and Return of the Jedi vibes.

Oh — there’s one thing I’d like to predict, though: after Obi-Wan’s multiple attempts to reach his former master…

… we are totally going to see Force Ghost Qui-Gon Jinn in Obi-Wan “Part V.”

Obi-Wan Kenobi “Part V” premieres on Disney+ on Wednesday, June 15.