Post by Darth Exolus on Jun 29, 2022 0:33:20 GMT
My first run through of the series entire left me with a "meh" feeling. I didn't hate it, not did I particularly-enjoy it. On my second watch through, I thoroughly-dislike the show. For what it is, and what it could have been. I'll start with the good, because there are far, far less to go through, but it will all be kept brief to avoid rambling.
The Light Side.
Leia's actress. Sweet kid, is clearly struggling with a godawful bit of hokum writing. She'll definitely have bigger and better roles when she's older. Blossoming talent wasted on this show.
Ewan & Hayden. They're just so happy to be back. You can tell they put their all into it. Some genuinely-touching moments, and some good bloody acting from them.
Uncle Owen. Got a pretty good scene near the end.
The Dark Side.
The point of the show - I couldn't, and still can't find a reason why this show exists beyond trying to prop up a bland new character (Reva) with a legacy one (Kenobi). In better hands the story should have been how Obi-Wan became Ben. He's lost his brother Anakin, who for all he knows is dead, his life as he knew it. A man with no country story could have been told here. A browbeaten veteran, reluctant to get involved again. But no.
Obi-Wan is Obi-Wrong. Gone is the Negotiator. Gone is the great protector. In his place a bumbling oaf who hangs on the word of those less skilled, less knowledgeable and less informed than he is like it's gospel. He had ample opportunity to kill Vader, and literally no reason not to. Especially when he declared he had killed Anakin. That scene, by the way? They clearly rummaged around the Rebels toybox to try and capture the same emotional beats as the Ahsoka/Anakin scene. It didn't work.
Leia - Smart or Stupid as the plot demands. She's either privy to knowledge she as a child should have neither any business knowing or understanding, or she's reckless in life or death situations, constantly backchatting Obi-Wan. Her kidnapping was utterly pointless. Bail is an idiot for not even having a small security detail with her.
Vader - Is only as threatening as the story needs him to be, not the man who murders underlings for failing him. Not the man whom Inquisitors readily tossed themselves into fire for, lest they incur his wrath.
Reva - The worst part of the show. Moses Ingram has one acting mode - shout. She's poorly-directed, poorly-written and could've been portrayed by someone with real acting chops, like Janet Hubert. Her motivation is ridiculous at best. Her survival as a Padawan is beyond stupid, as is her survival after being run through by Vader. How did she know where to find Luke? Why does she want to kill him? Vader neither knows he's his son at this point any more than Luke knows he is his father. Her 'redemption' arc is unearned. One random act of kindness as the last hurdle after a life of murder and evil is not a redemption arc. Anakin died saving Luke. Had he saved him and lived, he would have face execution or prison. A more powerful move would be for Obi-Wan to reluctantly-kill her, knowing that the Empire would find Luke if she lived.
Instant Hyperspace.
The pacing, directing, editing, lighting, choreography & effects - These are flagship characters. Would it have killed them to de-age Hayden for a few minutes? The show is often darker than AvP2 at times, and shakes worse than a Transformers movie. The editing is a mite clunky, and most of the battles feel poorly shot/directed.
The Light Side.
Leia's actress. Sweet kid, is clearly struggling with a godawful bit of hokum writing. She'll definitely have bigger and better roles when she's older. Blossoming talent wasted on this show.
Ewan & Hayden. They're just so happy to be back. You can tell they put their all into it. Some genuinely-touching moments, and some good bloody acting from them.
Uncle Owen. Got a pretty good scene near the end.
The Dark Side.
The point of the show - I couldn't, and still can't find a reason why this show exists beyond trying to prop up a bland new character (Reva) with a legacy one (Kenobi). In better hands the story should have been how Obi-Wan became Ben. He's lost his brother Anakin, who for all he knows is dead, his life as he knew it. A man with no country story could have been told here. A browbeaten veteran, reluctant to get involved again. But no.
Obi-Wan is Obi-Wrong. Gone is the Negotiator. Gone is the great protector. In his place a bumbling oaf who hangs on the word of those less skilled, less knowledgeable and less informed than he is like it's gospel. He had ample opportunity to kill Vader, and literally no reason not to. Especially when he declared he had killed Anakin. That scene, by the way? They clearly rummaged around the Rebels toybox to try and capture the same emotional beats as the Ahsoka/Anakin scene. It didn't work.
Leia - Smart or Stupid as the plot demands. She's either privy to knowledge she as a child should have neither any business knowing or understanding, or she's reckless in life or death situations, constantly backchatting Obi-Wan. Her kidnapping was utterly pointless. Bail is an idiot for not even having a small security detail with her.
Vader - Is only as threatening as the story needs him to be, not the man who murders underlings for failing him. Not the man whom Inquisitors readily tossed themselves into fire for, lest they incur his wrath.
Reva - The worst part of the show. Moses Ingram has one acting mode - shout. She's poorly-directed, poorly-written and could've been portrayed by someone with real acting chops, like Janet Hubert. Her motivation is ridiculous at best. Her survival as a Padawan is beyond stupid, as is her survival after being run through by Vader. How did she know where to find Luke? Why does she want to kill him? Vader neither knows he's his son at this point any more than Luke knows he is his father. Her 'redemption' arc is unearned. One random act of kindness as the last hurdle after a life of murder and evil is not a redemption arc. Anakin died saving Luke. Had he saved him and lived, he would have face execution or prison. A more powerful move would be for Obi-Wan to reluctantly-kill her, knowing that the Empire would find Luke if she lived.
Instant Hyperspace.
The pacing, directing, editing, lighting, choreography & effects - These are flagship characters. Would it have killed them to de-age Hayden for a few minutes? The show is often darker than AvP2 at times, and shakes worse than a Transformers movie. The editing is a mite clunky, and most of the battles feel poorly shot/directed.