I’ve decided to start something new and different. A blog + a v-log series with opinion, analysis and discussion on the latest released Star Wars Rebels Episodes. Curious to learn your opinion on the topics and thesis I am about to share in this post/video and potentially all future ones. It all depends on the level of interest you show in this content and back-communication as well as my own free time.
Please note, the article contains spoilers from the first episode. I highly recommend you watch it and then keep reading.
Let’s begin with Season 3 Episode 1
Video Overview and Discussion
The video covers the same content as the written blog. It’s up to you which version do you prefer :)
Brief Overview
The episode was twice longer than a normal Rebels one, about 43 minutes. We learned that a lot of time has passed after the events in the end of Season 2. Ezra is not a blue Aladdin any more in a child format (well, less than he was before at least). He’s a more grown up, Force user and has quite an interesting new approach and vision of all things and events. He’s far more ambitious than what we remember from the first 2 seasons. Could it be because of the Sith Holocron? Most likely.
On the bright side, we did not see any silly inquisitors with their cool, but ultimately weird looking lightsabers. The level of ridiculousness of the Stormtroupers was pumped (on a scale of 1 to 10) up to 11. We are perfectly aware that no Stormtrooper has ever hit or God forbid kill anybody, but the role the poor white armored guys in Rebels’ new season is getting from silly to tragic.
The appearance of the Bendu with that strange little weird bird on his shoulder and the most legendary and epic Empire character after the guy with the breathing problem, Grand Admiral Thrawn, are the center points of this whole episode and perhaps these 2 new characters will shape up the whole season.
After this brief overview, with as minimal amount of spoilers, it’s time to jump and discuss a few specific moments and characters that I believe to be of great importance to the plot of the story.
Thrawn – the return of a legend
We know very little about the Canon version of Thrawn at the moment. His appearance so far was mostly in trailers and teasers. In the first episode his introduction was made, but little more than that. In an interview the creators of the show admitted that it’s their desire and goal to create the character as close to the Zahn’s books as possible.
Thrawn is a true legend and an absolute fan favorite. I don’t believe even Disney will dare to alter his personality too much while bringing him to the official Disney Star Wars timeline.
Ezra’s new style
I don’t just mean the new appearance. His decisions, ambitions and behavior seem to be on a totally different level now. He’s a lot more confident, even arrogant at times. His inner desire to be a leader is a lot more obvious now. I personally don’t like how much stronger he’s become. His force powers haven’t just doubled, but tripled. He spins, flies, fires blasters and pushes enemies with little to no effort at all. The way he was able to control the AT-ST (or whatever alternative to it model was that) was out of proportion. If such a young and untrained jedi padawan is capable of, what’s the point of having a whole team around him. That particular scene made him look way too overpowered in my eyes and it felt like his companions are totally useless now.
How he has been using the Holocron and what it was teaching him, it’s still a mistery, but to make such a powerful figure out of the little blue-haired Aladdin… this ancient Sith relic must be hiding insane powers inside?!
The best part about Ezra’s new look is that he isn’t using that stupid pistol-dash-lightsaber hybrid.
Kanan and the Bendu
I’ll bind them into one paragraph, because their scenes together are what I would like to talk about, mostly. Kanan, much like Rahm Kota (from The Force Unleashed) foolishly believes at first that losing your sight results in your separation with the Force and loss of all your abilities. The mysterious creature that doesn’t belong neither to the Dark Side, nor to the Light Side of the Force, the Bendu, teaches him this most valuable lesson. For Kanan learning how to control his own fears, how to overcome them, is as vital for his survival as adapting his senses to what surrounds him. He now has to rely on more than just sight. Feeling, touching, smelling are of no less importance.
I’ve read a few theories and spoilers about what the role of the Bendu might be and what (or who) the little bird was on his shoulder, but I would prefer to either discuss them in the comments or leave that topic for a later time when, hopefully, more information is presented in the next episodes.
Must admit, I was and expecting a different voiceover and sound from such a creature. It falls a bit short on the epicness and bass levels, though, the actor behind the Bendu, Tom Baker himself, is more than a brilliant one.
The Ending
A little trivial and too predictable. The show is growing up together with its audience and characters, but we cannot expect the Dark Side to sneak in so soon. Can we?
Final score
I wont give a number to the level of entertainment or enjoyment I’ve received from this or any future episodes, but will instead just describe how much I liked or not the episode of the show. The opening of the season was full of events: a significant amount of time has passed and it’s perfectly visible in the dialogues and behavior of the characters, 2 new characters made their first appearance, a double sized episode with a total length of 43 min and… THRAWN. Damn it. I’m happy!
Now, it’s your turn! What did you expect from the episode before you saw it, what did you feel and think while watching? I’m all ears and eyes!
