Star Wars Rebels Review: The Last Battle + Rebels Recon! What Did You Think?
I have been saying that this current season of Star Wars: Rebels has been a lot stronger than the previous season. One of my complaints from the previous season was episodes coming off like a forced filler story to help make up an entire season of 20+ episodes. Was “The Last Battle” our first filler episode of the year? Let’s find out! Also read on for the latest episode of Rebels Recon…
SPOILERS BELOW!!!!!!!!!!
What worked for me:
- Seeing all those old Battle Droids again:
I was in High School when TPM was released and it took me a number of years to understand what George Lucas was trying to accomplish with the idea of using Battle Droids in the first place. It wasn’t until I fell in love with TCW that I fully got behind what they are and their use. Some fans won’t like a call back to the old droid humor with “Roger, Roger,” but I did. This episode seems like a love letter to all Prequels/Clone War era aficionados, and I think that Lucasfilm/ DIsney needs to keep acknowledging this era of Star Wars instead of ignoring it.
- The Empire vs The Separatists:
Often times I find myself in deep thought (not really), wondering if we would ever see those old clankers take on the awful aim of Stormtroopers. We get to see a little of that in this episode. It was a very “cross the streams” kind of moment for me. It was quite the sight to see and a fantastic visual. I hope that is only a tease of what we could see this season instead of a one-time thing. I would love the Rebels to receive more help from the Separatists’ army.
For instance: more Droid Destroyers vs Walkers? Sign me up.
- A helmeted Rex back in action:
I LOVE TCW and Rex is a big reason that is the case. That series did an AMAZING job of giving the Clones some semblance of individuality. None stood out more than Anakin’s right hand man, Rex. Rex’s role has been one that I think is appropriate for the show (behind the scenes, giving input and advice for the Rebellion group with which he’s stationed). It was nice to see Rex finally put on that old helmet and get back to action again. Hopefully this won’t be the last time we see him don his helmet!
What didn’t work for me:
- The ending of the Clone Wars?!?!?!!??!!?
Yes…that’s what happens at the end. Rex and the tactical droid he teamed up with convince both sides to turn on the Empire, and state to Ezra…that the Clone Wars have finally ended. Yeah. I really didn’t enjoy that. Personally, I feel that the Clone Wars ended with Order 66 and truly no sides won the war. Trying to put some kind of “pretty bow” on this episode only drags it down. Instead of the episode focusing on a “winner,” I feel that it would have been better to have a majority of the episode be about a full team-up of the Rebels and Separatists army.
Quick hitters:
- Looks like the Phantom is about to be replaced with a sheathipede class shuttle. Uhhhh….ok.
Well folks, IMO…we have our first “filler” episode of the season. Was it bad? No, but I think it was the weakest episode by far this season. By using TCW callbacks, this episode succeeded for me, despite the awful ending. I just hope this isn’t the last we see of the Separatist Army this season.
As always, I look forward to reading all of your reactions to the episode!
You can follow me on Twitter @Hermann22
You can follow my Star Wars podcast @Blastercanonpod
Also the latest episode of Rebels Recon has been released. Tell us what you thought about the episode in the comments section and check out StarWars.com’s new video Rebels Recon #3.05: Inside “The Last Battle”.
a bit of a cheesy episode at times, but still a good love letter to clone wars, just a shame that ahsoka couldn’t be there. ezra, though, was on his game with the quips: “who’s roger?”. lol.
This episode was pure charm.
I really don’t have much else to say, but it was a nice “tip of the hat”
to the Clone Wars, especially when those credits were rolling.
About the credits, I didn’t pay atention I think, but today I had that song in my mid, I though – why? – now I realize why.
https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/dd4640231142ac3a599aeb3b3a56e4d41706a378d9fadf900cead1161a586445.jpg
Good write-up! The label ‘filler’ does apply here – the overall season plot threads are NOT advanced, but as correctly pointed out, the impact of this is lessened by what is a nice tip of the hat to TCW, for sure…
Calling character episodes “filler” is so sad.
Yeah, I hear ya – bit of a cop-out. I did like the episode, BUT:
– It didn’t advance the Ezra / dark side arc any further (obvs, no Maul)
– No Thrawn
– No ‘Is she or isn’t she…?’ (i.e., the Vader / Ahsoka bit still dangling out there)
– No Bendu
Sure, it was cool to see Rex get some closure of sorts to his Clone Wars days, but ever since Filoni made that statement about using his power to retcon Rex into ROTJ as ‘Gramps’ the Rebel commando on Endor*, he feels like more of a ‘safe’ target w/ little at stake, compared to say – Zeb or Hera, whose future by comparison is potentially much more volatile…
That’s all, not slagging the episode or the show…
*http://www.slashfilm.com/captain-rex-in-return-of-the-jedi/
Well whats sad is anyone calling this episode filler as if they know what the future holds. And yes resolving character threads is not “filler” even if this episode doesnt tie in somewhere down the line. Remember all those “filler” episodes with hondo back on clone wars that ended up becoming crucial to the show and now rebels?
Sadly i think to some people filler is any episode without a heavy focus on force stuff and thrawn.
Calling space whale episodes “filler” is quite appropriate though.
This season is just fantastic in my opinion. And yes though this may have been a bit of a filler, it was a great filler. The Clone Wars were a brilliant addition to Star Wars so any tip of the hat to them is fine by me
Pastebin?
http://pastebin.com/5vhGb6zF
You are awesome as always! Thank you!
Wow. That was one of the most boring Rebels episodes I’ve seen. I hope the next one is better.
