SWNN Review: Star Wars Rebels – Relics of the Old Republic!

rebelbaseintelThe second episode of the second season picks up right where we left off after the premiere.  This episode featured a lot more action than its predecessor and offered several fun references to the Clone Wars series.  It also featured a touching reunion and the AT-TE doing battle with not one, not two, but THREE AT-ATs!  Read on to find out more and as always … beware of SPOILERS

 

 

In a moment of fear, Wolffe had alerted the Empire to the presence of our rebels and its two Jedi.  Kallus’s star destroyer arrives in system as the crew prepare to disembark from the planet with valuable intel on possible locations for a new rebel base (including some Mandalorian possibilities).

 

Ties are launched and Kallus contacts Wolffe, initially calling him by his clone trooper serial number and then almost mockingly calling him by name.  Wolffe quickly tries to backtrack on his earlier report and blames the mistake on his cybernetic eye.  We learn immediately that Kallus is having none of it as he reveals that the probe droid took footage of the clones harboring the Ghost’s team.  Rex steps in and lets the ISB General know that the imperials should expect a fight if they want access to our heroes.

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Meanwhile Hera, aboard the Ghost, has shut Chopper down in order to avoid detection by the star destroyer.  On board said destroyer, Kallus decides to forgo aerial bombardment of the planet in favor of a ground assault.  We get a very cool extended action sequence where the AT-TE “fishing vessel” goes toe to toe with three AT-AT walkers.  The fight takes place in the middle of a sandstorm, making it nearly impossible for either side to see a thing.  Kanan and Ezra both utilize their abilities in the Force to give our outnumbered rebels a key advantage.  There is a nice moment hearkening back to a New Hope where Kanan urges Ezra to trust in the Force to make a key shot, hitting one of the walkers in a weak spot on the neck.

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With the Phantom cleared to depart, the crew boards and sets course for the Ghost.  Ezra isn’t thrilled with the decision to leave the clones behind to their fates (almost certain death) and eventually convinces Kanan to return for the rescue.  Kallus manages to slip away during all this.

 

In the middle of the battle the star destroyer is called away for a rendezvous with Lord Vader.  Admiral Konstantine is surprised to find himself meeting not the Sith Lord, but an Inquisitor.  This is our first look at the 5th Brother.  The dark-sider makes no secret of his disdain for Kallus and Konstantine’s failures.

 

To close out the episode, we see the Ghost docked with the rebel fleet and we get a touching reunion between Ahsoka and Rex.

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The Light Side 

 

New Hope Homage – We get a nice call back to Episode 4 that doesn’t feel forced, (no pun intended) where Ezra uses the Force and not his eyes to make a critical shot.  Much like Obi-Wan encouraged Luke to do the same, we see Kanan asking his padawan to trust his instincts.  It’s also worth noting the maturing process that Ezra is going through.  While he can still be sarcastic and a bit cocky at times, we’re getting it in smaller, more subdued doses.

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Clone Troopers calling out Stormtroopers – Any fan of the GFFA certainly knows the seeming inability of the Empire’s soldiers to hit anything at all.  The clones were bred to fight and as has been documented repeatedly, do a much better job at it than their later counterparts.  It was nice to see old Rex laying the smack-down on these new wannabes.

Reunion of Old Friends – Last week we got to see the return of three fan favorite clones.  This week we get to see them in action.  It was fun seeing that though they may not have the desire to fight anymore, Rex and co. can still throw down when needed.  We see their incredible bravery and slight bit of craziness on display as they basically engage in a kamikaze attack, trying to sweep one walker’s legs out from under itself.  One of the most heart-warming moments of this chapter was seeing Ahsoka and Rex reunited, with Rex commenting on how Tano “got old” before a touching embrace.

 

The Dark Side 

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We Get it – Though it’s an integral part of Kanan’s character development to show what he went through during Order 66 and afterwards, it felt like the references to his mistrust of clones were a bit repetitive and overdone.  There were just one or two many nods to this for my liking.  This topic had already been touched upon quite a bit last week and there were several more scattered throughout this episode.  Also the clones mentioned more than once how nice it was to be under the wing of a Jedi once again.  Of course, it is important that new fans have this pointed out to them, as not everyone watched the Clone Wars.  Still, the number of times it was brought up felt like a tad bit of overkill.

A bit Light on Plot – This episode featured plenty of exciting action, yet was surprisingly thin on actual story-telling.  Star Wars is quite good at balancing intriguing stories with exciting action, but this episode didn’t do much to drive the story forward.  With that being said, it was the continuation of a two-parter.  When you look at the first two chapters as parts of a larger whole, this minor weakness does actually become a strength.  One provided the setup and the other provided the payoff.

 

Parting Shots 

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– We’ve gotten some nice groundwork laid for the rest of the season via the first two chapters.  The staff that works on the show has done a great job of setting us up for things to come.  There’s the ongoing search for a new rebel base, the continued inter-weaving of rebel cells, the search for answers to the mystery of the Sith Lord and the promise of a much closer look at our heroes’ backstories.

