Unveiling the Untold: How Obi-Wan Kenobi's Final Scene Reshaped Star Wars' Classic A New Hope - A Year Later!
Delving deeper into a crucial A New Hope scene, the divisive Obi-Wan Kenobi finale effectively explores the contrasting perspectives of Beru and Owen, shedding light on their motivations regarding Luke Skywalker
One year ago, the season finale of Obi-Wan Kenobi introduced a surprising new layer to a lackluster scene involving Owen (played by Joel Edgerton) and Beru Lars (played by Bonnie Piesse) in the original Star Wars movie. Aunt Beru and Uncle Owen have been important characters in the Star Wars franchise since its inception in 1977, although their development has been limited. They have appeared in Star Wars: Episode II - Attack of the Clones, Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith, and Obi-Wan Kenobi, where they serve as Luke Skywalker's guardians.
Despite their various appearances, their first and last encounters - in terms of release dates, not chronological order - are closely connected. Their initial appearance in A New Hope concludes tragically, but it is the preceding scene in which they are seen alive that establishes their significance in Obi-Wan Kenobi. In the Disney+ series, Beru and Owen are given a significant amount of depth within a short period, enhancing the context for their future conversations.
Beru & Owen In Obi-Wan Sets Up Their Different Views On Luke In A New Hope
In the scene from A New Hope, Luke suggests to Owen that he should apply to the Imperial Academy now that they have droids to assist with the work. However, Owen is reluctant to allow this, wanting to keep Luke on the farm and shielded from the wider galaxy and the significant past connected to Luke's own birth. Owen avoids any mention of Obi-Wan Kenobi and R2-D2, even going so far as to ask Luke to erase R2-D2's memory.
On the other hand, Beru is shown to hold a different opinion. Throughout the scene, she is portrayed as disagreeing with Owen. This is further emphasized after Luke departs, with Beru arguing that he cannot remain sheltered forever and needs to venture out to see the galaxy, echoing the words of Kenobi himself. Beru is more receptive to acknowledging Luke's personal history, even bringing up his similarities to Anakin, which Owen admits he is fearful of. The contrasting views of Beru and Owen regarding Luke and the galaxy's history are set up retrospectively in Obi-Wan Kenobi's season finale.
A New Hope Explains Why Owen Wanted To Run (Yet Beru Wanted To Fight)
In the season finale of Obi-Wan Kenobi, the Inquisitor Reva - the Third Sister - tracks down Luke to the Lars homestead. Upon learning this, Owen suggests they pack their things and leave, taking Luke to safety and hiding until Reva departs. This mirrors his portrayal in A New Hope in 1977, where he demonstrates his determination to keep Luke hidden from the Jedi, Kenobi, and his father by wanting to shield him from Reva and the harsh reality they face.
Similarly, Beru's actions in Obi-Wan Kenobi are reminiscent of her character in A New Hope. As depicted in the latter, Beru is more aware of the state of the galaxy and accepts that they cannot keep Luke hidden forever. This explains why she is depicted as willing to confront Reva without backup in episode 6 of Obi-Wan Kenobi, as she recognizes the inevitability of the conflict and believes it is better to face it head-on. These contrasting reactions to Reva's arrival in Obi-Wan Kenobi not only mirror the couple's portrayal in the original Star Wars, but also provide valuable depth and context to the characters of Aunt Beru and Uncle Owen.
