A Review of Rebels as a whole
First things first, this is NOT a one shot chapter, but rather my overall opinions of Star Wars Rebels as a series. You don't have to read this if you don't want to, I just thought it might be interesting to look at the series overall and give my opinions on it, as well as hear your opinions.
Furthermore, as this is a review of rebels as a whole, you should expect SPOILERS! If you haven't seen the finale yet and don't want things spoiled, cease reading now and come back later.
Seriously, I mean it!
Don't say I didn't warn you!
Right, now that is settled, on with the show.
Why I Prefer Rebels (yes I just said that)
Unlike Clone Wars, rebels focuses on a small cast of characters, with other supporting ones being weaved in and out throughout episodes. This is, in my eyes, the greatest success of rebels. Say what you will about the characters, at the very least they each get a chance to shine and develop, far more than their Clone Wars counterparts.
Part of this is due to the fact that they were all new characters. With people like Obi-Wan and Anakin, you have to keep to a strict outline of what will happen to them. However with the cast of rebels anything could happen at any time, making the show both intense and enjoyable.
Rebels also fleshes out character interaction a lot better than Clone Wars. Ezra and Kanan get far more screentime together training than Ahsoka and Anakin, and I feel that we really get to see Ezra's development and growth as a Jedi, unlike with Ahsoka which is almost entirely offscreen and thus implied that she and Anakin have trained together.
Another strength of rebels is that it is in chronological order from the start and that it feels like a continual storyline that has effects of previous episodes last onto the next one, rather than forgotten about. An example of this would be the episode "The Call" featuring the Purrgil. How many of us expected that one to come back into play in the finale huh? Another example would be the episode "Iron Squadron" (shudders). Despite being a rubbish episode, it sets up not only the conflict between Sato and Thrawn, but also brings into the fold the character of Mart Mattin, who goes on to play an important side role in the finale.
Essentially, what I am saying is that Rebels does a much better job at creating a consistent storyline in comparison to Clone Wars, which at time felt like it was all over the place in terms of plot. Rebels feels like it has the concept of cause and consequence. By the end of the show, everything comes together to create a cohesive full circle.
Of course, I don't doubt the same would have been for Clone Wars if it hadn't been cancelled, but it is what it is I'm afraid.
That all being said, rebels is off course not without its flaws. At times there are a dull episodes (Blood Sisters/Iron Squadron), but even they prove to introduce something.
Another flaw is that it can take some time to warm up to these new characters, especially if they don't get a good character driven episode until season three. (Yes, I'm taking about Sabine) This at times made me not want to watch, as I didn't really like the character, and the thought of an episode with them as the main character bored me. However, I can now happily report that I do like Sabine, so yay.
How it all ended, and why it was always going to end the way it did
Since the start of Rebels, so many people expected a bloodbath ending, using that overly asinine Yoda quote about Luke being "Last of the Jedi" as reasoning for why Kanan and Ezra had to die. Yoda's not an omnipotent know it all! Clone Wars proved that!
Similarly, most people expected the rebels to lose at the end, again using that stupid quote from the opening crawl of 'A New Hope' as evidence why they couldn't win. (Am I the only person who doesn't like the opening crawls of the movies? I think they are cheesy. Rogue One worked better without one… …waits to get shot)
However, in my opinion, rebels was always going to have a victorious ending with few casualties, simply because it made sense. Many fans constantly criticise rebels for not having enough death and violence. When it comes down to it, Clone Wars is quite a morbid show, especially in comparison to rebels, but that makes sense simply because of when it is set.
The Clone Wars is set in the prequel era, an era that is defined by its ending being a complete bloodbath and disaster. Thus, by being similar to that, Clone Wars is simply following the atmosphere and overall story of the prequel trilogy. It can get away with constant death and destruction, because that is the theme of the prequel era.
Rebels however is set in the original trilogy era, and era that is defined by hope and success against impossible odds. By the end of ROTJ, everything is happy. The only real good guy deaths are Yoda and Kenobi, who even then go all force ghost and cheat death altogether. Thus, rebels did not need to be dark and gritty like the Clone Wars as it was set in a different time period that was directed by a hopeful ending. ROTJ ends happy, and thus it would make perfect sense for an original trilogy era story to end in similar fashion.
As for the stupid opening crawl line, remember that they are not the rebel alliance, but rather the Lothal resistance, and that they had no help from the rebellion altogether in the end.
As for Yoda's comment… just how many Jedi survived Order 66 in Legends again? Oh right, loads!
The Theories
Ah yes, theories, one of the main ways the fans interact with the show, aside from watching it. There have been many theories throughout the shows run, too many for me to keep track of, so I will give my stances of a few of them.
