First Review of the Opening Episode of Star Wars: Rebels!

Star Wars Rebels

The upcoming animated series is the focus of the Lucasfilm Pavilion in the exhibit hall, and they even screened the first hour long episode. Hit the jump for the first impressions from the show…

 

From IGN:

 

MINOR SPOILERS!

 

First of all, don’t be worried about the tone. The crew of the Ghost – Kanan, Hera, Sabine, Zeb, Ezra, and Chopper – is undoubtedly in the middle of dark times. The Empire’s influence is strong throughout the galaxy, and it’s not easy to push back against their control. You’ll immediately get a sense of the serious risks and the lives that are at stake, but even the bleak moments are peppered with jokes and snappy back and forth.

 

As Dave Filoni and others have been explaining, Rebels is reminiscent of A New Hope. There were times when I felt like I was listening to Han, Chewbacca, Leia, and Luke – not because the characters or Rebels are exactly like them, but because the pace and spirit of the banter is definitely present. It hits the notes of humor and tragedy differently than The Clone Wars, yes, but it does include both aspects.

 

Ezra

The premiere introduces us to the crew of Ghost and shows how Ezra first encounters them. It’s both visually and emotionally engaging. The texturing of the sets on Lothal say much about the effect the Empire’s having on the planet, and the animation of our heroes is expressive. I fell hard for Chopper’s antics and felt more connected to Ezra than I expected I would.

 

Rebels has laughs and plenty of action, and the hour long episode doesn’t waste a moment of dialogue. I was pleasantly surprised by the pacing and how much we learned without it feeling forced. The time period in between Episodes III and IV is a fascinating era to see more of, and honestly, it’s touching to watch this ragtag group of heroes do what they can to fight back against the Empire.

 

 

Without giving anything away, there are also plenty of vehicles, uniforms, and effects longtime fans of Star Wars will be excited about. At the same time, newcomers and/or kids won’t be left out in the cold.

 

October can’t come soon enough.

 

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Founder of SWNN, MNN and The Cantina forums.

Born on April 24, 1980.

Val Trichkov (Viral Hide)

Founder of SWNN, MNN and The Cantina forums.Born on April 24, 1980.

52 thoughts on “First Review of the Opening Episode of Star Wars: Rebels!

  • July 25, 2014 at 3:44 pm
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    This restores my faith in this show.

      • July 25, 2014 at 7:01 pm
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        When they’re not 10/10-ing dudebro games to sell Mountain Dew and Doritos, they’re actually not that bad when it comes to other media.

        • July 26, 2014 at 2:12 am
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          Yeah ign aren’t exactly the Leonard Maltin of tv shows (or video games). Might as well trust a movie review from Entertainment Tonight

  • July 25, 2014 at 3:55 pm
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    Yup.

  • July 25, 2014 at 4:25 pm
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    What’s up with all of the accessories these characters have; Kanan’s shoulder pad, Ezra’s shinguard, Sabines half-armor? Do these really serve a purpose? It all seems unnecessary…

    • July 25, 2014 at 4:31 pm
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      Moan, moan, moan.

      • July 25, 2014 at 6:04 pm
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        They allow trailer trash comments on this site…? Needs moderating to stop low life like this.

        • July 25, 2014 at 8:46 pm
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          Agreed. I come here to see Star Wars news and see others opinions. Not to pick through pointless bickering and garbage to find the people who are actually talking about something that is relevant. Surely there are enough sites that condone nasty and disgusting vulgar comments. Must Star Wars Episode 7 News be one of them?

    • July 25, 2014 at 6:02 pm
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      It’s a fair criticism as it does look a bit arbitrary.

      • July 25, 2014 at 6:34 pm
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        I’m not sure it is – I agree with the moaning comment, people seem to be nitpicking an awful lot over this Rebels show. We should be just enjoying it – yeah okay, so they wear armour and have accessories, but so does Boba Fett, Batman, anyone who is out there fighting the good fight.

        • July 25, 2014 at 6:45 pm
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          Your argument is invalid. Fett and Batman have gadgets and tools as part of their garb, not useless accessories. If these characters need gratuitous adjuncts to make them more appealing, that just gives me more reason to believe that they’re shallow and uninteresting. I can’t believe fans are so quick to willingly overlook these relative issues.

