Spinning out of the #CloneWarsRewatch comes #RebelsRewatch. As we prepare for season two of “Star Wars: Resistance,” “The Mandalorian,” “Rise of Skywalker” and the final season of “Star Wars: The Clone Wars,” I will continue to rewatch the animated Star Wars projects and bridge the gaps between the past and present of The Skywalker Saga S1E8 Empire Day Recap: The Ghost Crew has a plan to sabotage an Empire’s Day parade on Lothal. Meanwhile, the Empire is searching for an imperial technician, a Rodian who is friends with Ezra, who holds secrets they don’t want the galaxy to know. Ezra deals with the loss of his parent’s who went missing years earlier. He struggles with Empire Day – His birthday – while on the run from the Inquisitor and Agent Kallus. Connecting the Canon The Empire’s HoloNet feed is something we’ve seen in other places in canon. This is one of the first times we learn about Empire Day, the day the Empire was formed in “Revenge of the Sith.” That was 15 years ago, and it is Ezra’s birthday, he shares this birthday with Luke and Leia. Ezra says he has been on his own since he was 7. Governor Price will later be shown in the series, but she is prominent in the Thrawn novels and Tarkin novel. This first season can feel sort of claustrophobic with so much of it taking place on Lothal. It wasn’t mentioned in my blog last week, but Simon Kinberg (who is notable for his contributions to Fox’s X-men franchise) helped create and write “Rebels.” Freddie Prinze Jr and Vanessa Marshall are perfect character voice actors. The episode ends with foreshadowing about what happened to Ezra’s parents. S1E9 Gathering Forces Recap: Continuing directly after the end of the last episode, Tseebo the Rodian begins to tell Ezra what happened to his parents. Ezra and Kanan must separate from the Ghost Crew while the Inquisitor is on their tale. They return to Fort Anaxes and face the Fyrnocks. Kanan, Ezra and the Inquisitor face off. Connecting the Canon Tseebo says that the empire is developing a tracker to follow ships through hyperspace. By the time of “The Last Jedi,” The First Order has perfected this technology. We see for the first time what happens to a ship that can’t come out of hyperspace on its own. Ezra is able to connect with the force when he admits his fear and forgives Tseebo. Hera rendezvous with the Fulcrum, Ahsoka, again. This is the first time it is hinted that Ezra might follow the dark side. S1E10 Path of the Jedi Recap: After Ezra taps into the dark side, Kanan decides they must travel to an ancient hidden temple on Lothal. There they both face new trials. Connecting the Canon The Holocron Kanan owns told him there was a Jedi temple on Lothal. Ezra’s trials in the Temple echo the “Clone Wars” episode with the younglings getting their Kyber Crystal. It also echoes Luke’s visions in the cave on Dagobah. Ezra says a Lothal nursery rhyme similar to Eenie, Meenie, Minie, Moe. Ezra thinks Hera, Sabine and Zeb don’t actually care about him. His deepest fears are eternalized in the Temple. He’s afraid of being alone and letting Kanan down. All of his fears help his character grown so much and also to establish this team as a family. Frank Oz returns as Yoda (which is weird after getting use to Yoda from The Clone Wars.) This time Yoda is a disembodied voice. He never leaves Dagobah, but he is aware of the other Jedi in the galaxy. Ezra follows the same floating lights as Yoda did in season six of The Clone Wars. The white markings in the temple in this episode are reminiscent of The World Between Worlds. Ezra builds a lightsaber different than any other we’ve seen. I’m eager to see how these bigger themes of the force play into “The Rise of Skywalker.” S1E11 Idiot’s Array Recap: Zeb loses a bet to Lando Calrissian and the Ghost Crew gets wrapped up in a smuggling gig across an imperial blockade. Connecting the Canon Billy Dee Williams reprises his role as Lando Calrissian. Zeb and Lando play Sabacc. “Idiot’s Array” refers to the winning hand. Lando is between six to ten years older than when he was last seen in “Solo: A Star Wars Story.” This is the first time we see the firebird crest, the Ghost Crews symbol which was created by Sabine. James Hong guest stars as Azmorigan. Azmorigan’s servant droids are based on the design for C3PO by Ralph McQuarrie. Puffer Pigs show up for the first time in this episode. Vizago returns in this episode. Hera notices that the Empire doesn’t want private landowners mining on Lothal. This is a directive from Governor Price. We see for the first time that Ezra’s lightsaber doubles as a blaster. Sabine’s artwork is starting to become a defining characteristic at this point and factors into the series later. S1E12 Vision of Hope Recap: Ezra has a vision of the future. Senator Gall Trayvis seems like a rebel sympathizer, but in reality, he is working for the Empire to lure rebels. Connecting the Canon Zare Leonis returns in this episode. Travvis betrays the Rebels and Ezra learns to discipline his emotions. S1E14 Rebel Resolve Recap: The team tries to find out Kanan’s location, against orders from Fulcrum. Tarkin and the Inquisitor interrogates Kanan. Connecting the Canon We see the Fulcrum in a hood for the first time. It’s clearer that Fulcrum is a woman. I remember wondering if this was Mon Mothma or Princess Leia at the time. This is the first time that Chopper gets fresh paint and infiltrates the Empire. It’s almost a running gag. Hera says that Mustafar is where Jedi go to die. S1E15 Fire Across the Galaxy
Recap: Kanan and Ezra face off for the last time against the Inquisitor. Fulcrum’s identity is revealed. Connecting the Canon The tie fighter that Ezra and Zeb stole earlier in this season was never destroyed. When Ezra was with Sabine in “Path of the Jedi” they were painting the tie fighter. Kanan fighting The Inquisitor reminds me of Qui-Gon fighting Darth Maul. The love theme plays when Kanan and Hera are on screen together. Hera has been working with Bail Organa. Their message inspired Ahsoka to come. Lothal is mid-uprsising. Enter: Vader. BEST OF THE BATCH This week’s award for best singular episode goes to “Fire Across the Galaxy.” Tarkin, Vader, the Inquisitor and Bail Organa is enough to make this a great season finale, but the reveal of Fulcrum as Ahsoka is the one thing that shocked everyone. “Empire’s Day” was another great episode, along with “Idiot’s Array.” As the story is ramping up, all the episodes are getting good, but if I had to choose one, or a top three, it’d be these. "Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker" is in theaters December 20. May the Force be with you, always. [email protected] @GrahamWoodMedia
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Erick L. Graham Wood
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