Ahsoka Lives?: Damn straight she does. She always did. You'd have to be blinder than Kanan Jarrus to have not seen her enter the doorway at the end or 'Twilight of the Apprentice'.
The Convor is the Daughter/Ahsoka is the Daughter: The convor is most likely some sort of guardian that keeps watch over Ahsoka, rather than the Daughter herself. As for Ahsoka being the new daughter… no! Ahsoka is a Togruta… not a demigod! That would make her too overpowered. Imagine the backlash. Ahsoka is fine the way she is. (That being said, if they made her immortal, I wouldn't mind. Do it Captain Jack Harkness style.. he he)
Ezra is Snoke: No. Ezra Bridger is Ezra Bridger. Snoke is Snoke… or was Snoke I guess.
Everyone has to Die!: I've already explained why this one is stupid in my eyes.
These are just some theories. There are many I have missed. Let me know if you want my opinion on one I missed.
The Common Complaints
Complaints are understandable. People have certain expectations, and when they don't line up they get upset. That being said, in the end of the day it is the creative team's story to tell, not the fans to dictate. We may not always like what they do, but it is not our work to create, merely to watch. Besides, that is what fanfiction is for, right?
Thrawn was badly used: To be fair, this one is somewhat understandable at times. However, most of the time it is not Thrawn that fails, but his underlings (looking at you Konstantine). When Thrawn is actively involved, he does achieve success. Just look at 'Through Imperial Eyes' as an example. Likewise, when he is defeated it is never due to being outsmarted by the rebels, but rather being outmanoeuvred by something he can't possibly comprehend, and thus plan for. (Bendu and the Purrgils)
Stormtroopers can't hit anything: When could they ever? How many main character kills have they achieve in canon again?
The Inquisitor's post season one were useless: I completely and utterly agree. Wasted potential. As was Rukh.
Ezra is a brat: Yeah… so what. It allows him to have character development.
Airs on Disney XD: This complaint baffles me. Apparently, because Disney owns the rights to Star Wars now it must be tame with no violence. Disney only publishes the show, they don't write for it, and whilst certain guidelines are in place, it never effected the story or how dark it could get. (case in point, the deaths of Aresko and Grint) Furthermore, other Disney properties kill off characters to create tragic backstories. Just because it is not Game of Thrones or Walking Dead level of violence doesn't mean it can't be a good show.
Filler episodes: Oh boy, time to get shot again! There is no such thing in a good show. Rather, they are what I call character development episodes, ones that don't have any real impact on the story, but rather build up the characters for the story in the future.
Bring back the Clone Wars/Clone Wars was so much better: I feel that it is unfair to compare the two shows really, even if I did a few moments ago. Oops! Anyway they are both different animals in a way, aiming to tell a different sort of story. Rebels opts for a small scale character driven format, whilst Clone Wars is more grand scale with minimal development of character. Both shows do things better than the other one does, and that's a good thing. That being said, as much as I love Clone Wars, it had its time, and there isn't really anything else it needs to show. The concluding season 5 arc with Ahsoka, along with the Order 66 stuff in season 6 pretty much raps up everything we need to see. From what we have been told was left, the only real stories that need to be told in some format are the one with the Sith Shrine under the Jedi Temple, and of course, The Siege of Mandalore. Aside from that, the other plot lines are rather pointless.
I'm sure there are more complaints as well, and if you want me to address them let me know. For now though, these will do.
And now, let us look at the crew of the Ghost.
The Ghost- A Crew like no other
The crew of the Ghost is a family, there is no question about that. Each member bounces off the others in different ways, creating a variety of different relationships throughout the shows run. This is a good thing as it helps to make the characters seem real, and thus easier to connect to.
Ezra is our protagonist, and honestly, I'm surprised at how many people don't like him. Sure, he can be annoying and bratty, and more often than not gets things wrong, but then again, so did Ahsoka. Ezra is young, and unlike other Jedi he had come from a different background and had a rather unorthodox training route. Looking back at the start of the series, it is easy to see how much he has matured, both as a person and as a Jedi. This shows us his character development clearly, which shows that the writers have certainly done their job right. And whilst he may still have a few arrogant or bratty tendencies, he has changed a lot, and those aspects are what make Ezra Bridger who he is. Suffice to say, I like Ezra, and I hope we get to see more of him in the future. (#EzraLives!)
