Sand, sand and more sand; no wonder Anakin hates it – With less than a month to go until Ewan McGregor returns as Obi-Wan “Hello There!” Kenobi, in Obi-Wan Kenobi. We’re continuing our coverage for the series to reach at least a hundred Star Wars posts before the series premieres on May 27. One question that keeps appearing online is why does Kenobi leave the safety of Tatooine?
As every Star Wars fan will know, the planet is the home of Anakin Skywalker and his son, Luke. We recently returned to Tatooine during The Book of Boba Fett. Now, we’re jumping back in time to Luke’s childhood, during a time when Kenobi feels lost to the voids of the Force while looking over the boy who will save the galaxy someday.
As Obi-Wan tells Luke in A New Hope:
Mos Eisley spaceport. You will never find a more wretched hive of scum and villainy.
Obi-Wan “Ben” Kenobi to Luke Skywalker, Star Wars: Episode IV A New Hope (1977)
Mos Eisley is bad, but what would be so terrible that Obi-Wan temporarily abandons safeguarding Luke? That’s what this post will try to decipher. Watch out for potential spoilers.
Rescuing Leia
There’s been a longstanding rumour that Obi-Wan leaves Tatooine because Leia is in trouble. We find this is probably the most believable of all the theories on this list. Remember, she is nine years off from staring into Darth Vader’s mask. When this series picks up, she’ll be ten years old. Will she have her biological father’s sense of humour and quick tongue? Yes, she most certainly may have.
Leia’s personality is what defined her in the original trilogy. So where does that put the Inquisitors and Vader if the speculation is correct?
During Leia’s youth, from what we’ve read, she was around Palpatine a bit as she was often with Bail whenever he was in the senate. Not once did the Emperor detect her Force-sensitive. He didn’t even catch on to the idea that she was Vader’s daughter. He would’ve known to some degree as he manages to corrupt her son, Ben, years later.
Vader had no clue that Leia was his daughter until he senses Luke’s feelings for her during Return of the Jedi.
Going back to Obi-Wan, if he is going to rescue Leia, it’s possible that the Inquisitors have picked up on his trail, and he has to escape them while at the same time, leading them away from Luke. The last thing Kenobi needs is Luke in danger and Owen at his throat.
A Jedi On The Run On Tatooine
Rumour has it that a Jedi will show up on Tatooine looking for Obi-Wan, and it will lead Reva – the Third Sister – to the planet. This character’s name is Nari. We’re not sure, but that’s what we’ve heard from Bespin Bulletin on Instagram. We’ll have to wait and see how true this ends up being.
It’s also said that what happens to Nari will have a lasting effect on Obi-Wan during the series.
That’s interesting because Obi-Wan is also a Jedi on the run, if you think about it. He has been hiding on Tatooine for a decade. Also, if the Nari thing is true, why does he track down Kenobi? Is he working for Bail Organa and the slowly being built rebellion? Potentially. The rumour also claims he has been looking for the Negotiator for a decade.
Recruited By Bail Organa
It is rumoured that Bail Organa could appear in the series too. It makes sense if a young Leia is involved, as what parent would allow their ten-year-old to roam the galaxy on their own? So, if the Princess of Alderaan is involved, it would be the perfect opportunity for Organa and Kenobi to join forces again.
We say this because Bail and Obi-Wan were both friends to Padmé, and they would want both her children to be safe. However, there have been rumours that Leia has been kidnapped, leading Obi-Wan to leave his post on Tatooine.
It’s possible that they felt they owed her by protecting her children from their father. Also, if Leia is in it and Obi-Wan rescues her, it could give a new definition to Leia’s familiarity with him during A New Hope.
