‘Obi-Wan Kenobi’ Spoilers: Is Liam Neeson in Episode 6?
Disney+’s highly anticipated Obi-Wan Kenobi TV show has officially reached the end of its first season. But ahead of the show’s epic conclusion, many Star Wars fans were left wondering whether a certain character pivotal to the titular Jedi Master’s story was going to make another appearance in the galaxy far, far away. Now that episode 6 has arrived, we know the answer to the question: Is Liam Neeson in the Obi-Wan Kenobi finale?
[Warning: Spoilers ahead for Obi-Wan Kenobi Episode 6.]
Who does Liam Neeson play in ‘Star Wars’?
Liam Neeson first made his franchise debut back in 1999. He played the wise Jedi Master Qui-Gon Jinn in Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace.
A mentor to then-Padawan Obi-Wan Kenobi (Ewan McGregor), Qui-Gon and his apprentice must protect Queen Padmé Amidala (Natalie Portman) in hopes of securing a peaceful end to an interplanetary trade dispute. Ultimately, Qui-Gon meets his demise at the hands of Darth Maul. But his apprentice avenges him in the film’s climax. Obi-Wan then takes on a young Anakin Skywalker — aka the future Darth Vader — after making a promise to his late Master that he would help the boy to become a Jedi.
The Phantom Menace remains one of the franchise’s more controversial installments. But it’s safe to say many fans agree Neeson’s portrayal of Qui-Gon was one of the highlights of the prequel trilogy.
So is Liam Neeson in the ‘Obi-Wan Kenobi’ Season 1 finale?
In the sixth and final episode of Obi-Wan Kenobi, audiences see the satisfying conclusion to what has been Obi-Wan’s season-long mission: rescuing a 10-year-old Princess Leia.
Throughout the series, Obi-Wan makes multiple attempts to connect with his former Master via the Force. But because he’s cut himself off from his abilities following the events of Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith, he finds himself unable to do so.
After defeating Darth Vader and saving the princess, Obi-Wan returns to the desert planet of Tatooine to continue his exile from the Empire. But while trekking to his new home in the Dune Sea, Obi-Wan encounters one more person on his way: the force ghost of Qui-Gon Jinn.
Nearly 17 years after his last mention in Revenge of the Sith, Qui-Gon is back. And none other than Liam Neeson portrays him.
Although his and Obi-Wan’s interaction is short, it certainly packs a punch. And it suggests that the former Master-Padawan duo will stay together while Qui-Gon teaches his former apprentice how to become a Force Ghost before the events of Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope.
Other ‘Obi-Wan Kenobi’ cameos
Liam Neeson was far from the only legacy Star Wars character to make a cameo in the Obi-Wan Kenobi series.
Early on in the series, audiences are reintroduced to Senator Bail Organa, the adoptive father of Princess Leia. Bail made his live-action debut in Star Wars: Episode II – Attack of the Clones, where actor Jimmy Smits portrayed him. Bail appeared in several episodes of Obi-Wan Kenobi after tasking the banished Jedi Master with rescuing his daughter from bounty hunters.
In the finale, fans were also treated to a quick cameo from Ian McDiarmid’s Emperor Palpatine, who appears via hologram while speaking with Darth Vader after Vader’s duel with Obi-Wan.
Other noteworthy cameos include Red Hot Chili Peppers bassist Flea, who acts as a bounty hunter in the show; a spice dealer played by McGregor’s real-life daughter Esther; and an alien transport driver played by Scrubs veteran Zach Braff.
The future of ‘Obi-Wan Kenobi’
While originally intended to be a one-season miniseries, it was announced back in May that Obi-Wan Kenobi is Disney+’s most-watched original series to date. This begs the question: Are there plans for a season 2?
According to director Deborah Chow, not exactly. Chow recently told Entertainment Tonight: “We really did conceive it to be a limited series. It really is one big story with a beginning, middle and end. So, we weren’t thinking past that.”
On the other hand, two of the show’s stars — McGregor and Christensen — seem all in for more Obi-Wan Kenobi. Christensen told Radio Times: “It was definitely conceived as a standalone story. But I would love to continue with this character.”
Ahead of the series finale, McGregor also told British GQ: “I really hope we do another. If I could do one of these every now and again—I’d just be happy about it.”
For now, any Obi-Wan Kenobi Season 2 buzz remains pure speculation, though there’s certainly potential for these characters to pop up in future Star Wars projects like Andor or the upcoming Ahsoka show.
The Obi-Wan Kenobi finale is now streaming on Disney+.