– We also got some nice nods and references to other adventures in the SW saga.  The clones talk about serving under Anakin Skywalker, claiming he was the best general.  The interconnected feel of the GFFA has never felt stronger.

– The fluidity of the animation in this action-packed edition also highlighted, once again, just how far the show has come from a production standpoint in only its second season.

– Kallus continues to become a less interesting and less menacing villain as the show forges on.  However, we’ve got new villains entering the fray that promise to spice things up.  Next week we get to see more on the Inquisitors, which is very exciting, to my mind.  The title is very interesting … “Always Two there Are”.  Surely, this refers to the appearance of both of the new Inquisitors.  Still, I find myself wondering if we may not get a bit more on Ahsoka’s investigation of the Sith threat.  Either way, the story seems to be moving at more of a break-neck pace in season 2.

 

What did you think about episode 2?  Are you enjoying the second season even more than the first?  Are you excited about the new Inquisitors?  Sound off in the comments below or head over to the Cantina and discuss this and much more with our community of fans.

 

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15 thoughts on “SWNN Review: Star Wars Rebels – Relics of the Old Republic!

  • October 23, 2015 at 12:45 pm
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    i really liked this episode the reference to anakain was great and the fifth brother is intersting (still think the inquisitors may be the starting point for the knights of ren)

    • October 23, 2015 at 5:45 pm
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      Seems to be 7 of them, like we see with the Knights of Ren.

  • October 23, 2015 at 2:35 pm
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    I actually saw through this episode that because of this repetition of mistrust of kanan and the coines being glad to fight under him in the end kanan decided to trust them, so I’ve seen a change in the character

    • October 23, 2015 at 5:45 pm
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      who are the coines?

  • October 23, 2015 at 2:38 pm
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    I actually like how they handled the clones in this arc. The moment when they’re essentially checking out the new tech (the AT-AT) with a mixture of amazement and disdain was a nice touch.

  • October 23, 2015 at 4:58 pm
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    I smiled when I saw Ahsoka and Rex reunite. For those of us who have been following the story from the beginning this moment was very cool.

    I immediately referenced back to the first animated Clone Wars movie in 2008, when Anakin found out Ahsoka was actually his Padawan and not Obi Wan’s. Rex shared in Anakin’s confusion saying “Sir, I thought you said you’d never have a Padawan?” then later laughing when Ahsoka called Anakin ‘Sky Guy’ (also the moment when Anakin first calls Ahsoka ‘snippy’. Anakin sends Ahsoka off with Rex and she gets her first lesson on military rank and experience in war by Rex himself. Their bond goes way back. It was a very nice moment.

    I wonder if Rex will find out eventually that Vader is the general whom he said was the greatest general? Very interesting stuff. There’s lots of story there without telling much for those of us who know what’s up…

    • October 23, 2015 at 5:22 pm
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      And Yoda said way back then that he was capable of training a Padawan but letting go of the Padawan would be the trial he must pass. We all know Ahsoka leaves the Jedi Order during the last full season of the Clone Wars… and though it was not explained in any great detail I am sure her departure helped fuel his disillusionment with the Jedi Order even further.

  • October 23, 2015 at 5:36 pm
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    “You got old”. The rudeness! She’s only 30 something.

  • October 23, 2015 at 5:40 pm
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    I’m not a huge prequels or Clone Wars fan and I was nervous about incorporating so many Clone Wars characters into the show, but so far this episode arc has calmed my fears. It was really well done and helped bridge some of the prequel/original gaps in my mind. I don’t necessarily want the clones around all that long… but I like them so far. Well done, Rebels crew.

  • October 23, 2015 at 5:43 pm
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    The less the show focuses on Aladdin, er I mean Ezra, the better it is.

  • October 23, 2015 at 7:56 pm
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    The constant missing of the TIE fighters and ATAT’s blasts really decrease the tension for me in the worst way.

    • October 23, 2015 at 8:59 pm
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      Yeah, and the necessary escape of agent Kallus….sometimes there has to be some wounds at least. I know they won’t kill of the main characters so soon into season but still…

  • October 23, 2015 at 11:49 pm
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    I choked up twice during this ep and pretty much cried at the end.

  • October 24, 2015 at 12:19 am
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    Excellent episode… enjoyed the AtAts in the dust storm… had the Star Trek 2 nebula feel to it… old submarine show down kind of thing.

    This show really needs to have Ahsoka take the lead. They should kill Kanan or have him go on a long term missing that leaves Exza in Ahsoka’s care. And they need to have Rex as a permanent member of the Ghost crew. I’m sorry, I just find Zeb so limited as a character compared to Rex.

    I mean, watching an ex-soldier/clone is much more interesting. Having Rex instantly makes Kanan more interesting too, given his history with the clone wars.

    • October 25, 2015 at 3:29 am
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      Seriously? Man Kanan is becoming one of my favorite Star Wars characters. I just enjoy flawed characters, and its a pleasure seeing him carry such a burden, an untrained Jedi stepping up to fight for the greater cause and still attempt to train a potential young Jedi to carry on his old tradition.

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