Summary
Star Wars Rebels had a significant amount of filler episodes that don't contribute much to the overall story.
The animation style of Star Wars Rebels may take a while to adjust to due to its simplistic backgrounds and character models.
In comparison to its predecessor, Clone Wars, Star Wars Rebels sets itself apart in terms of tone, absence of movie characters, and reduced emphasis on lightsaber duels.
Rewatching Star Wars Rebels nearly a decade after its original release can uncover some harsh realities about the show, which now serves as the foundation for various Star Wars narratives. Following Disney's acquisition of Lucasfilm, Star Wars: The Clone Wars was cancelled and concluded after its fifth season. Although an additional season of The Clone Wars was later released on Netflix, Disney's Lucasfilm began developing a fresh animated series that would depict the conflict between the Empire and the Rebels. It didn't take long for Rebels to shed its initial label as a mere replacement for The Clone Wars and establish itself as a captivating show in its own right.
The forthcoming Ahsoka series has even been referred to as the fifth season of Star Wars Rebels, highlighting just how significant Rebels has become within the franchise. Dave Filoni, who contributed to Star Wars Rebels, now holds the position of executive producer on multiple live-action Star Wars shows and is directing Ahsoka in addition to his upcoming film, The Mandalorian. As the release date for Ahsoka approaches, revisiting Star Wars Rebels is almost imperative, though it may also bring to light some of the animated series' most significant flaws nearly a decade later.
10 Star Wars Rebels Has A Lot Of Filler Episodes
Unlike Clone Wars, Star Wars Rebels took a different approach by being a serialized show, where each episode was intricately connected to the previous one. As a result, merely skipping Star Wars Rebels episodes to focus on specific moments may not always be effective. However, it is important to note that a considerable portion of Star Wars Rebels can be categorized as "filler" episodes. While episodes such as "Droids in Distress" or "Fighter Flight" serve to establish the characters and forge a bond between the audience and these new heroes, they do not significantly contribute to the overarching storyline. It is worth mentioning that rewatching Rebels from the very beginning can be time-consuming, and certain episodes hold more importance and are essential to the overall plot.
9 Star Wars Rebels’ Animation Style Takes Time To Get Used To
The animation style and character models in Star Wars Rebels may take some time to adjust to. This is particularly true for those who were accustomed to the character models in Clone Wars, as Rebels took a different approach. From the slender lightsabers to the characters' hairstyles, the visuals in Star Wars Rebels are quite different from realism. Additionally, the show opts for simpler backgrounds and animation compared to the cinematic style of Clone Wars. However, as the series progresses, the animation in Rebels improves, featuring several iconic Star Wars scenes.
8 Star Wars Rebels Is Very Different From Clone Wars
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7 Star Wars Rebels’ Plot Only Really Begins In Season 1’s Finale
Comparing Rebels and Clone Wars goes beyond just the episodic format and character models. Despite serving as a sequel to Clone Wars, Rebels introduced several noteworthy distinctions. However, for viewers who have recently watched Clone Wars: The Final Season or other recent series like Tales of the Jedi, revisiting Rebels might present some challenges. Notably, the absence of Star Wars movie characters, Force-sensitive characters, lightsaber duels, and the overall lighter tone are key disparities between the two shows.
Season 1 of Star Wars Rebels can be neatly summarized as a cycle of the Rebels embarking on missions to aid others, with occasional appearances from the Grand Inquisitor. The dynamic among the Rebels quickly becomes predictable, and the show only truly expands its narrative towards the latter part of the first season. It is not until the introduction of Grand Morfin Tarkin that Rebels veers away from its filler approach and wholeheartedly focuses on the main storyline. Naturally, the final episodes of a season tend to be more plot-driven, and Rebels elevates its storytelling with the downfall of the Grand Inquisitor, the arrival of Darth Vader, and the revelation of Ahsoka Tano as Fulcrum. This takes the story of Rebels to new heights.
