Star Wars Rebels Review: S01 E07 “Gathering Forces”.
Disney has released the next episode of Star Wars Rebels: “Gathering Forces” on their Disney XD app. There are no doubts that this is the best Rebels episode so far, unfortunately it’s the last one for this year. There will be a break for the holidays and the series will continue on January 5th. Read our review after the jump…
Here’s a small excerpt from the review:
This is by far the B E S T episode of the Rebels short season. Tough act to follow in which it follows a fantastic episode with “Empire Day”. Do we find out who Ezra’s parents are? Does Zeebo make it out alive? How does Rebels end before the longer winter break?
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And here’s a preview clip for this episode:
Founder of SWNN, MNN and The Cantina forums.
Born on April 24, 1980.
This episode was fantastic. Not much you can ask for out of a 22 minute episode. My son and I can’t wait for Janary 5th! I bought this season of the series on Google Play here in the US since our cable TV package does not include Disney XD, however, I just discovered that with XFINITY ONDemand that you can watch these episodes for free online and on your TV at home, even if you don’t get the channel. Too bad I didn’t know about it before I bought it. O well, I guess I’ll always have it to watch now. 🙂
Did you realized that Ezra was born the same day as Luke and Leia?
When was Luke and Leia’s birthday established?
That’s presuming that Empire Day was officially established on the day that Palpatine made his new world order speech (which itself stated that the Republic was to be re-organized into the Empire in the near future, not that it was now officially known as the Empire), which also presumes that that Padme had time to attend the meeting, go home, talk to Obi-Wan, go to Mustafar, get strangled, go to Polis Massa, give birth to children, and promptly die in the period of a single day, which couldn’t possibly be true on a realistic timeframe.
Plus, shifting from one form of government to another would take a few weeks at the least, and the image that was shown on the Holonet of the actual founding moment featured Red Imperial Guards alongside Palpatine, meaning that that image couldn’t have been taken until after Palpatine fought Yoda – so Luke and Leia are most likely a few months older than Ezra is.
I don’t understand why people keep reiterating this notion that the original trilogy was “light-hearted”. People seem to dismiss the fact that in A New Hope Leia was tortured, Luke’s aunt and uncle were incinerated, Ben Kenobi was killed, Alderaan was destroyed. The main characters took all of this very seriously. It’s that gravitas that helped sell the audience that the Empire was powerful, ruthless and really something to be feared.
I have been a huge Star Wars fan most of my life but I have been disappointed by the writing in Star Wars Rebels so far. If what they were trying to go for was a more “light-hearted” tone then they should have chosen a different era in Star Wars history. As Ben Kenobi once said, these are supposed to be the “Dark Times”. Call me cynical, but the overall tone of Rebels is failing to convey that oppressive tone in a meaningful way. It feels very glossed over and contrived, which ultimately makes for a series that lacks in maturity and depth. The Rebels format should never have been geared towards kids, but Disney clearly wants to sink their hooks into a new generation of consumers. I can’t blame them, I just think they could still achieve that goal while still making the writing and storytelling more mature.
The character of Ezra is an imitation of Aladdin. They not only look alike but even share a similar background–both being regarded as ‘street rats (Zeb even shamelessly calls him that in the pilot episode, if I recall). To compound things further, they decided to make him a Force sensitive from humble beginnings who is taken in by a fugitive Jedi to be trained as a Jedi. The problem with doing that is that they are re-hashing a story that has already been told: the story of LUKE SKYWALKER.
There is so much amazing potential with Star Wars. The ideas, philosophies, concepts and visuals all evoke so many wonderful things to tantalize the imagination, but Rebels is in some major need of maturity and substance. For those of you who dismiss it as a “kiddy cartoon” and that it shouldn’t be taken seriously, you are doing a great disservice to the millions of adoring fans who just want something to be genuinely good.
