Star Wars Rebels is finally here and we can’t wait to talk about it! The series debuted with an hour-long movie that aired October 3rd on Disney XD titled Spark of Rebellion.
Our simple review: It was so good! But read on for our more detailed thoughts.
Story/Plot
Teresa: I think the plot of this premiere was perfect. It showed us what kinds of things the crew of the Ghost does and how they try to fight against the Empire. We get to see them fight for innocent Wookiees that need help or the Empire will succeed in committing genocide.
We get to see the beginnings of a padawan and his desire to learn more about himself. From Kanan we get to see the conflict that surviving Jedi are facing and his choices in the premiere will set the stage for the entire series in my belief.
I can’t wait to see what other missions the crew will take on and I really can’t wait to get more of their backstories. There was dark, light, humor and mystery in this first episode (or episodes technically), and it really resonated with me. Anyone who likes Star Wars can relate to something in this show. I also think that this show is a great place for new fans to join in on the magic that is Star Wars.
Aaron: What better way to start an episode of a new Star Wars animated series than with a speeder bike chase. There were no trees but it instantly brought back memories of my favorite Star Wars movie Return of the Jedi. The action packed sequence right at the beginning really got my attention.
This was a perfect story to start off the series with. We got to see our group of Rebels doing what they do best, rebel against the Empire. They steal weapons from the bad guys, help the unfortunate, and rescue Wookiee slaves. All in a day’s work for our heros.
This story was also a great introduction to the character of Ezra. The rest of the crew has already been together and Ezra is the new guy. This episode did a fantastic job of showing character progression for him. He starts off as a loner only out for himself, but with advice from Hera and the example of Kanan he found a better person within himself. He also proved that he was the type of person that they want as part of their team.
Characters
Teresa: We got a great look at all the main characters in this premiere. I will talk a little about each one. Hera really got to showcase why she is the leader and show off her amazing compassion, wisdom and of course piloting skills. Kanan was a strong quiet leader and he reminded me so much of Jedi I have read about in Legends novels. He embodies some things I love so much about the Old Republic Jedi. I can also see some qualities of Luke from Return of the Jedi.
Zeb has been characterized as being the muscle but for me he was comic relief. He has a lot of witty lines while also showing his intelligence. I think there is quite a bit of brain there and not just brawn. Sabine we did not get nearly enough of and that might be my only complaint. She did show off her explosive talent but that is about all we got from her. I was disappointed that she did not have more to do with the story.
Chopper did show us some attitude and honestly I loved when he made a noise that reminded me of a kid sticking their tongue out at someone. Outside of the main characters my favorite was Kitwarr the baby Wookiee. How could you not love something with eyes like that, #wewantmorekitwarr! The last character worth noting for me was Vizago. He reminded me a little of Hondo with some Bossk or Cad Bane mixed in.
Aaron: I love the crew of the Ghost. Each character is so unique and brings specific qualities to the table. I already talked some about Ezra. I had some concerns that I wouldn’t like him as a character, but I really enjoyed his growth across the episode. He’s still not my favorite but I like him. Sabine was really cool. She is so smooth and just looks awesome in the Mando armor. I can’t wait for episodes that focus more on her.
I loved Zeb and especially his interactions with Ezra. It did surprise me a little that he ended up leaving Ezra behind and voted to not go back for him. I guess I was expecting him to be more of an honorable type of character. At least he genuinely looked like he felt bad about it. I already expected to like Kanan and Hera and they did not disappoint. Hera really showed that she is the heart of the crew. I loved her back and forth with Kanan. They seem to be the ones on the crew that have the closest relationship and they are fun to watch on screen together. Hera also had a huge impact on Ezra and the choices he ultimately made.
Kanan was my favorite character by far. It might have something to do with the fact that he carries a lightsaber. But even when he’s not using his lightsaber he is great. He’s a crack shot with a blaster even in zero gravity. He’s pretty impressive on a speeder bike too. He’s confident and a little snarky but not so much that it is off putting. And you can tell he really cares about the other members of the crew, even Ezra. I need more Chopper. I’m also counting the Ghost as a character. Because that ship is awesome. It may be my new favorite ship design in all of Star Wars.
Outstanding Moments
Teresa: I had several moments from the premiere that stood out in my mind. The first of these moments was getting to see the Wookiees and baby Kitwarr. In fact Kitwarr has become a standout for me and I hope we get more moments with him.
I also enjoyed the music and sound effects used in the film. From the sounds of the TIE fighters to the background themes that you could hear when there was a quiet moment. The most significant of these musical queues is the one that plays when Ezra has a connection to the Force. The Force calls him to Kanan, the holocron and the lightsaber. The music that plays in this scene takes me back to A New Hope with chills!
Zeb had so many classic moments but I think my favorite was when he pretends to be a Wookiee and it lasts about 2 seconds. My most favorite moment however had to be when Hera was trying to get Ezra to do the right thing and she shows great belief in the goodness that lies within his soul. She proves in that one scene why she is the leader of this team. If there is one moment that brought me to tears it was the appearance of Obi-Wan Kenobi and his message to the remaining Jedi. This made the story being told in the show so real for me that I can’t wait to see more.
Aaron: This episode had so many notable moments. The speeder bike chase at the beginning was great. Another exciting moment was the firefight in zero gravity in the hallway of the Imperial ship. Zeb briefly impersonating a Wookiee made me laugh out loud.
Of course the scene where Kanan reveals to the Agent Kallus and his troops that he is a Jedi was epic. The way he just slowly walks into the fray while assembling his lightsaber had me wanting to cheer. I think the animation in this show really stands out during the space battles. I loved seeing the Ghost take out TIE fighters. Seeing these classic ships on screen again just felt right. Seeing them destroyed by the good guys felt even better.
One of my favorite scenes came at the very end when Kallus is clinging onto the wall below the bridge and the stormtrooper that is with him asks if it is the first time he has seen a Jedi. Kallus out of frustration just kicks the trooper off the ledge. It solidified him as a “callous” character and also made me chuckle. I did feel bad for the trooper though.
Favorite Quotes
Teresa:
- “I’m not that heavy in this gravity.” – Zeb
- “If I told you I’d have to kill you, oh…and I just might kill you anyway.” – Zeb
- “If all you do is fight for your own life then your life means nothing!” – Hera
- “I can’t believe I’m doing this.” – Ezra
“I can!” – Hera
Aaron:
- “A kid tripped you up? Must be some kid.” – Hera
- “We’re a crew, a team, in some ways a family.” – Sabine
- “Haven’t you ever seen a rare hairless Wookiee before?” – Kanan
Star Wars Rebels couldn’t have started any better, and we are really excited to see what else is coming from this amazing creative team.
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