Ricky Church on why you should look forward to Star Wars Rebels season two…
It goes without saying the Star Wars franchise has been undergoing a renaissance with the upcoming release of The Force Awakens. Excitement has just been mounting more and more with each trailer, press release and interview that has surfaced. Lately the Star Wars franchise has really expanded beyond the big screen and onto television with the much-loved animated series The Clone Wars and, more recently, Star Wars Rebels, a series that takes place in between Revenge of the Sith and A New Hope.
When Rebels was first announced, many fans feared it would be a “Disneyfied” version of Star Wars now that Disney owns Lucasfilm (many were also sore over Clone Wars’ cancellation). There’s also the fact the word ‘prequel’ still causes any Star Wars fan to sweat with anxiety. Over time Rebels proved to be reminiscent of the classic Original Trilogy through its story, themes and, most importantly, its characters. By the first season’s end, the show utilized many original characters, such as the famous droid pair, Lando Calrissian and even Grand Moff Tarkin, tying them nicely to the Ghost crew’s struggle against the Empire and the future that awaits the galaxy, especially in the final minutes of season one’s finale.
At its core, Star Wars has always been about self-discovery and becoming the person you really are. Rebels was no different as its two main characters worked together to discover their hidden potential. For Ezra Bridger, he took his first steps into a much larger universe with his new-found knowledge of the Force and Jedi training. Kanan Jarrus, Ezra’s master and one of the few Order 66 survivors, rediscovered and reaffirmed his faith in the Force after years of rejecting it. This theme of identity runs throughout the entire season as both characters finally embrace their entwined destinies.
SEE ALSO: Watch the trailer for Star Wars Rebels season two
Season Two of Rebels premieres in just a few short weeks and if the reaction from Celebration is anything to go by, it’s going to be quite an exciting time for fans of the show. Not only will the adventures of the Ghost crew continue, but many fan favourite characters will return as well, most notably Ahsoka Tano of The Clone Wars. Given that executive producer and showrunner Dave Filoni was also in charge of The Clone Wars and helped create Ahsoka, it really was only a matter of time the exiled padawan returned to the Star Wars galaxy. Though Ahsoka was a rather polarizing figure when The Clone Wars began, she became a fan favourite as she, too, began an excellent journey of self-discovery over the course of that series.
There is also the reappearance of the clone Captain Rex, Anakin Skywalker’s second in command, alive and well years after the Clone Wars ended. As another Clone Wars fan favourite, his appearance brings up numerous questions such as; how has he and his other clones survived; did he follow through with Order 66; how did he discover Ahsoka Tano survived? Coupled with Dave Filoni’s comments on how everything that would have happened in seasons six and seven of The Clone Wars is considered canon, fans have a lot to look forward to as the bridge between both animated series is built.
Nothing, however, compares with the return of Darth Vader and the actor who made him famous, James Earl Jones. Vader’s appearance is enough to excite Star Wars fans, but the fact James Earl Jones will once again be voicing the character throughout the season? That is worth the admission price alone. One must only watch the trailer for Rebels season two to see Darth Vader is being returned to his threatening and foreboding stature rather than the controversial figure of the prequel films. His arrival on Lothal screams bad news for the Ghost crew and Kanan and Ezra find themselves in the not too comfortable position of coming face-to-face with the Dark Lord. It should also be no coincidence that both Ahsoka and Vader appear on Rebels at the same time, making it all to clear an unpleasant reunion between former master and apprentice will be taking place sometime down the road.
Star Wars Rebels has not just been a great part of Star Wars fiction, but great animated television as well. Much like the Original Trilogy, its got an excellent blend of humour and story telling that both children and adults can enjoy. Season Two is ready to step it up and deliver some very good material by combining The Clone Wars, Rebels and introducing more characters from the Original Trilogy. Rebels is certainly not a show any Star Wars fan should miss because of its deep-rooted love and appreciation for everything which makes this saga so great.
Ricky Church
Originally published May 27, 2015. Updated December 15, 2019.