          • July 26, 2014 at 2:45 am
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            Yawn.

        • July 25, 2014 at 7:52 pm
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          Honestly, what kind of a comment is that?

          People should just sit and enjoy whatever is put in front of them?

          http://filmmakeriq.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/a_clockwork_orange__span.jpg

          I guess that pretty much eliminates the entire field of professional critics.

          Seriously, why does the younger generation seem to be so unable to handle criticisms, or comments with which they disagree, or be able to respond to them in a reasonable and rational manner?

          Was it all the particpation trophies and gold stars for everyone that destroyed the ability to tolerate different points of view?

          • July 25, 2014 at 8:16 pm
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            Maybe the younger generation is tired of hearing old people’s bitching?

            Don’t like the show don’t watch it.. just like if you don’t like the prequels don’t watch them. You can’t please everyone in the world and your imagination isn’t going to be the same as the next persons.

          • July 25, 2014 at 8:21 pm
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            Disney is trying to convince us that these characters spark the rebellion as we know it in the OT. We have a right to be unhappy with the way this is turning out if it’s supposed to be canon and turns out like this… I’m not just going to turn a blind eye at the risk of being misinformed. I only wish they would have done things differently.

          • July 25, 2014 at 8:37 pm
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            You haven’t even seen the show…

          • July 25, 2014 at 8:49 pm
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            With the character introductory videos, the recently released clips and trailers, I’ve seen quite enough.

          • July 25, 2014 at 10:20 pm
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            Why do you equate criticism with bitching?

            This generation probably would have fallen to pieces if they had watched Siskel & Ebert.

    • July 25, 2014 at 9:23 pm
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      If you’re complaining about the animation style or the way the characters are being written, that’s perfectly reasonable as far as criticism goes. But complaining about accessories that the characters have as being detrimental to the quality of the show itself? That really seems like grasping for straws.

  • July 25, 2014 at 5:10 pm
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    slingshot. ‘nuf said.

    • July 25, 2014 at 5:23 pm
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      Spinning lightsaber…

      • July 25, 2014 at 6:20 pm
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        Star Wars creators always tweaked or reinvented desigs. I believe it is called a variation on a theme or hybrid design. From
        Stormtroopers, to ship design, and even lightsabers changed with each film whether color, shape, or function. I thought the chicken walkers were weird, but they grew on me.
        The ATAT walkers are basically sand crawlers with legs, and the sand of Tatooine was swapped with snow on Hoth. Star Wars is full of Juxtaposition and reinventions of borrowed designs. I love the walkers in rebels, I remember them in X wing Rogue Squadron game, hope they show up in new trilogy.

        • July 25, 2014 at 6:25 pm
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          I agree, but there’s a thick line between cheesy and awesome that Dave Filoni seems to love hopping over time and time again.

    • July 25, 2014 at 6:53 pm
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      The slingshot really is a bad choice. One thing that I am pretty sure that no Star Wars fan has ever said (or even thought privately) is, “Yeah, I like Star Wars and all, but y’know what would really make it super cool? If it were a little more like Dennis the Menace.”

      • July 25, 2014 at 7:04 pm
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        I second that:
        HAHAHA

      • July 25, 2014 at 9:17 pm
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        On the bright side, the DK Guide basically said that they’ll eventually be dropping the slingshot in favor of a lightsaber/blaster combo.

        I think the slingshot makes sense as far as something he used to get by on the streets, but they should stray away from it as the series progresses. Plus, the clips where he uses it don’t make it seem like it’s a weapon suited to war, so I think it’s possible that the slingshot is only a placeholder until the plot says otherwise.

        • July 25, 2014 at 9:44 pm
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          Are you suggesting that they’re going to give Ezra a lightsaber/blaster hybrid weapon?
          That doesn’t seem any better than the slingshot.

  • July 25, 2014 at 6:03 pm
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    This really isn’t much of a review.

    It reads more like a synopsis.

