A side step at first glance, but deeply connected to the series of events Rebels deals with
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Note: This article contains spoilers from the Star Wars Rebels Current and past episodes.
I expected this episode to be a casual stroll sideways and not directly related to the main plot of the story. To some extend it was so, as Ezra and Kanan didn’t get nearly as much screen time as in the previous 2 episodes. Let’s see then, what was so special about “The Antilles Extraction” to make it worth mine and your viewing time.
Video Overview
Quick Story Recap
The Empire shows teeth, ganking and destroying the Rebel Alliance in a surprise fight seconds within the opening of the show. In desperate need of fresh and qualified pilots, the Rebels decide to steal some from the Empire. Sabine enters as a new cadet into the academy and contacts WedgeAntilles.
After a tricky training session where the two cadets were instructed to perform actions outside of the Imperial codes, Sabine almost loses her nerves, but Wedge manages to save the situation and her mission continues. In an attempt to escape together with Wedge, Hobbie and Rake, the last one is killed. Sabine, Wedge and Hobbie are arrested. Using her Mandalorian skills and training, Sabine manages to escape from Pryce’s interrogation session and helps the other 2 pilots too. The trio jump into a slow TIE Bomber to escape. When all hope seems lost, the Rebel ship comes out of nowhere in the clouds to rescue them. They speed off, leaving the academy behind them.
Happy ending as Sabine and the 2 pilots are safely delivered to the Rebel base.
The Details
After the usual short recap of the events, it’s now time to take a deeper look into some of the more interesting moments and lines from this episode.
Sabine steps into the light
I cannot remember how long it’s been since this character had the lead in an episode. In Season 3 she has been a brief secondary figure so far. Today she stepped up and performed as it is expected of an ex Imperial cadet and a Mandalorian. In my eyes Sabine’s character has always been somewhat an enigma. She has so much potential, but the writers seem to never give her enough space to shine. Her melee fight with Pryce, though, was one of the best fighting scenes in the show so far.
“Sabine is the least recognizable of us”
These words from Sabine’s own boss, Hera, perfectly well describe how neglected the girl has been all this time.
Pryce and Kallus
The 2 so called “bad characters” shine in totally different light in this episode. Ever since we witnessed the unexpected friendship between Zeb and Agent Kallus, I have been expecting of him to defect from the Empire and join the Rebellion. The introduction of Governor Arihnda Pryce and Thrawn (who wasn’t seen or heard of again!) is yet another reason for me to believe that Kallus no longer has a life with the Empire. He returned the favor to Zeb by allowing the Rebels to escape, but I also think that the mysterious Fulcrum was no other, but the very same Agent Kallus.
By the way, did you know that the title “Fulcrum” was bestowed on several rebel informants and was originally an idea of Ahsoka’s, who was a notable Fulcram agent herself back in her padawan days. And one more interesting little known fact, this time about Kalus. The character had several designs, one of which a blue skinned Chiss. The creators went ahead with his human form in the end. I wonder, did they know about Thrawn becoming Canon in Season 3 back then? It must have been planned years ago.
We’ve heard the voice of Pryce and about her activities since before even the first season of the show, but finally in Episode 1 of this 3rd season, we finally see her physical appearance. And… oh wow, she looks just as brutal as she sounds.
Ezra and Kanan
Even though they appear only briefly in this episode, it is hard not to notice the annoyuing whinings from Ezra in his dialogues first with Hera and Sabine, later on with Kanan. Just proves how much more this kid has to grow up and how far from a true leader he is. Will he ever reach that point, I doubt. If Ezra doesn’t turn to the Dark Side, it would be the biggest missed opportunity for an epic drama in the whole story of Star Wars Rebels. :)
Wedge
I had hoped he would have a lot bigger role in the episode. But at least we now know a little bit more of his past and how exactly he joins the Rebellion. I, just like everyone else, didn’t expect Hobbie to appear. Derek Klivian has a very rich history in the EU/Legends and even appeared in Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back. He was the second best surprise for me today, only after that awesome melee fight.
The verdict
The third episode of the season had a nice story and brought Sabine to the main stage – one of the Rebels that is least known still. The writers showed us that Sabine has grown up a lot between the 2 seasons. She’s a lot more responsible and serious now. With or without her favorite colorful armor and helmet, she’s capable of great things and she showed it very well. There were weak moments, of course. One of them, maybe, was Ezra’s whining. The other one was, without a doubt, the scene with Sabine’s card not being recognized by the droid… blowing on it is so… 1990. I remember doing that for the old cartridges of my Atari 2600.
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