Obi-Wan Kenobi Part III Review: 6 Ups & 3 Downs
Obi-Wan slips dangerously out of his element as an old friend hunts him down.
After last week's double bill opener to the untold story of a post-Order 66 Obi-Wan kicked things off with a powerful bang, Obi-Wan Kenobi has returned to screens with an episode of constant surprises and shocking confrontations.
Hoping to get Leia home by meeting up with a contact of con man Haja Estree, Obi-Wan starts Part III reeling from the news that Anakin is alive and more powerful than ever, whilst his former apprentice lurks in the shadows, waiting to strike.
Bursting with exhilarating action and effective fan service, Part III is not without its flaws - one of which makes it a slightly weaker instalment than the previous episodes overall - but makes up for them with a series of twists that will leave even the most casual of Star Wars fans thoroughly shaken.
With that in mind, from the enhanced development of its haunted title character to its staggering action sequences, here are 6 Ups and 3 Downs from Obi-Wan Kenobi, Part III. This review contains major spoilers.
DOWNS...
9. The Wildly Uneven Pacing
Though it smooths things out as it goes, the first half of Part III in particular suffers from glaring pace issues.
At first sombre and centred on Obi-Wan and Leia, the episode's decision to switch between the pair, the Inquisitors, the imminent return of Darth Vader, and a new character who's given little to work with eventually leaves it feeling far too jumbled for its own good.
Because so much is fit within this one hour, there's a distinct lack of development at play outside of Obi-Wan, which leaves many of it feeling like filler, and a set-up for bigger twists further down the line.
It's not enough to ruin the episode, especially given how excellent its last act is, but the inconsistent pacing still holds it back from greatness.