Solid Star Wars action series has sci-fi violence.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 10+?
Any Positive Content?
Violence & Scariness
a lot
Frequent action sequences featuring lightsabers and laser guns, even with stuff like Obi-Wan Kenobi that's geared toward younger viewers. Series opens with a violent attack on a primary school classroom.
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Features positive messages about selflessness and working for the greater good.
Positive Role Models
some
Characters show courage, compassion, and selflessness.
Diverse Representations
some
Star Wars has a history of casting actors of color in supporting but not lead roles. Obi-Wan Kenobi feels beholden to the predominantly White casting of earlier films but does cast actors of color in more prominent roles -- most notably Moses Ingram as the new villain.
Parents need to know that Obi-Wan Kenobi is a Star Wars miniseries about the great Jedi (Ewan McGregor) and his relationship with Luke and Leia when they were children. It's more geared toward younger viewers than some other recent Star Wars series: The tone is similar to The Phantom Menace and the '80s Ewok movies. The events take place between Episodes III and IV, after Obi-Wan has defeated Anakin and placed Luke and Leia with their adoptive families. Lightsaber fights are heavily featured, and the series opens with a violent classroom attack that may be upsetting for some viewers.
More of a tense thriller than a kids' series. Some disturbing scenes.
This is pretty dark and not really for younger kids at all. My 6 year old and older sibling have watched episodes 1-9 of the main star wars movies (albeit with some skipping of the more gruesome parts of episode 3). However I would not let them watch this. Each episode so far (I have watched parts 1-3) contains scenes of tension and darkness with significant emotional violence which will upset sensitive children of any age. I am enjoying it so far, but it will be a few years before I let the kids watch.
I thought it was pretty good so far, there is quite a bit of violence. I thought maybe my 6yr old could watch but it’s definitely too violent for that age. The characters are also more on the scarier side for kids. Other than that very entertaining for adults and teens.
What's the Story?
OBI-WAN KENOBI picks up 10 years after Revenge of the Sith. Once-promising Jedi warrior Anakin Skywalker (Hayden Christensen) has become the evil Darth Vader, and his twin children, Luke and Leia Skywalker, are in their separate adoptive homes, each without knowing that the other exists. Anakin's former mentor, Obi-Wan (Ewan McGregor), is hiding out and working as a butcher, while Vader's Inquisitors are hunting and killing the few remaining Jedi. But when 10-year-old Leia is kidnapped by bounty hunters, Obi-Wan digs out his old lightsaber and sets out to find her.
The Star Wars universe's latest series attempts to recapture (and hopefully rehabilitate) the kid-friendlier vibe of The Phantom Menace. Star Wars series tend to work best as genre experiments that expand the universe while also telling unique stories that wouldn't fit anywhere else (the best example of this is the spaghetti western/space opera The Mandalorian. The series is unmistakably geared toward younger viewers in a way that, for example, The Book of Boba Fett isn't. The problem is that this attempt also replicates some of the major faults of Episodes I–III, resulting in a bland, familiar plot that ostensibly expands some minor characters' backstories without really adding anything compelling.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about Star Wars. Where does Obi-Wan Kenobi fit into the big stories of Star Wars? Why is this series' story worth telling? Does it illuminate Obi-Wan or any other characters in new ways?
How does Obi-Wan's history with Anakin affect his relationships with Luke and Leia? What internal conflicts does he have? How does this inner conflict manifest itself in his actions?
Does learning more about Obi-Wan Kenobi's story change how you feel about him? Why, or why not?
Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by
suggesting a diversity update.
Common Sense Media's unbiased ratings are created by expert reviewers and aren't influenced by the product's creators or by any of our funders, affiliates, or partners.
By Marty Brown
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