Is it just me or is anyone else very curious if Ezra will be in “The Force Awakens”? I say this because he seems to becoming very powerful with the force specifically in this episode and him dying at some point in between rebels and TFA doesn’t really seem that probable to me due to the fact that Disney is trying to change Star Wars’ image back to light hearted as opposed to how the PT was
Maybe that’s who Oscar Issacs is playing? He somewhat resembles Ezra.
Ezra would be the same age as Luke and Leia. Oscar Isaac is not the same age as Mark Hamill and Carrie Fischer.
I give you a candy my friends, I can’t reveal my source, but I confirm you that Max Von Sydow is playing Ezra.
Actually let me tell you my source: Ezra’s nose.
look at this old picture of Von Sydow 🙂 http://www.nndb.com/people/803/000022737/max-von-sydow.jpg
I don’t see it. That picture looks like it was taken from Leave It To Beaver
MVS looks a lot like a young Sir Alec Guiness in that picture, but definitely not Ezra. Ezra has a darker complexion. I think if Ezra is in the film, we haven’t seen the actor yet.
If Luke, Leia, and Ezra are all the same age, then how can Max von Sydow be playing Ezra? Max von Sydow is 85 years old (and looks it), which is 22 years older than Mark Hamill. Unless Ezra is taking some sort of aging hormone, I would say that this rumor is debunked.
I was wondering the same thing. Ezra’s aging process would have to be even worse than Obi-Wan’s from Rebels to A New Hope.
Obi-Wan sure did age alot in those 5 years from his cameo in Rebels to the old man in New Hope.
The Rebels cameo was a holonet broadcast, but was probably a recording. I think the image we see of Ob-Wan was from shortly after ROTS.
Ok, I can buy that as an explanation. But still, even if you start from the end of ROTS, that’s a helluva lot of aging poor Obi-Wan suffered. I’ve read other explanations too, such as the Tatooine sun and rough life on a desert planet aged him or whatever. I guess sitting around in that igloo-looking thing for years on end does a number on people.
Just being a typical nit-picky SW fan that’s all. I really don’t give a shit either way. We all know the real reason—Lucas didn’t think he’d get to even make other SW movies at the time ANH was released so when success hit, he was suddenly left with some holes to deal with in the overall SW saga. Another example is the Luke/Leia brother-sister thing. He made that shit up as he went along. No way that was part of Lucas’ original vision while he was filming ANH. Not unless he has an interest in incest tendencies. Plus, I remember an article Lucas gave one time where he more or less admitted having to create story elements kind of spur-of-the-moment to make up for inconsistencies.
Obi wans appearance in rebels was from the holocron message he sent in episode 3 before the twins were even born….
That was in episode 3? When was that scene?
No, but if you paid attention in the same part yoda and Obi were watching the recording of Anakin killing the jedi, he says after that he sent a message warning all remaining jedi to stay away from the temple.
Ah, nice one! I had forgotten about that scene.
You guys always forget about one guy: Miltos Yerolemou. I don’t know his age but maybe he is Ezra. We know nothing about his role in the movie.
Ezra has turned and had been seduced by the darkside by Vader and has actually been Vaders secret apprentice the whole time.could be a HUGE possibility. Ezra could very well be the cyborg character holding Vader’s helmet.He reeks havoc hoping to pull Luke out of exile so he can destroy him in a revenge plot for killing his master that he has been planning for 30 years..
Here’s a sadistic mindfuck, what if Adam driver, who is rumored to be the villain, is actually Ezra all grown up and is filled with full power of the darkside ? If u look at pictures of Ezra and Adam very closely together, they almost look exactly the same thing
I could see that. They both have Max Rebo-sized noses.
And I guess he was on vacation during the OT right?
Your asumptions are pretty clouded by boredom.