6 Ahsoka & Clone Wars’ Characters Took Over Rebels In Season 2
The arrival of Ahsoka Tano in Star Wars Rebels generated much anticipation, especially considering her absence since Clone Wars season 5. This marked the first opportunity for viewers to reconnect with the beloved character, now set within the era of the Empire. Nonetheless, despite the thrill of Ahsoka's return, season 2 of Rebels unfolded as a continuation of Clone Wars. Captain Rex made a comeback, Darth Maul resurfaced, and Darth Vader finally confronted Anakin Skywalker's apprentice on the battlefield. To provide context, it is worth noting that only Kanan and Ezra, the original Rebels characters, were involved in the season 2 finale "Twilight of the Apprentice."
5 Star Wars Rebels’ Inquisitors Were Very Bad At Their Job
In contrast to the presence of Sith and Sith-related adversaries like Count Dooku, Ventress, and Grievous in Clone Wars, Rebels did not have the advantage of relying on such characters. However, a Star Wars animated show that lacked lightsaber duels would not be particularly captivating. This is where Star Wars' Inquisitors come into play. These villains, similar to Darth Vader, were not Sith but rather individuals trained in the dark side of the Force. Although the Imperial Inquisitors were a valuable addition to Disney's Star Wars canon, their role in Rebels primarily consisted of failing every mission. Due to the fact that the rebels of Lothal were the protagonists of the story, the Inquisitors were unable to eliminate or overcome them. Looking back, it is evident that Darth Vader's Inquisitors were significantly less effective when compared to the Sith Lord.
4 Kanan & Ezra’s Jedi Story Retcons The Original Star Wars Trilogy
Star Wars’ Order 66 survivors problem can be traced back to Star Wars Rebels, a show that aimed to showcase visually stunning lightsaber battles but faced a challenge as it was set in a time when the majority of the Jedi had already perished. The predicament arises from the fact that Luke Skywalker, who discovers his extraordinary abilities in 0 BBY, was meant to be the "new hope." However, Rebels unintentionally diminishes the uniqueness of Luke's journey by revealing that a Jedi Knight and his skilled apprentice were esteemed members of the Rebel Alliance until just prior to the events of A New Hope. Consequently, the audience discovers that the Rebel Alliance had Jedi allies long before Luke's emergence.
3 Ezra’s Dark Side Story Didn’t Lead Anywhere (& It Had Been Done Before)
The Star Wars franchise often incorporates similar storylines with different characters, and this pattern is evident in the journey of Ezra Bridger. Just like Luke Skywalker's flirtation with the dark side in the original trilogy and Anakin Skywalker's fall to the dark side in Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith, Ezra also faced a moment of temptation away from the "Jedi Way" in season 3. However, this storyline did not lead to Ezra joining the dark side, as Obi-Wan Kenobi ultimately defeats and kills Darth Maul. Furthermore, the theme of seeking greater power to protect loved ones has already been explored through the arcs of both Luke and Anakin.
2 Rebels' Worlds Between Worlds Was Too Big Of A Lore Addition
Star Wars Rebels revolutionized the newly formed Disney Star Wars canon with its myriad of groundbreaking ideas. Among these were extraordinary concepts that diverged greatly from what the Star Wars films had previously portrayed. These included interstellar creatures capable of hyperspace jumps, a tangible representation of the Force's equilibrium, and gargantuan wolves. However, perhaps the most profound and contentious addition to Star Wars Rebels lore was the World Between Worlds—an incorporation of time travel within the Star Wars universe. As a daring concept, even though the show's time travel functioned within a closed loop, it still upended the established principles of the Star Wars universe.
1 Star Wars Rebels' Open Ending Makes The Show Incomplete
The conclusion of Star Wars Rebels is both emotionally satisfying and considered one of the greatest Star Wars shows ever created. However, the finale of Rebels leaves audiences wanting more as certain storylines are left unresolved. While characters like Hera, Zeb, and Chopper get a definite ending, the fate of Ezra Bridger and Grand Admiral Thrawn, the events surrounding Ahsoka between "Twilight of the Apprentice" and her return as "Ahsoka The White," and Sabine Wren's next destination remain unknown. The main character's fate is left untold in the ending of Star Wars Rebels, but fortunately, the Ahsoka series is poised to provide answers to these unanswered questions.
Episodes 1 and 2 of Ahsoka release Wednesday, August 23 on Disney+.