There's no question that Kanan was dumed (he he, get it?) from the word go. I may not like the whole "last of the Jedi you will be" quote, but the fact that Kanan got the empires attention at the start of the show should have given it away really. Plus, he was in the lead Jedi mentor role. How often do they survive? That being said, Kanan was perhaps the most well rounded character in the show. You saw his journey from reluctant master to full blown wise knight, and when he (spoilers) died, I think we were all really upset. I know I was. :'(
Hera honestly surprised me. At the start of the show, I would have called her the most expendable member of the Ghost crew. (sorry Hera) But as the series went on, her importance seemed to grow, especially around season 3 and the introduction of Thrawn. Suffice to say, if Kanan's arch nemesis was the Grand Inquisitor, and Ezra's was his inner darkness/Maul, then Hera's is absolutely Thrawn. Hera showed herself to be a brilliant leader in dire situations, foiling the empires plan time and time again with only a small crew and a freighter to do it with. So whilst I may have ignored her largely in season 1 and 2, by the end of the show I personally think she mad one of the most important roles in the show. (and I'm going to say it again, and most likely be shot… Hera Syndulla is a better pilot than Han Solo, and the Ghost is better than the Falcon… come at me upset people!)
I've said time and again that I wasn't a fan of Sabine until Trials of the Darksaber. She seemed to essentially be the token explosive expert teammate, rather than an actual character. Even her early episodes that explored her past and trust issues are hardly brought up again, with the exception of in Trials of the Darksaber. However, by the end of the show, I have come around to her character more. She is still my least favourite of the bunch, but I want to see more of her.
Zeb is the most underused of the team, which is a damn shame. He is far from being simply the comedic muscle of the team, as shown by his character centric episodes, which are the strongest ones of the series in my eyes. At least the finale did him justice. But perhaps his biggest impact on the series is the fact that out of everyone on the team, Zeb was the one who got an imperial to defect and switch sides. That's right… the muscle of the team was the one that got someone to change their mind. Not the brains (Hera) or the Jedi, but Zeb!
Chopper is a narcissistic arsehole… and we all love him for it. Sorry R2, you are cute and all, but Chopper has far more personality than you. I don't think anything else needs to be said right?
Of course, I could go on and on about the other characters, such as Kallus and Rex, or Ahsoka and Thrawn, but in the end, this is not their show. I liked seeing all of them, but for this I just wanted to look at the crew of the Ghost, my new Star Wars family.
The Nature Aspect
One aspect of this show that caught me completely by surprise and offered a new and welcome look at the force in general was the idea of connecting to other animals. It stared back in season 1 with the Loth-cats and then the Fyrnock's, and from that moment you knew that Ezra had some sort of natural affinity to connecting with animals, something I don't believe we have seen in a Jedi before. Over time, this sort of became Ezra's defining trait as a Jedi. In season 2 he connects with the Purrgil, and then by season 4 he is in tune with the Loth-wolves. This running trend of animals being connected to the force is what makes rebels interesting in the long run, and helps to create an overarching plotline that we perhaps do not realize existed until the end. In turn, this makes Thrawn's defeat make more sense, especially when you take the Bendu's warning into regards.
What I am saying is that the use of nature and native life in the show, even those that weren't able to be tamed such as the Convor's, Morai and even the spiders on Atollon, all play a role in developing not only the Star Wars mythos as a whole, but help to establish Ezra Bridger as a unique character in his own right.
Suffice to say, well played Filoni and crew. I never expected this from rebels, but it became one of my favourite parts of it as a whole.
A Family Reunion, and a Farewell
Every good show comes to an end at some point, and they should always come to an end when they are on a high note. If people are saying that the show is becoming really good now… it's time to wrap it up, otherwise it becomes stale due to overly high expectations of the fans.
Rebels is no different, and while I would have liked either a few more episodes in season 4, or a whole season 5 as well, I understand and am happy with how and when they ended it.
The finale, 'Family Reunion and Farewell' did pretty much everything right about a finale. It brought back the majority of the supporting cast for one final battle, and put all the elements the show had cultivated into one large episode, rounding off the series on an incredible high.
Rebels was ultimately Ezra's tale, as Clone Wars was Ahsoka's. Thus, the series was always going to end with Ezra showing how much he had matured. I personally loved every aspect of the finale, (with the exception of the death of Rukh. Wasted character really)
I've already pretty much summed up the episode itself, but I will talk about the epilogue scene.
Zeb and Kallus going off together was awesome. Nice to see how much Kallus has changed. Looking forward to seeing what they get up to next.
Hera had a child? When did she and Kanan… nevermind… don't really wanna know. Still, nice that some part of Kanan lives on. Though I question why they called the kid Jacen. I know it's an EU reference, but surely something like Caleb would have made more sense?
