Star Wars Rebels: Gathering Forces
November 25, 2014 6:41 AM - Season 1, Episode 8 - Subscribe

Rebels returns in media TIEs with the Ghost in hot pursuit by the Inquisitor and Imperial forces. A tracking device planted on the small detachable shuttle, Phantom, allows Kanan and Ezra to lead the following Imperials away from the rest of the crew and their valuable cargo, Peebo, a rodian with a head full of Imperial secrets. The Jedi and apprentice return to the abandoned Clone Wars era asteroid base with a hope to use the base's "natural" defenses against their pursuers. For the first time, Ezra learns about the Dark Side of the Force.

Trivia from the official Star Wars Rebels trivia gallery!
  • The tracking device used in the episode first appeared in an RPG game released in 1991.
  • The logo on the Phantom originally appeared in the cockpit of the Millennium Falcon.
  • The star destroyer in pursuit of the rebels is the Relentless.
  • The shuttle used by the Inquisitor to land on the asteroid is the Sentinel class shuttle, which was first created for the special edition of ANH.
  • .
  • The blockade runner seen at the end of the episode is not the Tantive IV.
  • Rebels can be watched on DisneyXD.com and presently, the entire episodes on StarWars.com, as well DisneyXD the channel.
posted by Atreides (9 comments total) 1 user marked this as a favorite
 
I really liked that bit where they separated while in hyperspace.
posted by rebent at 11:17 AM on November 25, 2014 [1 favorite]


This episode definitely had some intriguing elements to it, none the less, the fact that a piece of something can detach from a ship traveling through hyperspace and not be destroyed. We saw several examples that Kanan is just not the best Jedi to be teaching Ezra the ways of the Force, be it the fact he never really warned or instructed Ezra about the Dark Side of the Force or for the fact that his own training was incomplete to the point that the Inquisitor completely overpowers him in every face to face encounter.

I have to admit, I really dig the aspect of our Jedi hero simply not being the best or always triumphant. We have six movies and the Clone Wars (which generally did this) that portray our Jedi protagonist as generally the best of the best. Revenge of the Sith was probably the first instance where Jedi just get cut down, either by Sith or by non-Force troops, and it was striking, but fleeting, and none of them included our heroes.

It's also interesting that the Inquisitor has still not given up on recruiting Ezra to become his apprentice. He also wanted Kanan alive, which made me wonder if it were purely for interrogation purposes or if there was something more sinister.

Fulcrum. Again. I have to believe Fulcrum will be a season ending reveal of some sort, be it Asoka or someone else significant to the Star Wars universe. The animation, again, was great when you aren't distracted by the smoothness of the characters, which stands out against some of the awesome surface details of almost everything else. I was momentarily hypnotized by Kanan's armor and how it reflected the light.

Interesting side point. Luke's first exposure to the Dark Side on Dagobah also occurred inside a cave and he references it as being cold, like Ezra. In both instances, the characters had to go into darkness to experience it and often in the Hero's Journey, the protagonist must descend into darkness/cave to move forward in their journey.

I'm curious about the likelihood of Ezra turning to the Dark Side because one, his teacher isn't ready or entirely equipped to properly train him in the way of the Force (that sound like someone we know who lives as a hermit in the desert of Tattooine?); and two, he has severe emotional responses right now, be it his parents and his past or his new shipboard family. Also, can he get rid of his stupid sling shot?
posted by Atreides at 1:41 PM on November 25, 2014 [1 favorite]


I'd love for Ezra to turn to the dark side and become the inquisitors apprentice. That would be the best thing ever. He's certainly ripe for it, full of hate and anger and all. Also it would greatly enhance the risk of the Dark Side to see someone other than Vader turn (I don't think we saw Dooku turn at any point, so he doesn't count).

Also Kanan is kinda boring, but I do like very much that he is not really a fully trained Jedi. Having him consumed by guilt over failing Ezra (and then have him face his now more powerful former student) would add a great deal to the arc of Rebels.
posted by Just this guy, y'know at 6:27 AM on November 26, 2014 [1 favorite]


If they did make Ezra turn, they could have him be the big bad in one of the new movies.
posted by drezdn at 6:46 AM on November 26, 2014 [1 favorite]


I have to believe Fulcrum will be a season ending reveal of some sort, be it Asoka or someone else significant to the Star Wars universe.

[cough]Leia[cough]
posted by The Tensor at 11:35 PM on November 27, 2014 [2 favorites]


Just this guy, y'know: I'd love for Ezra to turn to the dark side and become the inquisitors apprentice. That would be the best thing ever. He's certainly ripe for it, full of hate and anger and all. Also it would greatly enhance the risk of the Dark Side to see someone other than Vader turn (I don't think we saw Dooku turn at any point, so he doesn't count).
Given the fact that the only Rebels toy I see being pushed on TV is The Inquisitor's lightsaber — with the tag-line "Sometimes it's good to be bad" — I'm going to say, "Yeah, maybe." Which… would be the ultimate betrayal of the franchise I think.
posted by ob1quixote at 12:40 AM on November 28, 2014


This is 5 years before A new Hope, so Leia would be 14, Ashoka would be 31?
Just to put various ages to characters.
(I'm only at season two of Clone Wars though, so there are many characters being introduced that might get killed before Rebels)

Could you clarify what you mean by "ultimate betrayal of the franchise" Do you mean it would be a betrayal of the franchise to write it that way, or that it would be the biggest betrayal seen in all of star wars?
posted by Just this guy, y'know at 3:30 AM on November 28, 2014


Just this guy, y'know: Could you clarify what you mean by "ultimate betrayal of the franchise" Do you mean it would be a betrayal of the franchise to write it that way, or that it would be the biggest betrayal seen in all of star wars?
With full awareness that it belies my prejudices, I mean it would be a betrayal of the franchise to have the protagonist of a Star Wars property turn to the dark side in an heroic manner and market membership in the Sith Order to children as "It's good to be bad." As hamfisted as the 'youngling' scene in Revenge of the Sith was, it served the essential function of making sure people — especially kids — understood that the Dark Side is evil, even if Anakin turned to it for what seemed like a good reason.

Kids will believe whatever TV says when it comes to what's cool. It's irresponsible to tell kids being evil is cool. I want the kids I know to aspire to be as righteous as a Jedi Knight.
posted by ob1quixote at 12:24 PM on November 28, 2014 [3 favorites]


Ah, I understand, and I agree.
I wasn't suggesting Ezra turn to the dark side and remain a protagonist.

I was more thinking the action would remain on Ghost and he turns up with the inquisitor occasionally to attack them. It should be entirely clear that Ezra is wrong, and unsympathetic. Ideally show Ezra as giving into fear and hatred.
posted by Just this guy, y'know at 4:46 PM on November 30, 2014


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