Obi-Wan Kenobi had a brother - and Star Wars should not forget about that
Although strikingly forgettable, Obi-Wan Kenobi introduces a small and rather unremarkable detail that might, one day, make some difference in the galaxy.
Words by Jan Tracz
Star Wars fans longed for an original series about their favourite Jedi, Obi-Wan Kenobi and last year they finally got one. Unfortunately, it wasn’t exactly what they expected. While the appearance of a young Princess Leia explained, why she recorded her message to Kenobi in the first place, the show also brought back the (in)famous Hayden Christensen and the final Jedi versus Sith fight delivered some tension, other elements were a crying shame. Most of the episodes seemed rushed or without any creativity. Not surprisingly, a cloud of disappointment surrounded the most beloved galaxy in modern pop culture.
Oddly enough, George Lucas’ universe admirers tend to forget about the tiny piece of dialogue that appeared in the third episode of the show, called Part III, directed by Deborah Chow. During one of the conversations between him and young Leia, he opens up to her about his past and recurring dreams: “I still have glimpses, flashes really. My mother's shawl, my father's hands, I remember a baby . . . I think I had a brother. Really don't remember him. I wished I did." His reflective soliloquy confirms that Obi-Wan is not the only child. In other words, Disney’s tedious show not only expands Kenobi’s biographical background, but also makes the fact canonical.
Some fan theories imply that Owen Lars, Luke’s uncle, is Kenobi’s relative and both brothers (or at least one of them) do not know about this mind-blowing fact till the very end. Although it’s just a presumption, such an interpretation gives some depth to their jarring arguments, which appear throughout the entire show. Needless to say, this fact would make the events from the fourth instalment of the saga, A New Hope, even more heart-breaking. When Luke finds out that his family is killed by Stormtroopers, he grieves, but Kenobi resists the sorrow. And, most interestingly, it would make perfect sense – Obi-Wan witnessed the deaths of his master (Qui-Gon Jinn), would-be lover (Satine Kryze) and proverbial foster brother (the one and only Anakin Skywalker). He resists, because he is used to the constant suffering.
Kenobi is considered to be one of the most powerful Jedis in the entire timeline – because of this, the scenario where his brother is still alive is so tempting for fans. It is dubious that the second season will happen in the nearest future, however, it would be an amusing adventure to watch Obi-Wan looking for his lost kin. It opens a doorway to a brand new thread for the show. Is his brother force-sensitive? Is he closer to the light or dark side of the force? These are the unanswered questions, but for now, the audience does not even know if his brother is still alive. However, this theoretical theme could be aptly linked to the affairs from the third/fourth season of The Mandalorian. If his brother would be younger, then his possible age – probably around forty – fits nicely into the age of the other characters of the show. Also, for the viewers, Kenobi’s death is an open secret, but it is interesting how his brother might react to that revelation.