Rex finally became a commander… nice work buddy, only took you two galactic wars!
Sabine staying on Lothal was nice to see, especially since it paralleled the very first episode of the series as a whole. Sabine getting to do the monologue at the end was a nice touch. Would never have expected it to be her getting to do the wrap up at the end when the show started.
And of course… I can't not mention Ahsoka the White. Knowing Filoni's inspiration from LOTR… this made a lot of sense, and I loved every second of it. I'm so glad she of all people survived up to post ROTJ. Now I just need her to learn how to punch force ghost's in the face for when Anakin inevitably shows up to try to apologize to her.
Though, if I was to offer her one piece of advice, it would be this. There is this kid running around called Luke Skywalker. Stay the hell away from him! Bad things happen to people called Skywalker, and I'd rather not have to deal with her stuck in more Skywalker BS. She's her own character, not an extension of the Skywalker story.
So… what's next?
Good question. We already know that Filoni is more than likely doing something new. What, we don't know. Yet at least.
That being said, the most logical choice would be a show between ROTJ and TFA, covering Luke's new order, and how bloody doomed it was from the start.
Though… if it's not that… I imagine it will be something with Sabine and Ahsoka hunting for Ezra. Or Thrawn and Ezra doing stuff together to survive. Either appeals to me.
Conclusion
All in all, I love rebels. Personally, it is the piece of Star Wars that I have most enjoyed watching. Unlike the movies, it has had the time to create and develop interesting characters and plotlines, as well as introduce new aspects to the universe that fit in well. When people who like Star Wars tell me they haven't seen Clone Wars or Rebels, I am both shocked and surprised. Of course, I will then recommend them to them, and they won't listen to me cause I'm wrong it their eyes. Still, I love the series and am sorry to see it go, but at the same time glad I came along for the ride.
So thank you Dave Filoni and the cast and crew of rebels. You have made something truly special here, and I wish you all the best for whatever you do in the future. Suffice to say, I will be there watching with great interest.
Also, everything above is my opinion, and it is neither right nor wrong, just mine. If you have a different one to me, that's fine, and I'd love to hear what you think. Also, if I have inadvertently offended you in some way, I apologize. That was not my intention. Please forgive me.
And now for something you can all join in on
So I realize the past 3000 words were just me talking, so now it's time for me to ask your opinions and such. Below are a series of questions relating to the series as a whole. If you want to answer them, do so in a review for me. I'd love to know what your choices are. Also, you don't have to answer them all if you don't want to. They will be numbered, so just answer what you want like that. My answers will be in brackets next to the question itself. Have fun.
1. Favourite Season (Season Four)
2. Favourite 20 minute episode (A World Between Worlds)
3. Favourite 40 minute episode (Twilight of the Apprentice)
4. Guilty Pleasure episode, the one you like but everyone else hates (The Wynkahthu Job)
5. Favourite crew of the Ghost member (Kanan Jarrus)
6. Favourite non crew of the Ghost member, heroes only (Ahsoka Tano… as if it wasn't going to be her)
7. Favourite Villain (Grand Admiral Thrawn)
8. Favourite creature (Loth-Wolves)
9. Favourite Ezra moment (His talk with Thrawn and Sidious in the finale)
10. Favourite Kanan moment (Learning to 'see' again with the Bendu)
11. Favourite Hera moment (Her taking out Vult Skerris)
12. Favourite Sabine moment (The whole Darksaber stuff)
13. Favourite Zeb moment (His Wookiee impression in the premiere episode)
14. Favourite Chopper moment (When he murders those Stormtroopers with the big drill thing in A World Between Worlds)
15. Favourite line of dialogue ("I expected Governor Pryce to fail, but not so completely")
16. Favourite location in the show (You know what… Lothal. I liked that place)
17. Favourite movie character that appeared (The Emperor of course)
18. Favourite soundtrack piece (Thrawn's Orbital Bombardment)
19. Favourite lightsaber duel (Ahsoka vs. Vader)
20. Clone Wars or Rebels (Rebels)
Hope you liked those questions. Like I said, I'd love to hear your answers to them.
The one shot series will return at some point soon, after a brief break to let my hand heal properly. I will answer any responses when I upload next.
However, if you can't wait for a reply, feel free to PM me you questions and I'll get back to you when I can. In between real life and stuff, I find myself with less and less time.
So yeah, the one shots will return soon, once I have written some more. Kinda hard to do that and work on a super secret special project at the same time. Oh Karabast! I shouldn't have said that last part! Forget I said anything!
Till next time.
SirLoozElite