What a dork! Try thinking
I have a feeling that Ezra might strike up a relationship with Leia in the tv show being that they’re near the same age and due to something bad, tragic or strange happening, they loose touch before the events of Ep 4 and come face to face again in Ep 7. And I think Von Sydow will play an aged Kanan who’s failed Ezra in some way and exiled himself in disgrace but now feels the need for redemption. Then again, I could be waaaay off!! 🙂
It seems there would be at least someone from Rebels in TFA. It doesn’t make sense for Disney to have a completely isolated show that has no connection to the new movie.
Doesn’t make alot of sense to invent a character that was born before the OT and didn’t appear in them once either :/
So any character that didn’t appear in the OT can’t exist? I guess all the rumors of Plagueis and others who didn’t appear in the OT can’t be in TFA. That makes sense :/
or …. the films effect everything else. everything else has no effect on the films. like marvel seem to be doing , their films have a bearing on agents of shield but that tv series has no effect whatsoever on the stories told in the films.
Kira and Ezra are kind of the same character
Casting calls .. a street wise orphan
Is Rebels mirroring the movie?
I think Ezra, is the grave digger. If you look at art concept of the grave digger looking @ Dearth Vader ‘ s helmet notice,the space between the metal piece between the nose & mouth. Also Ezra likes collecting helmets. During the OT,Ezra, was probably conflicted about his destiny within the force, especially, if tragedy happens to the ghost crew,that turns Ezra to the dark side. Remember in the episode when he said something about the Empiror being his uncle. Just a thought.
So Ezra=Vader basically is what you’re saying
No, in the art concept, the character is admiring or mourning the helmet of vader.
I wonder if there will eventually be an ending to the show. Timeline-wise, they only have so many years to work with. Would they kill off Kanan and/or others? Would that be too serious for Disney kiddies? Or, what if the show is highly popular for years on end, Disney wouldn’t want to cancel it for no reason.The five years or so before A New Hope limits things. It’s not like the Simpsons where shit can just go on forever.
That’s twice now the Inquisitor has thrown that double-bladed lightsaber at Kanan.
Next time he pulls that shit, Kanan should catch it with the force and just walk off with it.
let me wake up tomorrow and this sorry show just be a bad dream….Disney has fulfilled the prophecy of ruining Star Wars so far. I’m hoping that JJ will at least have Luke building and having an established jedi academy in the new film, not some old hermit in hiding like the OT and Ben Kenobi.
That’s a bunch of EU crap. Making an original story/plot is more interesting. Glad that’s what they’re sticking with.
Great episode. Leaves me waiting for more. Pretty curious what happened to Ezra’s parents.
Seen a lot of speculation as to whether Ezra or any of these characters will be in Star Wars 7.
I would seriously doubt it, personally.
My my my! All of these comments. First some people thought Ezra’s father was a clone, and now people are saying that he might’ve turned to the dark side and might be in TFA. Well, that does sound likely (not the “father is a clone” but, judging by the picture of his parents we saw in the episode), but that doesn’t mean Ezra will be featured in TFA. Maybe he turns bad in the show and during the series finale Kanan kills Ezra…or maybe the Inquisitor does… Or maybe Darth Vader does…. Or maybe Ezra will be in TFA. I have no idea. :/ Anyway, I highly enjoyed this episode. I am definitely a light-sider (unless I’m angry) but I must say, I enjoyed it when Ezra let some of his inner darkness control his actions. I know he wasn’t fully submerged in it, but you have to admit the Dark Side was starting to (ever so slightly) take over him. Then he fainted……. Bye bye Dark Side…. For now.
I have a feeling that Ezra might strike up a relationship with Leia in the tv show being that they’re near the same age and due to something bad, tragic or strange happening, they loose touch before the events of Ep 4 and come face to face again in Ep 7. And I think Von Sydow will play an aged Kanan who’s failed Ezra in some way and exiled himself in disgrace but now feels the need for redemption. Then again, I could be waaaay off!! 🙂
Ezra is appearing in episode 7 as Kira. The spelling is so similar it’s so obvious. I know Ezra is a boy but it’s Star Wars, I’m sure they can “take care of that”. As for age, time travel will be a big part of TFA.
