The Mind-Blowing Revelation: Untangling the Ending of Star Wars Rebels for the Ghost Crew

The Star Wars Rebels series finale, which aired in 2018, foreshadowed the future of the Ghost crew. This future will finally be unveiled in the highly anticipated Ahsoka Disney+ TV show. Star Wars Rebels, created by Dave Filoni, Simon Kinberg, and Carrie Beck, was an acclaimed animated TV series set just before the events of the first Star Wars film. During this tumultuous time, rebel cells were starting to coordinate while the Empire cracked down forcefully on their activities.

The focus of Star Wars Rebels was a small rebel cell on the planet Lothal, located in the Outer Rim. From the beginning, viewers anticipated a tragic ending for the show. The main characters included Jedi Knight Kanan Jarrus and his Padawan Ezra Bridger, who were notably absent from the original trilogy. This created a palpable sense of tension throughout the fourth season of Star Wars Rebels, and the death of Kanan in episode 10 ("Jedi Night") felt tragically inevitable. In the series finale, the remaining rebels faced off against Grand Admiral Thrawn, a highly skilled tactician within the Empire. However, Ezra managed to outsmart their ruthless adversary. The finale concluded with an epilogue scene that set the stage for the future of the Ghost crew, serving as a precursor to the upcoming live-action Ahsoka Disney+ TV show.

Palpatine Wanted Ezra So He Could Gain Access To The World Between Worlds

Grand Admiral Thrawn and Grand Moff Tarkin were regarded by Palpatine as his top strategists. It is no coincidence that both were assigned to the outskirts of the galaxy, where the Empire's control was weakest and the risk of rebellion was highest. The rebels managed to seize control of Lothal City, but their success was short-lived as Thrawn arrived with his seventh fleet. In order to force the rebels to surrender, Thrawn threatened to bombard the city and kill its civilians. Sensing his own importance to the Emperor, Ezra made the decision to surrender himself. This scene deliberately mirrored the events of Return of the Jedi, where Luke Skywalker aimed to divert Palpatine and Darth Vader's attention away from the rebels on Endor.

Palpatine was well aware of Ezra's previous encounters with the World Between Worlds, a mysterious realm within the Force. He coveted the power of this realm and had the ruins of the Jedi Temple on Lothal restored, as it was once a gateway to the World Between Worlds. There, he tempted Ezra with the promise of rewriting history and bringing back his parents. "There are limitless paths and possibilities," Palpatine tantalized, hinting at the existence of a Star Wars multiverse, "But you must open the door." However, Ezra resisted the Emperor's seduction and destroyed the gateway to the World Between Worlds. It was revealed that Palpatine had only been a hologram, and Ezra managed to escape. Determined to confront Grand Admiral Thrawn, Ezra set off towards the bridge of Thrawn's flagship, the Chimaera.

Star Wars Rebels' Ending Revealed Ezra's True Plan

Ezra orchestrated the Empire's downfall on Lothal, and his surrender was a vital part of his plan. He cunningly manipulated the Empire into enacting Protocol 13, which commanded all Imperial personnel to evacuate the planet immediately. Through a Force vision, Ezra foresaw Thrawn's imminent return before the rebels could seize control of the Imperial Complex. To counter this threat, Ezra instructed Mart to pilot the Ghost to a high orbit above Lothal and send out a signal. This signal attracted a group of purrgil, massive space creatures resembling whales in the Star Wars universe, who would then launch an attack on Thrawn's fleet.

Ezra fully understood the consequences of his actions. The purrgil ensnared the Imperial Star Destroyers with their tentacles and swiftly entered hyperspace, taking Thrawn and his seventh fleet along with them. Hera and Sabine, unfortunately, realized the imminent danger too late. Despite their pleas for Ezra to come back to them, he remained resolute in seeing his plan through. "The Force will be with you, always," Ezra assured them.

