Obi-Wan Kenobi Part III Review: 6 Ups & 3 Downs
7. It's Mostly Set-Up
Despite its strengths heavily outweighing its weaknesses, Part III of Obi-Wan Kenobi can't help but feel like an episode of set-ups for episodes to come.
Of course, teasing bigger developments happens in every episode of every show, but in the case of Part III much of its teasing is so heavy-handed and underdeveloped it's hard not to see it as a tacky ploy to keep butts in seats.
For instance, the cliffhanger ending, in which Reva kidnaps Leia after intercepting her escape route, feels far too obvious to be as effective as it clearly thinks it is, reducing both characters to plot devices in order to keep Obi-Wan fighting for three more episodes.
Likewise, newcomer Tala Durith has been thrown into the action with painfully little development, seemingly only to be used as a walking piece of exposition and a deus ex machina who swoops in to save Obi-Wan (more than once) in his time of need.
On top of that, there's also the opening scene's blunt reminder that Obi-Wan is trying to contact his deceased master, Qui Gon Jinn, and the dull Inquisitor feud, both of which are supposedly leading somewhere, but right now feel narratively flat.
These are minor gripes, honestly, but if Obi-Wan Kenobi wants to kick its second half off on a high note, it would do well to add some more gravitas to its supporting players and mysterious subplots.
Now, onto the positives...