When we say “flow wars,” it often seems like an exaggeration. But when Stranger Things Season 4 and The Obi-Wan Kenobi Show debut against each other a week later on Friday (May 27), it’s not hard to actually feel like two of the top streaming services are already blowing up.
Yes, in the war of eyes and subscription money, Netflix is sending its best combos and teens with superpowers to Disney Plus, which summons the powers of the true Jedi Master and an ex-Padawan. The good thing about this confrontation is that we can all win provided we have an account for both. You do not need to choose. Except when it comes to what you’ll see first.
I’ve already made my personal choice. While I’ll likely see some of each show on screens, I know I’m very excited to be back in Hawkins over that distant galaxy. So I thought I could explain why to anyone trying to prioritize simultaneous launches.
Stranger Things season 4 is the beginning of the end
I’ve appreciated Stranger Things since its inception, but even I felt a little tired in the new season. Fatigue that is completely erased in two minutes.
Not only does Season 4 of Stranger Things feel more important because it’s the penultimate season, but the stakes are finally rising. When I told Dr. Sam Owens of Paul Reiser’s Eleven In the Season 4 trailer for Stranger Things that she was critical to “winning this war,” I was curious.
But later on in that trailer, I got the biggest reason to fascinate me. That was when Vicna, the huge fearsome beast, said “You broke everything. Your suffering is almost over.” And this moment made me feel that Stranger Things is finally developing in the right way.
In previous seasons, the kids, Hopper and Joyce, had taken on beings from The Upside Down, but the ones that weren’t talking. We almost felt like we were seeing an endless crowd of close friends. And to use the Marvel Cinematic Universe as a point of comparison, I was sick of all the Chitauri and wondering when Thanos would arrive. Or any villain who feels worthy.
Then I got more reasons to be excited. David Harbor (Hooper himself) confirmed the importance of Vecna at the premiere of Stranger Things Season 4 diverse “We have never seen such a thing as calculated psychological evil [Vecna]. That’s exciting because he’s a real bad guy that we need in the series.”
But don’t worry about the sudden change in speed. Vecna is still the villain of Stranger Things, with his name stemming from the Dungeons and Dragons character, a lich (an undead creature). So the show you’ve been following over three seasons is evolving but staying true to its roots? Calculate it on me.
Obi-Wan Kenobi plays for the nostalgia I don’t have
The Obi-Wan Kenobi Show feels like the last shot in the old Star Wars, at least to me. I’ll admit it has a high degree of difficulty: Obi-Wan is set at that strange moment in Star Wars history, between Episode III – Revenge of the Sith and Episode IV – A New Hope.
The Obi-Wan series is closely related to the previously not entirely beloved trilogy, starring Ewan McGregor as Kenobi and Hayden Christensen as Anakin Skywalker / Darth Vader. And this is where I started to feel the power of the force waning. I didn’t really have a strong affinity with the prequel trilogy, because the original trilogy is my starting point with the series. I was in college when the prequel trilogy came out, and it didn’t click with me.
Furthermore, I have not seen The Clone Wars or Rebels, the animated series that has links to the Obi-Wan series. Christiansen said EW Those shows ‘did a lot with it [Obi-Wan and Anakin], “To explore the relationship further.” And so I hope the Obi-Wan show will not depend on those shows.
However, I’m not made of the same parts that were rebuilt as Lord Vader’s armor. I got a little excited when I saw the trailer for Obi-Wan Kenobi. The Grand Inquisitor’s dual-bladed weapon looks great, and I’m curious how Obi-Wan vs Anakin II goes. Except, you know, we already know.
Both Darth Vader and Obi-Wan Kenobi survived this movie and spoiler warning The former removes the latter in “A New Hope”. And because we know for sure, Obi-Wan Kenobi’s offering doesn’t seem to matter. There are no bets. We know what will happen next.
Future predictions: Who should watch Obi-Wan first?
The fourth season of Stranger Things will also be released with greater urgency: the first half of the season (consisting of five episodes) drops in one go. On the other hand, Obi-Wan Kenobi will have two episodes to start and then release weekly from now on. I prefer this weekly course, but that’s neither here nor there.
Obi-Wan Kenobi, since he doesn’t have much power to change the canon of Star Wars, is very important in a meta sense. It’s a potential redemption moment for both Prequels, their fans, and Hayden Christiansen. I love it for fans and Christiansen. It reminds me of what Andrew Garfield experienced recently. If you’re having a hard time deciding what to watch first, I’d bet what you think of the pre-shows — or the ability to stay up-to-date on Obi-Wan after watching only two episodes, not five.
So, I got into the Obi-Wan Kenobi and felt like it wasn’t my top priority, I know the others (for good reason) are on the other side of the remote. To me, though, being overjoyed for Obi-Wan Kenobi feels like inverted thinking.