Thrawn's Defeat Made The Galactic Civil War Possible

Ezra's actions in saving Lothal from the Empire had significant consequences. The rebels were able to defeat the remaining Imperial forces and destroy the Imperial Complex. Despite the lack of a counter-attack, it is likely that Palpatine had intended to target Lothal due to its significance. However, Luke Skywalker's destruction of the Death Star changed the course of events. The death of Grand Moff Tarkin in that attack, along with Thrawn's defeat, left the Emperor without his key strategists. With the start of the Galactic Civil War, Palpatine had more pressing concerns than a single rebel world. The defeat of Thrawn was crucial, as Palpatine recognized that both Tarkin and Thrawn were the only individuals capable of suppressing the rebellion on a galactic scale. Ezra's sacrifice and the bravery of the rebels of Lothal played a vital role in ultimately achieving victory in the Galactic Civil War. As Sabine explained in the epilogue monologue of Star Wars Rebels, the small rebellion grew in boldness and, with the decisive Battle of Endor, brought an end to the Emperor's reign of terror.

Star Wars Rebels' Epilogue Showed A Happily Ever After for Zeb & Kallus

In the epilogue of Star Wars Rebels, which takes place three years after Return of the Jedi, the fate of the Ghost crew members is explored. An unexpected friendship between Zeb Orrelios and Alexsandr Kallus, who had previously believed he had wiped out Zeb's people, the Lasat, but ultimately betrayed the Empire, reaches a satisfying conclusion. Zeb brings Kallus to the thriving Lasat world, Lira San, through a secret hyperspace route, offering him the opportunity to join them.

In episode 5 of The Mandalorian season 3, it is revealed that Zeb has returned to the New Republic. A live-action portrayal of Zeb, still voiced by Steve Blum, the original actor from Star Wars Rebels, is introduced as a member of the New Republic Rangers, responsible for patrolling the Outer Rim. This introduction is believed to lay the foundation for a significant role as The Mandalorian era continues to expand.

Hera Has A Son, Jacen Syndulla

In Star Wars Rebels season 4, it was confirmed that Kanan Jarrus, despite being a Jedi, had a strong romantic connection with Hera. The epilogue reveals that their relationship was more physical than initially believed, as Hera fought in the Battle of Endor alongside Commander Rex. During this time, a new member named Jacen Syndulla, also known as Spectre 7, joined the crew of the Ghost. Jacen inherited his mother's passion for flying, and the epilogue implies that he inherited his father's qualities as well. This adds a beautiful touch to Kanan's legacy in the Star Wars universe.

The name "Jacen" holds significance in Star Wars lore, as it reminds fans of Jacen Solo, the son of Han and Leia in the old Expanded Universe. In the upcoming live-action series set in The Mandalorian era, Hera will be portrayed by Mary Elizabeth Winstead. While it remains unknown if Jacen will appear in the series Ahsoka, Hera has been seen in trailers. Another possibility is that Jacen might have been taken to Luke Skywalker's Jedi Temple on Ossus, where he could have become one of Luke's first students.

Star Wars Rebels' Epilogue Sets Up Ahsoka & Sabine's Quest For Ezra

The conclusion of Star Wars Rebels saw the return of Ahsoka Tano, Anakin Skywalker's former apprentice and a member of the Ghost crew who had been missing for a significant period of time. This occurred after Ezra utilized the World Between Worlds to rescue her. As a result, a new mission was established for Ahsoka and Sabine, which is expected to be explored in the upcoming Ahsoka Disney+ TV series. Both characters will now be portrayed in live-action by Rosario Dawson and Natasha Liu Bordizzo. It is logical for these two individuals to play a central role in the search for Ezra, as Ahsoka made a vow to find him after he saved her life, and Sabine was his closest companion among the Ghost crew. Throughout the Galactic Civil War, Sabine had chosen to remain on Ezra's homeworld of Lothal, guarding it in the manner she believed Ezra would have desired. She will now play a part in bringing him back.

In his final communication with his friends, Ezra conveyed his trust in Sabine. Initially, she interpreted this as a request to protect Lothal. However, the epilogue of Star Wars Rebels implies that she eventually understood it held a deeper meaning. It will undoubtedly be fascinating to witness the continuation of this particular storyline, albeit in a completely different medium.

In the final scene, Ahsoka's transformation took a surprising turn as she emerged in a radiant white attire. Dave Filoni from Lucasfilm, in interviews, has disclosed that this change draws inspiration from Gandalf's transformation in J.R.R. Tolkien's The Lord of the Rings, where Ahsoka the Gray essentially becomes Ahsoka the White. However, recent live-action adaptations of this scene featuring Ahsoka depict her dressed in gray once again. It is possible that this aspect of the conclusion in Star Wars Rebels has been retroactively altered to align with Ahsoka's forthcoming explanation of this transformation.