Lydia Johnston

Somehow, this show has managed to be incredibly tense despite the fact that we all know its main characters are perfectly safe. ⚠️Spoilers for episodes 1-3 ahead!⚠️ The first episode was a bit boring in my opinion, but still quality, and I especially enjoyed the differences between Bail Organa and Owen Lars. Its portrayal of its title character was also better than I was expecting. It handles his trauma in a way most fictional media doesn't. He doesn't immediately spring back into action, he's haunted by everything that has happened to him and his loved ones, he's disillusioned, he's depressed, he's rejected his past because that's all he thinks he can do. Most stories seem happy to immediately shunt their beaten-down heroes off into another adventure, but this show goes above and beyond to portray a much more realistic reaction to what he lived through. However, the second and third episodes were easily some of my favorite things to come out of Star Wars in recent years. Their endings were especially good. Leia was a surprising but very welcome addition. I've seen some fans online claim that she "doesn't act like a ten year old", but personally I've found that most ten year old girls do actually act like that- if anything, she might be one of the best portrayals I have seen of a preteen girl in any media, let alone Star Wars. She has all the spunk and sass I would have wanted from a young Leia. Her dynamic with Obi-Wan was equal parts depressing and adorable, as she reminds him of both her parents and all his failures just as much as she reminds him of how much he cares about other people. I can't wait to see how this shop develops its new antagonist, since we know so little about her except for the fact that she isn't like the other Inquisitors, and I hope that subsequent episodes live up to my newly very high expectations!