  • July 25, 2014 at 7:09 pm
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    Guys, Karen Gilians hair is not in Star Wars (BBC)

    • July 25, 2014 at 7:18 pm
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      Or is that what they want you to think …

  • July 25, 2014 at 8:21 pm
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    I…I don’t see how that would be possible?

    And exploding fruit onto the cockpit window…sigh.

    And if you’re going to have a slingshot as a weapon shouldn’t it do more than…um…slightly catch the Stormtroopers off guard? Thank God they can’t shoot accurately.

    • July 25, 2014 at 8:25 pm
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      You’d think the tie fighter design would have a more versatile aerodynamic design if it were made to fly that way… I don’t think I even want to know what comes next with this show.

  • July 25, 2014 at 8:43 pm
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    Great… Another Star Wars series that can’t be taken seriously.
    “Here’s an idea: let’s take the animation from Ice Age, put it together with the textural animation of Veggie Tales and throw some Star Wars stuff in there to draw attention!”
    Who would’ve thought it’d be an instant money maker that the fans so easily subject themselves to with no remorse… Just look how far the saga has fallen.

    • July 25, 2014 at 8:50 pm
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      Did you even bother reading what IGN had to say about the show?

    • July 25, 2014 at 8:52 pm
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      Yes, but when has IGN ever made a realistic critisism?

      • July 25, 2014 at 9:12 pm
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        Whenever they review things that aren’t video games. Which is a lot, surprisingly.

  • July 25, 2014 at 9:11 pm
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    Don’t leave the door open on your way out.

    Enjoy your ban. 🙂

    • July 25, 2014 at 9:49 pm
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      Yeah we got to keep that door closed to keep the cold air in so we don’t run up the electric bill.

  • July 25, 2014 at 11:28 pm
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    Come on guys! It´s pretty unfair judge this kid´s tv show from the live movies point of view!!!! This is made for KIDS! Nod old farts like us! Please consider that when criticising. It´s a different world. I don´t know the reason kiddy cartoons are consider canon within the live action star wars movies, but I have not a problem with it – I may find time to watch some of the episodes, as I did with the clone wars (between us, the old Clone Wars are far much better and more movie style than the 3D clone wars) – but to me canon are and always will be only the movies. I like to watch or play other stories, but I´ve always seen it as a different Galaxy far far away….so now I won´t criticize the new cartoon, I´ll look forward to see it….just never as a part of canon.

    • July 25, 2014 at 11:53 pm
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      See, that’s all well and good, but the fact is that it IS canon, that’s why it’s necessary to criticize. Is this really the group that sparks the rebellion against the empire as we know it in the OT? According to Disney, yes.

  • July 25, 2014 at 11:45 pm
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    People hating the show already will watch it and love it.

    • July 25, 2014 at 11:53 pm
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      Wanna bet?

  • July 25, 2014 at 11:47 pm
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    The Batman The Animated (1992–1998) makes most of what you just said irrelevant.

  • July 26, 2014 at 1:14 am
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    I really am sick of all the hate this show is getting. It really doesn’t look half bad at all, and seems to do a good job at getting the feel of the original trilogy, based off of the trailers that have been released.

    As far as the nitpicks about kannan’s shoulder armor, I always assumed it was an indirect reference to Kyle Katarn, who wore similar shoulder armor as well.

    I wouldn’t be surprised if kannan is supposed to be influenced by Kyle Katarn, which is cool and all, just a shame those games are most likely no longer cannon. Especially outcast and academy, given Luke’s Jedi training academy on yavin IV was a large part of those games… Anyways, I digress.

    I’m certainly looking forward to rebels, as a lifelong hard core Star Wars fan. It’s just a shame so many people seem to be judging it before it’s even been released. The promotional material released for it so far is not really enough to judge it. That’s what the final product is for. And judging by this review, my excitement for this show is even stronger.

  • July 26, 2014 at 2:44 am
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    I’m not coming back to this site – too many idiots who haven’t even seen Rebels spewing nonsense. Goodbye losers – may your farts stay with you.

  • July 27, 2014 at 12:46 am
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    Too kiddie friendly and not as dark or even good looking like Clone Wars. Fits in the garbage Marvel shows they have airing on Disney XD. Most fans don’t even consider this drek real Marvel stories.

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