by Graham Osborne
Star Wars Rebels has been suffering lately from lack of development and little actual threat to the characters. Admittedly, the show is aimed at a younger audience (hence the general proclivity for stunning weaponry) meaning the writers are more likely to pull their punches when it comes to peril, and the chances of a lucky shot/well timed distraction clinching the victory in favour of our derring do-gooders is assured. This episode, however, brings back some of the sense of threat that has been missing for a while, and it is glorious.
Star Wars Rebels has been suffering lately from lack of development and little actual threat to the characters. Admittedly, the show is aimed at a younger audience (hence the general proclivity for stunning weaponry) meaning the writers are more likely to pull their punches when it comes to peril, and the chances of a lucky shot/well timed distraction clinching the victory in favour of our derring do-gooders is assured. This episode, however, brings back some of the sense of threat that has been missing for a while, and it is glorious.
Following the betrayals and revelations of last week’s episode, the crew of The Ghost are branded traitors to the Empire, and Lothal receives a visit from Grand Moff Tarkin to aid the forces there with the attempted capture of the Rebels. Tarkin’s tactics for flushing out and capturing Kanan and Co. show a level of competence that is almost unheard of for an antagonist, such as increasing patrols and performing regular sweeps for suspicious activity. The improvement in security manages to bring some teeth back into the bite of the Empire, and some tension into the series.
Ezra’s outlook has changed since last week’s revelations. He is more subdued than before, with a hardened resolve and stronger will to fight against his oppressors. This is shown perfectly with his plan for the episode, which emulates his parents’ actions before their disappearance. The rest of the crew has relatively little to do. The episode could have been written in the style of a typical heist caper, something akin to Hustle or Ocean’s Eleven. Sadly, the set up and payoff felt rushed, almost as though the writers were trying to get to the denouement as quickly as possible, resulting in a threadbare plot.
Ezra’s outlook has changed since last week’s revelations. He is more subdued than before, with a hardened resolve and stronger will to fight against his oppressors. This is shown perfectly with his plan for the episode, which emulates his parents’ actions before their disappearance. The rest of the crew has relatively little to do. The episode could have been written in the style of a typical heist caper, something akin to Hustle or Ocean’s Eleven. Sadly, the set up and payoff felt rushed, almost as though the writers were trying to get to the denouement as quickly as possible, resulting in a threadbare plot.
The story itself is saved by the final moments of the episode. The arrival of the Imperial Army and the Inquisitor to thwart the Crews’ plans manages to avert the traditional happy ending and create a cliffhanger that makes the wait for next week’s episode that much harder. It also manages to disguise the repetitious nature of Kanan and the Inquisitor’s duel. It’s not hard to see why the two of them come to blows so often, (Ezra is untrained, and the rest of the crew aren’t Jedi) yet the outcome is always going to be the same, so why bother worrying about it? If the writers were to put the Inquisitor to bed until the end of the series, itself not far away, then his return would feel all the more menacing for both the audience and protagonists.
Star Wars Rebels is still great fun to watch, and this episode takes the story in a new direction that looks to create a darker, more intense set of final episodes. If the writers were to take more time in setting the scene, we could be looking at a series that will carry the Star Wars hype all the way to Episode VII.
Star Wars Rebels is still great fun to watch, and this episode takes the story in a new direction that looks to create a darker, more intense set of final episodes. If the writers were to take more time in setting the scene, we could be looking at a series that will carry the Star Wars hype all the way to Episode VII.
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