Friday 19 / April / 2024
It’s only human to want to know more about a subject you’re interested in, and Star Wars fans will surely want to know how Emperor Palpatine’s transformation of the Galactic Republic into the Empire affected the trillions of people across the galaxy.
Star Wars: Rebels is set 14 years after the events of Episode III: Revenge of the Sith, and plots the course of events that led to the formation of the Rebel Alliance as they grow in strength and attempt to take on the Empire from the shadows.
Taking plenty of leaves from the notebook that saw its predecessor The Clone Wars become such a success among lovers of the Star Wars franchise, Rebels puts us in the hot seat of a fledgling group of fighters on the run from the Empire, who are scouring the galaxy looking to exterminate every last Jedi.
Unbeknown to them, though, this group of fighters contains Kainan Jarrus, one of the last Jedi in existence, and his young apprentice Ezra Bridger, the hero of the story, who is looking to join the Rebel Alliance. There’s just one problem: They can’t seem to find them. Until, that is, they are rescued by the Rebels, with the Empire hot on their heels.
A leading member of the Alliance is Ahsoka Tano, the former protégé of Anakin Skywalker. Her master makes an appearance too, albeit in a far more sinister form. Rebels documents the first time Darth Vader’s powers are put to the test, and even though they are yet to be fully unleashed by the Empire, his powers are still extremely fearsome to behold.
Although Rebels does try to inject some slapstick humour into its gritty storyline, the grimness of the situation is largely offset by the excellent animation, once again provided by Star Wars creator George Lucas’ Industrial Light and Magic setup.
While some might consider it to be a tad more serious than its predecessor, few animated shows have done as much justice to capturing the moments and emotions on the small screen as Rebels has. And it’s in the details that Rebels provides so much suspense and drama, interspersed with some thrilling action and daredevil flying.
At its very core, the show is about the underdog fighting against the big guys. We all love stories like that, don’t we? The ones that see the little guy standing up to the playground bully and getting in a few punches of his own.
Rebels may be an excellently packaged, slick piece of entertainment, but there are plenty of lessons the show imparts. Less tangible qualities, such as perseverance, determination, and a desire to never give up are all strongly emphasised through the characters on screen, who are always there for their teammates when the going gets tough.
Star Wars: Rebels may have taken place a long time ago in a galaxy far, far away, but it is a brilliantly conceived show that makes us feel right at home as we connect with one of the best science-fiction franchises on Earth. —[email protected]
The Short and Skinny
Name: Star Wars: Rebels
Genre: Sci-fi/Anime/Action
Producer: Lucasfilm Animation
What’s it About: Soon after the rise of the Galactic Empire, a brave band of rebels decide to take a stand against injustice and search the galaxy for a cause greater than their own.
Network: Disney XD (find it on iTunes, Youtube, Amazon Prime)
Starring: Freddy Prinze Jr., Taylor Gray, Tiya Sircar, Steven Blum, Vanessa Marshall
IMDB Rating: 8.0/10
