A Love Letter to ‘Star Wars Rebels’

Sep 13, 2016

“Star Wars Rebels” is the best show on TV. There I said it.

If you know me at all, you know that I’m a huge fan of the critically-acclaimed animated series, and you don’t need to know me to see what I did right there, Rebels. Week-to-week, it comes up against the likes of the popular comic book hero shows “Supergirl,” “The Flash,” “Arrow” and “Legends of Tomorrow.” And week after week, in my opinion, Rebels dominates, even its filler episodes are much more enjoyable than the ones seen on the now CW run DC-whatever-universe-we-are-in-now.

star-wars-rebels-season-3-poster

I haven’t mentioned fan service yet. It doesn’t matter if you were a Star Wars junkie before sitting down to watch Rebels, I wasn’t, or if you hadn’t heard of the space-opera before, Rebels should have you hooked solely based on how well done of a sci-fi show it is. Space battles, varying planets, a diverse range of alien races, etc., etc. Yes, I admit it helps that the show has the clout Star Wars behind it, but does it so well; I’d go as far as to argue better than the series that came before it: “The Clone Wars.”

Season one of Rebels had its “HOLY S–T” moments, as should any form of any entertainment have in order to keep its respective audience captivated long enough. When season two rolled out, there was no way it could top the identity reveal of who Fulcrum was. Oh, but it did with the introduction of one of the most iconic villains in general as the new season’s big bad: Darth Vader. That was the “Well, f–k” mic-drops Rebels’s second season was able to muster up. But wait… then came the finale, which was one of the most phenomenal TV episodes I’d ever seen.

As the season three September 24 at 8:30 p.m. premiere date approaches, I’m left in the same thought process as season one left me, “There’s no way they could top that. Can they?” Obviously the new season isn’t here, but the trailer from last month, the screenshots and clips released to tease has made me start re-watching the series from its first episode in sheer anxious anticipation. So, I’ll leave you with those bits of crumbs the people running Rebels behind the scenes did us fans.

Trailer

Clip One: “Enter Thrawn”

Clip Two: “Mind Trick” – Steps Into Shadow Preview

Season Three Story Synopsis

Having established a secret base on Atollon, the Ghost crew, now led by a more powerful Ezra, strengthens the rebel fleet by acquiring new resources and recruits eager to stand against the Empire.  However, the Imperial efforts to eliminate the rebellion are now being led by the coldly analytical Grand Admiral Thrawn, whose strategic, tactical, and cultural insights make him a threat unlike any they have faced before. In Season Three, Ezra and Sabine take on new roles and challenges as the rebels prepare for their biggest mission yet — a direct assault on the Empire.

Returning & New Voice Cast

First the returnees:

  • Freddie Prinze Jr. as Kanan
  • Vanessa Marshall as Hera
  • Steve Blum as Zeb
  • Tiya Sircar as Sabine
  • Taylor Gray as Ezra
  • Dee Bradley Baker as Captain Rex, Captain Gregor, and Commander Wolffe
  • Sam Witwer as Darth Maul
  • David Oyelowo as Agent Kallus

And now for the newbs, who are more than welcome additions:

  • Tom Baker, of “Dr. Who” fame, as Bendu, who knows the ways of the Force
  • Lars Mikkelsen, from “House of Cards” and the brother of Mads, as Grand Admiral Thrawn, a Legends character
  • Katee Sackoff, a “Battlestar Galactica alum, is reprising her role from Clone Wars of Bo-Katan Kryze, Pre Vizsla’s trusted Death Watch lieutenant, and the sister of Mandalorian Duchess Satine Kryze

First Six Episode Titles

  1. Steps Into Shadow: Part 1
  2. Steps Into Shadow: Part 2
  3. The Holocrons of Fate
  4. The Antilles Extraction
  5. Hera’s Heroes
  6. The Last Battle