Doesn’t look like it.
after the Thrawn episode I thought “ok, the next one will probably boring” and had low expectations. Well… how did the teaser trailer of the Phantom Menace put it “every generation has a legend” and the kids growing up with the prequels or even Clone Wars are also fans and never had an issue with either the prequels or animated series, so it was a gift for them. I didn’t mind it as much as I expected and I never like the Clone Wars. But this episode felt more like Star Wars than the space whales episode.
Well put. I see the prequels for what they are, not what they could of been, but still enjoy them. My nephew watched them in that golden age and really loves them, views the OT as a bit boring. Every generation is different.
I liked it, there was a war story theme there that needed to be touched on (the Japanese Holdouts) and I think they pulled it off well.
And I hadn’t realised how much I’d missed the Clone Wars theme.
I miss the cool way Clone Wars always started as opposed to the uninspired way Rebels starts.
Like it, I would like to see something like this in the future, but actually happening in the main plot of the season, how?, maybe the droids helping the rebels in battle against thrawn. Its a shame droids were old and not in the best shape hehe, I would like to see Stormtroopers fighting battledroids, superbattledroids and droidekas, and Rex yelling “Where are those droidekas!”
Did anyone notice in Hera’s heroes the phantom in the ghost?
Yep. It was an accident; they used the wrong model.
I thought the episode was a little rushed. While it’s a cool idea in theory, battle droidsbattling stormtroopers seemed a little fanficriony to me, not something that should be canon. No word from Maul or anything about the vision Ezra saw. They saw the truth to stopping the Sith but continue on business as usual? Cool ideas but meh in the execution of it all. 5/10
Dude this whole show should be erased from canon with the exception of a very few bright spots. The creators should have never had Kanan and just started with Ahsoka finding Ezra. That would have solved so many problems. And then she could have died 2 seasons in and left a half-cocked Ezra out there being hunted by the Empire for his abilities.
That super-tactical droid is definitely coming back as a minor recurring character. Why else give it an easter-egg of a name?
I think at some point over the next two or three seasons we are going to see a showdown between an army composed of Rex and the Rebels + Separatists vs a Commander Cody coached legion of the Imperial military, ending with a no-holds-barred fight down to the last blaster charge and last ounce of energy between Cody and Rex themselves.
I liked Rex’s PTSD showing itself with him slipping back in time in his mind. We haven’t really seen the scars of war depicted quite like that.
Sure it was a little pat, but stormtroopers completely disrespecting battledroids and the last fleeing droid getting stomped was worth the price of admission.
A weakish first half, but a pretty good second half. Still can’t believe the Empire just lets two jedi continue to run around, start a Rebellion and defy the Empire at every turn. God, if it is that easy, why did the Jedi even both to go into hiding after Order 66? Sure does make the Sith and Empire look pretty incompetent.
Also, why exactly did the Ghost have to leave Rex, Kanan, Ezra, Zeb and Chopper behind? Pretty stupid and unrealistic. Just because this is a “kids show” doesn’t mean it has to be either of those. Sigh… this show suffers so much without Lucas driving the stories like the previous animated show.
That would have been cool if they recruited the Separatist Tactical droid into the Rebellion. Yet another example of a character added later in the show who I find far superior to the original cast. I really think the show writers are wasting an opportunity to use the forces that Palpatine betrayed at the end of the Clone Wars against him. It seems very fitting for Palpy to underestimate them coming together to create the Rebellion and rise up against him (Jedi, Clones, battle droids) – after essentially being left for dead.
I did like how the show addressed the end of the Clone Wars and Ezra bringing everyone together. the more this show can address the aftermath of the Clone Wars and deal with that, the better.
they haven’t “let” them do anything. a clown car of inquisitors was sent to find them and then vader himself. i’d guess vader would still be on them but is recovering from his duel with ahoska.
Well something doesnt jive because by the time of rogue one the jedi are ancient history. Thats plausible about vader save for the fact that its been over 6 months how much recovery does the guy need!
We still never got the inquisitor situation clarified either.
Sometimes it seems like the show doesnt care either, like they have given up and are just bidding their time until the next project comes out.
Let’s see how this season plays out first. Filoni knows his stuff and wouldn’t leave such a big question hanging.
They arent going to kill the jedi… the stars… until the end if at all and i doubt at all. Also its now 2-3 years from a new hope… not quite ancient history.
And then there is the fact filoni is working on other animated stuff and has turned the show over to justin ridge.
for the galaxy at large the jedi are ancient history(even though only 18 years have past between trilogies). as for the two we have left who knows what will happen, but i’m still holding out hope that ezra will turn by the end of the season.
for the galaxy at large the jedi are ancient history(even though only 18 years have past between trilogies). as for the two we have left who knows what will happen, but i’m still holding out hope that ezra will turn by the end of the season.
Its the empire who basically calls them ancient history… this same empire that encountered them two years (maybe less) before.
I can’t give you satisfactory answer. Maybe tweet pablo and see what his reasoning is.
First, thats my point there is no answer because its not done well.
Second, pablo isnt a writer on the show. He just interprets the new information, figures out some way to make it work and/or spins the info to work. Just like us except since he works for LFL it carries weight.
Also… thats weak that we would need pablo to explain ot because ot doesnt work. No amount of explaining would fox it anyway unless the redid a new hope.
i really liked this episode! Honestly, the ending credits were the best; the TCW-style logo and ending credits were super nostalgic.
I hope they get captured and escape the next episode. Hopefully the one after that and after that and and and