Nice to see Disney finally acknowledging the prequel era a little bit. Don't get me wrong, this still takes place in that post-RotS, pre-A New Hope safe space that Kathleen Kennedy seems absolutely terrified to move away from, but at the same time it feels tailor-made for those who grew up with that overly-hated second trilogy. It's the Star Wars content I've been most looking forward to for some time now. My favorite character in this massive, media-spanning franchise has always been Obi-Wan, and given what a tiny part he had in the OT that is in no small part due to Ewan McGregor's performance. So getting to see him step back into that role, alongside other returning faces from those same movies, hit all the right nostalgic notes for me while also providing a story with some actual significance in the canon due to the way it shows how the legendary Jedi went from being the broken man we saw at the end of Episode III to the reinvigorated wise mentor who would lead Luke on the first steps of his journey in Episode IV. So this isn't just dusting off a fan favorite for a quick good time Solo-style, but actually provides the last essential piece of history for one of the franchise's most important personas. Kenobi's entire arc here sees him forced to face the demons of his past in a struggle that's as much internal as it is external. A conflict that ultimately allows him to rediscover a sense of peace, understanding, and his faith. It carries profound themes of self-forgiveness (particularly if what happened wasn't truly your fault), letting go of trauma, and forging a new, healthier path. I hear a lot of people complaining about Third Sister Reva, but while it may be a bit redundant her inclusion really helps to hammer that message home even further. All the underlying depth of its subtext wouldn't mean much however if the miniseries wasn't fun to watch. Luckily the core dynamic between the titular hero and the child-aged version of a very familiar princess is absolutely charming, and there were still plenty of tense moments that had my heart skipping a beat despite the fact that its prequel nature meant I knew who was in real danger or not. This period in the saga is also excellently brought to life with an appropriate tone of hopelessness and desperation similar to Rogue One as the good people in the galaxy far, far away are forced into hiding or subjugation to survive being hunted. By far the greatest source of excitement though has got to be Darth Vader. It's been touted across countless films, shows, and literature how those under the Empire's rule lived in complete terror of his immense power, but this is the first piece of the fiction I've come across that's allowed us to see it for ourselves. The Sith lord is simply terrifying here, performing feats straight out of The Force Unleashed video game. Something made all the sweeter thanks to the unfairly treated Hayden Christensen coming back to don the iconic helmet. The action is of a grittier nature than we typically get from the brand as well, with lightsabers getting forsaken for some old fashioned fisticuffs and displays of the force that are more massive and bombastic than anything in any of the 9 films prior. It's refreshing to receive a project that seems built from the ground up for the portion of the community that's been largely ignored since George Lucas sold the rights to his space opera baby. Especially since it provides the final vital chapter in the history of its protagonist. Those "fans" who have been upset about everything since the first two-thirds of Return of the Jedi are better off passing, as this serves as a continuation to a part of the saga they have no appreciation for anyways. Yet, for those of us who actually like Star Wars? There are a few minor niggles with things like characters inexplicably choosing to not wipe out certain threats or how apparently taking a laser sword to the gut isn't fatal anymore, but at long last we have been given the full picture of Obi-Wan's life, and that is worth celebrating.