Star Wars Rebels: Path of the Jedi
January 8, 2015 7:15 AM - Season 1, Episode 9 - Subscribe

Ezra's training to become a Jedi takes an important step forward as Kanan insists that he must undergo an important test before he can continue his education. During the test, Ezra must face his greatest fears and in the process, encounters guidance from a familiar voice. Also, several deaths.*

*Okay, the deaths are all an illusion.


Trivia from Path of the Jedi!
  • The working title of the episode was, "Enlightenment."
  • Ezra and Sabine's activity, hinted at in this episode was cut from the script, but will come back later in the season.
  • An earlier version of the script included Ezra seeking help from old friends in search of a kyber crystal, but the script was streamlined to focus on the temple.
  • Other Jedi temples, outside of Coruscant, were referenced in The Clone Wars show.
  • Outside of the temple are two ancient symbols, invoking the intertwining of the light and dark sides of the force. They were previously used in the Clone War episodes that took place on Mortis and Ilum.
  • The presence of kyber crystals on Lothal (the planet they're on) is the reason a temple was located on the planet.
  • The script etched in the walls of the temple are based off a script designed by Ralph McQuarrie for a painting of the Yavin Temple he created for the 1995 released "Illustrated Star Wars Universe."
*Also notable, Frank Oz returns to the screen as the voice of Yoda for the first time since Revenge of the Sith in 2005.
posted by Atreides (5 comments total) 1 user marked this as a favorite
 
The AV Club recap poo-poo'd the end portion with the crew talking about how they helped Ezra with his lightsaber, but I actually really liked that part. It helps show his connection to his adopted family, how he would not be where he is without their help. I don't like the prequel approach of "Jedi can't have emotional connections to other people!" as that seems kind of backwards for a group dedicated to peace and stability.

I'm also a sucker for lightsabers that go outside the traditionalist approach. While the Inquisitor's is a bit over the top, Ezra's saber + blaster design is something I'd totally go for.
posted by robocop is bleeding at 7:28 AM on January 8, 2015 [1 favorite]


I was a complete sucker for Yoda's guidance in this episode, as for some reason, it just came across far more as authentic Yoda. Which, I suppose it is, if you disregard the prequels. There we had Council Member Yoda, who at best provided tidbits of lecture on how to be a good Jedi or the wisdom he dispensed was more on how to address the situation at hand. Here, we have more Dagobah Yoda, the Yoda who in a few years will be teaching Luke how to be a Jedi.

That thought, however, raised a big question mark in my mind in terms of canon. Luke was told by Yoda that he was the last of the Jedi, yet here we have Yoda helping Ezra advance to become a Jedi, and also offering guidance to Kanan, asking him if he was prepared and able to serve as a Master to his padewan. Does this indicate that Kanan and Ezra's fates will ultimately be doomed within the next six years or so in the context of the show (which in this episode blew through weeks of time with one comment)? Or will they disavow the title Jedi (if they live that long)?

I'm a bit of a purist when it comes to lightsabers, but I'm willing to give Ezra's a chance, especially given the circumstances. I assume part of its design was inspired by the hand guards from rapiers, and the addition of a blaster element actually could surprise an opponent unfamiliar with its capability. I do find the Inquisitor's spinning blade a bit too reminiscent of General Grievous' spinny spinny lightsaber action. And also, spinning blade? There ain't much you can do with that, unless it can spin back around just as quickly on its axis (and catch the blocker by surprise), as I can't imagine the strength of the spinning mechanism to be strong enough to really overwhelm a strong defensive parry or block.

I agree, though, I like the family contribution. Hell, even the droid helped.

The construction of the lightsaber is or was an extremely important step for a Jedi. In the prequel universe, one generally had to be trained as a padewan for a significant number of years before they reached the time to perform such a task. Obviously, in the post-prequel world, the training of Jedi has taken on something much more of a fast track. Luke constructed his own lightsaber between ESB and RTOJ (for obvious reasons) and Vader informed him that by doing so, "Your training is complete." Gotta love the differences in Jedi training when you haven't spent 20 years thinking it over.

This was one of those times when I got a little frustrated with Ezra taking so long to clue in that everything was an illusion, but I'll cut him some slack by waving the mysticism of the Force can do all sorts of crazy things (and grit my teeth over being magically transported back to the Ghost). Obviously, Ezra's anger is going to be the defining element of his graduation to being a Jedi or being a villain. Will he let it overwhelm him or will he control it?

I enjoyed Kanan's own fears concerning Ezra and Yoda's query if he was indeed capable of being his mentor. In a universe with the Jedi reduced from 10,000 to a few dozen, you gotta work with what ya got. Speaking of the 10,000 number, I assume that's not supposed to reflect the numbers at the time of Revenge of the Sith or the Clone Wars? The Jedi were always kind of shown as being perhaps in the hundreds or so, but they were definitely stretched thin by their activities in the Clone Wars and that's generally having a few Jedi here or there to oversee Clone troops. I wonder if the 10,000 number was an allusion to Obi-Wan's speech to Luke, how for 10,000 years the Jedi were the protectors of the galaxy?

The animation wasn't bad in this episode, but wasn't necessarily as well directed as it has been in the past. I had to appreciate the slaying of the Ghost crew by implication and shadow, such as Hera being cut down and Sabine's lifeless feet and legs. I did like the arctic touches around the temple, tho'.

Not a bad episode, it had its moments, but overall, not the best.
posted by Atreides at 8:19 AM on January 8, 2015


I don't know if Kanan is technically a full Jedi Knight. Like, he was on the verge of getting his diploma but never showed up for that last class. I get the sense from the New Dawn book that he went his own way and worked to deny his Jedi nature. Like his lightsaber, he sees himself as broken person, hence his reluctance to guide another.
posted by robocop is bleeding at 9:07 AM on January 8, 2015 [1 favorite]


Yeah, Kanan was a 14 year old padawan at the time of Order 66.
posted by Just this guy, y'know at 7:21 AM on January 9, 2015 [1 favorite]


I sincerely hope we get a flashback to 14 year old Kanan running for his life while his fellow Jedi are being cut down, cause I think that will be pretty dang dramatic and would be a great connection back to the Clone Wars and Revenge of the Sith.
posted by Atreides at 8:49 AM on January 9, 2015


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