Chris Cooper reviews the eleventh episode of Star Wars Rebels, ‘Call to Action’…
Woah. I’m not sure there is a more appropriate word when comparing ‘Call to Action’ to the previous episode ‘Vision of Hope’. They really are the antithesis of each other.
Last week I complained about the show pandering to its younger audience and being very obvious in its story telling. I have no such complaints this week. In fact one scene was downright scary. Not sure how the younglings would deal with it.
With C-3P0, R2, Lando, Yoda and Vader already making appearances we now have another guest (possibly more permanent?) in the shape of the Grand Moff himself, Tarkin! His voice might not be quite as Cushing-esque as I’d hoped, but the character is written well and brings new-found menace to proceedings. The Imperials on Lothal have struggled to deal with the rebels so far and Tarkin has arrived to get them into shape. They must double their efforts or face the consequences.
It was especially pleasing to see that no one is spared from Tarkin’s sharp tongue, and that even with the Inquisitor next to him and the the clear reports of a Jedi and his Padawan, Tarkin waves it away as a hokum. Much like in A New Hope.
This is a massive upscale of the threat posed by the Empire now; I just hope that successive episodes of Rebel victory avoided and Tarkin isn’t made to look like he too is lacking. I get the feeling thing are going to get a lot worse before it gets better though.
But as the evil grows so does the heroism, and Kanan really steps up to the plate here. I fear for him, but that just goes to show the bond I’ve formed with the show so far.
‘Call to Action’ matches the best Rebels has to offer in terms of pacing, writing, and action. With echoes of A New Hope and Return of the Jedi it covers all the bases for those hoping the series continues its strong showing at integrating with the Original Trilogy.
If the rest of this season has the balls to run with the threat posed by Tarkin we could be in for better yet. I hope they have the courage and don’t take the more seductive and easy path.
Chris Cooper is a Flickering Myth Staff Writer, and owner of the blog Super Duper Stuff. Follow him on Twitter @SDCCooper or visit the blog’s Facebook page.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qqtW2LRPtQY&feature=player_embedded&list=PL18yMRIfoszFJHnpNzqHh6gswQ0Srpi5E
Originally published February 12, 2015. Updated November 7, 2019.