Hmm…I see what you’re saying, but I don’t agree. I mean Ezra COULD be Kira, but I don’t think they’re going to go in that direction just yet.
I think Ezra will eventually fall. Because there are a number of things at play here. His background, street life has hardened him making it difficult to bond with others… Kanan didn’t even complete his own training and he expects to TRAIN another? Obi wan lost Anakin, Yoda lost Dooku, and they were at one point masters.
Kanan is biting off way more than he can chew. It’s building to be the perfect storm. And at some point he’ll wish that he never took on the responsibility, which he is underestimating.
The Inquisitor is now fully aware of Ezra’s potential and will hunt him much like Vader hunted Luke in order to convert him. Like all Dark Jedi or Sith, his loyalty to his master is to be questioned.
Dude. This cartoon is AWFUL. The animation is below even the standards of a video game cutscene…. The dialog is trite and childish. I gave up after 5 episodes
who cares??? i am in it for the story alone…i could care less if it was south park style animation..the story is awesome and it is only getting better. I agree that the animation is completely horrible. but it isnt a deal breaker for me.. as far as the dialog being childish…guess what genius? you are watching a CARTOON on the DISNEY channel..get a fuckin clue
Agreed. Plus, if you don’t like it, don’t watch. So, you’ve made the right move. I’m sure someone must be devastated that you’ve stopped watching.
How many shows are great just 5 episodes into the start of a series??? If you’re looking for sophisticated dialog, you probably shouldn’t tune in to a cartoon on the Disney network. Didn’t you notice all of the toy commercials/kids commercials?!
I think it is a weak argument to justify lackluster storytelling by using the excuse that it is a Disney cartoon. Your concept of a cartoon seems to diminish it to something that is supposed to be trivial and campy. I think if you asked the majority of Star Wars fans out there what they would want to see in a Star Wars series, they would probably want something better than what Rebels is currently delivering. A cartoon is just like any other medium in art. It is a vehicle for storytelling and can be treated as seriously as the kind of groundbreaking, sophisticated work you see in Japanese Animation or as crude and surreal as Spongebob Squarepants.
The point being, it was Disney’s choice to present Rebels in this fashion and I think they could have done a better job. By comparison, the Clone Wars offered more compelling story. By the series’ end, it was very sophisticated and intriguing. I hope Rebels will also develop into something better.
I think its been shown and there are hints now that Ezra is indeed strong with the Force.
Why has the fledging Rebels (who must be lead by a Jedi) not see this and take over his training.
At some point as his powers grow with or without the Inquisitors report Vader and the Emperor will soon sense his presence.
Yoda would also have sensed his last little calling of the beast from the depths I am sure.
To look into the future I think the Inquisitor saw the face of the person who will defeat him. I think he will now look to kill Ezra instead of turning him over to the Dark Side.
If Star Wars Rebels has characters in The Force Awakens, then Sydow, for me at least, is Kanan. In the comic book that’s coming out about his life post-Jedi Purge, Kanan has a much lighter complexion, before becoming what we see on the show, so Maybe Kanan purposely altered his appearance, and eventually returned to it.
Can anyone give a link to this episode in HD? Please, I really need it
Kick *ss torrents
Your best site to see this would be youtube
It’s E08.
No, it’s Episode 07. That is according to StarWars.com
So the pilot film is just E01 not E01 & E02? It’s weird that everywhere else this episode is called E08. Thanks telling me the facts.
The pilot in considered standalone movie. Droids in Distress is Episode 01.
If everywhere else this episode is called 08, then everyone is wrong. As I said our numbering is based on the one and only source – StarWars.com
Nobody points the fact that actually Ezra is using the dark side in this episode? What makes him strong against the Inquisitor is fear and anger. I think this should give us clues on what’s the destiny of this character.