Star Wars Novel Shows Obi-Wan Questioning His Sexuality

Printed Media

As if Disney and Lucasfilm hadn’t missed the mark with Obi-Wan Kenobi enough lately, a new book will delve into his sexuality. A scene in the upcoming prequel novel Padawan will see Obi-Wan question whether he may be attracted to men or even asexual. The book’s official release date was listed as July 26th, but some copies popped up and were read before this. The book is written by young adult author Kiersten White, best known for the Paranormalcy series. Read the book’s official synopsis here:

“Obi-Wan Kenobi really wants to be a good Padawan. The best Padawan, even. But that’s feeling more and more impossible with his new master, Qui-Gon Jinn. All of Obi-Wan’s friends are off training to be real Jedi, getting mission experience, while he’s still on Coruscant, practicing his forms and sitting in silent contemplation.”

“Ever since Qui-Gon’s former master, Dooku, left the Order, it feels like Qui-Gon has been too busy trying to connect with the Force or arguing with the Jedi Council to properly train his Padawan. When Obi-Wan finally convinces Qui-Gon to take him on a mission to a remote planet once explored by an ancient Jedi, his master doesn’t show up the morning they are to leave—so Obi-Wan impulsively takes off by himself.”

“Upon arriving on the mysterious, lush planet, he encounters a group of teenagers with no adult supervision—and who all seem to have some connection to the Force. Free from the constraints of the Order, Obi-Wan joins them in their daring adventures, but the Padawan side of him keeps questioning the teens’ strange relationship to the Force, and to the verdant planet around them, and what all of it might mean to his future. Obi-Wan will test the limits of his relationship to the Jedi and to the Force in this exciting, yet soulful exploration of one of Star Wars’ most enduring heroes.”

And courtesy of Twitter user mads | 43, here’s the passage in question if you want to read it for yourself:

I’m a Star Wars fan, and I’ve always loved Obi-Wan Kenobi. I’m also bisexual and have no problem with different sexualities being introduced and explored in stories. However, this isn’t the way to do it. This is shoehorning the possibility of sexual confusion in with an established character who has only ever had one love interest in the modern canon. Making Obi-Wan bi or ace isn’t what’s best for Obi-Wan as a character, his fans, or representation in Star Wars. Making Obi-Wan bisexual or asexual would not affect the larger story or his individual story, so why do it?

Furthermore, does the LGBTQ community want to be spoon-fed more characters with hidden desires they can’t act on? Obi-Wan already went through having to restrain such feelings with Satine; doing it with a male character would be redundant anyway. I’m not surprised by this development, but I’m still disappointed. This isn’t doing anybody any favors, and it doesn’t benefit the story of Star Wars or Obi-Wan Kenobi.