Why SPOILER returned for the Obi-Wan Kenobi finale

MAJOR SPOILERS for Obi-Wan Kenobi. Consider yourself warned. After much hype and anticipation, the Obi-Wan Kenobi finale is now streaming on Disney+. The series re-introduced us to Ewan McGregor’s Obi-Wan Kenobi, ten years after the dramatic events of Revenge of the Sith where he faced his greatest defeat — the downfall and corruption of his best friend and Jedi apprentice, Anakin Skywalker.

If you’re still with us, you’ll know that Liam Neeson returned as Qui-Gon Jinn in the last moments of the Obi-Wan Kenobi finale. This marks the first time Neeson has played the role in live-action since The Phantom Menace more than twenty years ago. The seeds of Qui-Gon’s return were planted earlier in the series when Obi-Wan reached out to his former Master through the Force but received no response. While fans were certainly hoping Liam Neeson would turn up in the flesh — so to speak — there was never any guarantee. While speaking with THR, Liam Neeson finally broke his silence on why he decided to return to the role for the Obi-Wan Kenobi finale.

I certainly didn’t want anyone else playing Qui-Gon Jinn, and I wanted to show my respect for George [Lucas] and that mythical world that he created. Plus, Ewan [McGregor] is a pal, and I loved working with him during The Phantom Menace 25 years ago.

Fans have eagerly awaited the day when Liam Neeson would surprise the role for years. The actor has voiced Qui-Gon Jinn in several episodes of Star Wars: The Clone Wars and will do so again in the upcoming Tales of the Jedi animated series, but actually seeing Qui-Gon again in live-action was quite the treat, even if it was all too brief. If Obi-Wan Kenobi does return for a second season, perhaps Qui-Gon Jinn would have a bigger part to play.