Obi-Wan Kenobi returns to our screens this week. Here’s where he left off

This implies Luke and Leia are round 10 years previous at this level within the “Star Wars” timeline, and Anakin is only a decade into being Darth Vader. Obi-Wan is preserving tabs on Luke from afar, nicely on his technique to changing into “Previous Ben.” (Although, to be truthful to McGregor, his Obi-Wan is extra of a “Center-Aged and Ageing Gracefully Ben.”)

Uh, I forgot — what occurred within the motion pictures earlier than this present?

Do not have time to spend six-plus hours watching the prequels? Here is a crash course on what Obi-Wan was as much as in “Episodes I-III.”

“Episode I”: Obi-Wan, then Padawan to Qui-Gon Jin, meets a younger, sprightly Anakin Skywalker on Tatooine, the place “Ani” and his mom are enslaved. Qui-Gon, sure that Anakin is the “chosen one” primarily based on his midichlorian rely (do not ask), is killed by Darth Maul, however duties Obi-Wan with coaching younger Anakin.

“Episode II”: Obi-Wan, now Grasp to a moodier, sand-averse Anakin, checks out what’s occurring on Kamino, the place a Clone military has been secretly commissioned, and wars with Jango Fett. Anakin and Obi-Wan are shut, although Anakin eschews Obi-Wan’s logical methods to comply with his impulses.

“Episode III”: Anakin embraces the Darkish Aspect and duels Obi-Wan on Mustafar, the place Anakin turns into Vader. Emperor Palpatine/Darth Sidious instructions the Clone military to execute Order 66 (aka, kill all Jedi). They largely succeed, although they fail to kill two of crucial Jedi — Yoda and Obi-Wan, the latter of whom is distraught by the lack of his “brother.”

Do I must have watched prior TV sequence to know what’s occurring?

Most likely not, except you are into homework and good TV. A number of “Obi-Wan Kenobi” characters are launched within the animated sequence “Star Wars Rebels,” which is streaming on Disney+. (Extra on these shady characters beneath.) “Rebels” takes place after “Episode III,” like this present, and Obi-Wan makes a memorable look within the third season.

Who’s the dangerous man(s) on this sequence?

On this sequence, we’ll meet the “Inquisitors,” a society of skilled hunters who’re steeped within the Darkish Aspect.

First launched in “Rebels,” their chief is the Grand Inquisitor, performed now by Rupert Pal. Inquisitors, oddly, use lightsabers in battle (simply wait till Moses Ingram, who performs Inquisitor Reva, wields her double-edged, spinning purple saber — Darth Maul is quaking). Yep, lightsabers aren’t reserved for Jedi and Sith anymore — and never each Pressure wielder belongs to a type of two orders.

Talking of Sith, the Inquisitors work for one — Darth Vader, who desires them to trace down one Jedi Knight particularly.

What’s up with Vader?

The daddy of all Skywalkers is BACK and badder than ever. “Obi-Wan Kenobi” marks the return of Hayden Christensen as Darth Vader, a job he totally embodied for only some minutes on the shut of “Episode III.”

So what’s Vader as much as after he misplaced his spouse, believed his youngsters died and lower ties with Obi-Wan (who in flip lower off a number of of his limbs)? The trailer skimps on specifics, however we are able to assume that he is nonetheless a loud mouth-breather targeted on quashing the rising Insurgent Alliance and discovering our titular Jedi. Put together the tissues for his or her inevitable reunion.

Is {that a} younger Luke I see?

Within the trailer, we see Obi-Wan watching a boy in pod-racing goggles pretending to pilot a ship. We will presume this child is a younger Luke Skywalker, who seems to be across the identical age as his father was when Qui-Gon discovered him.

Younger Luke lives with Owen Lars, the son of Cliegg Lars, who married Anakin’s mom, Shmi. Owen and his spouse, Beru, elevate Luke on their humble moisture farm and hold the reality of his parentage from him, however Obi-Wan is aware of he is destined for extra.

Joel Edgerton and Bonnie Piesse will reprise their roles from the prequels as Owen and Beru, although hopefully they will get a bit extra display screen time to flesh out the characters earlier than they meet their very violent finish in “Episode IV.”

Aren’t there different celebs on this?

We have not seen footage of any of them apart from Nanjiani, who’s within the trailer for a break up second, wanting distressed. In any other case, we do not know who the celebs are taking part in — a enjoyable shock because the sequence rolls out.