Something like 'Obsession' over a TV show just sounds silly, and not very Space Opera-like. If Oath or Obsession are to have any impact at all, it should be something big, like restoring the Jedi or defeating the Empire or re-establishing the glory of the Mandalorians, or freeing Kashyyyk. Something that might drive the character on, not a silly distraction like in the 'Holiday Special'.

And even then, I can't see these things are 'Obligations', because you're not obligated to anyone beyond yourself. If you stop doing them, nobody else will care.

The actual description for obsession includes celebrities. It's definitely meant to extend to pop culture, so TV shows (or the SW equivalent) makes sense to me.

Regardless, I've seen you posting your opinion about the certain types of obligation in that if there's not an external force, it can't be an obligation. I have to disagree with you there. The external pressure is the player, or the GM, or the narrative. EotE is, first and foremost, a cooperative storytelling experience. That's why it's structured the way it is and why the dice work the way they do. At the end of the day, if the player is just going to ignore his obligation just because you can't send an NPC after him to kick his ass, then it might not be the right game for that player and it's definitely not the right obligation.

With that said, it's easy enough to start implementing penalties to the PC as he continues to ignore it. A strain threshold or Discipline reduction that can only be removed after addressing the obligation can go a long way to kicking the player's ass into gear.

I agree completely. In my example above, it would be one step above the usual version and move a little bit into compulsion. Maybe our theoretical PC triggers his obligation during the birth of his child. He could still decide to stay, but it's gnawing away at him. For a TV show, maybe he's sneakily watching it on his iPhone while in the delivery room or taking frequent bathroom breaks to watch a bit at a time. That's a true obsession

Now, in that example, how do you reduce that obligation without therapy and without relying on a realization moment (e.g. "My God, I missed my baby's birth to watch this show. What am I doing?")?

Well, to be honest, that was more of a real-world example and not something I'd be thrilled to play out in a campaign.

But, for example, if an enemy were to kidnap the character's wife and newborn child while the PC was watching the premiere of the movie, then an adventure could be constructed where the PC played out the consequences of his actions.

The climax of that adventure could potentially be the turning point that reduces the character's obligation.

Again, that's not a great example that I'd want to play out in a roleplaying game.

With an Obligation like Obsession, you're going to have to rely on the player whose character is affected to roleplay out the ways in which they're affected by the Obsession, and it might be more of a story-based roleplay situation that causes the catharsis.

Perhaps the wife leaves with the newborn child because the PC was out at the movies instead of by her side. She's had enough of him, and flies to a different planet. Maybe the PC has to go through challenges to reach that planet and talk to her.

When he does, he either convinces her that he's changed and she forgives him, or she leaves him for good and he has to deal with it.

Either way, it's a story-based roleplay thing that he'd be changed by that experience. The Obligation is reduced.