#and it's not even about maul hurting him. it's about maul hurting kanan | Explore Tumblr Posts and Blogs

jessicas-pi · 4 months

Text

Ok so continuing on from this slightly bonkers ramble, I give you: More Spur-Of-The-Moment Thoughts About The Bo And The Blueberry AU.

(for clarity, i'm splitting this up into rebels-era and mandoverse-era..)

rebels-era:

Due to the bad experiences he'd been through on the streets, Ezra was nonverbal for a long time. During his stay on Krownest, he would spend hours painting with Alrich and Sabine, because it made him feel heard even if he couldn't find the words to speak.

Bo-Katan said the adoption vows to Ezra on an impulse. She had just told him that she hadn't been able to save his parents, and he had started to cry. She had never thought of adopting him as her own son, but she changed her mind in that moment and never looked back.

Korkie and Ezra are cousins, but Korkie is honestly closer to an older-brother figure to him. Korkie was very interested in the Jedi when he was young, so he has the knowledge to help teach Ezra about the Force, and how to control and hide his powers. (When Ezra eventually gets the Darksaber, Korkie is his second-most vocal supporter. Bo-Katan is the only one who has him beat.)

When Ezra is about eight, Bo-Katan decides he does need some Jedi training, more than she and Korkie can provide, and sets out to find herself a Jedi who can teach this kid. She ends up on Gorse just in time to plummet headfirst into the plot of A New Dawn. Kanan, upon finding out what she wants, refuses to train Ezra. Bo-Katan is not so easily deterred. She makes a game out of finding Kanan and Hera, helping out on a mission, and then delicately pointing out just how many times she's saved their butts and they really owe her one and yknow Ezra could really use some Jedi lessons...

When Ezra is ten, Maul kidnaps him. Bo-Katan seeks out Kanan again--she knows she can't stop Maul on her own.

In this AU, Kanan defeats Maul, but Bo-Katan is the one to strike the killing blow. She may not be a Jedi, she may not have the Force, but she's a Mandalorian mom. Nobody hurts her boy and lives to tell the tale.

After his kidnapping, Ezra struggles with the Dark side, which gives Kanan the final push he needs to train Ezra. Ezra's recovery is difficult, but he pulls through and is brighter than ever.

Due to Kanan and Ezra training together, connections begin to form between the Mandalorian Resistance and the outside rebellion. By the time Ezra is a teenager, the two groups are cooperating fully.

Bo-Katan knows who Fulcrum is--she recognized the symbol as Ahsoka's face-marking.

Ezra built his first lightsaber with a kyber crystal he found in the Living Waters.

Ezra is much healthier, due to not having to scavenge for his food for most of his childhood. He hit a growth spurt when he was thirteen, shortly before he went to the Imperial Academy and reunited with Sabine. She says she's taller. He says they're the same height. They refuse to measure themselves together and settle it because they're both secretly afraid they're wrong. This is an ongoing argument for the next ten years.

Ezra and Sabine were both really surprised to meet each other at the Academy. I have a funny mental image in my head of them both taking off their helmets at the same time, doing a double take, and then just *spider-man pointing meme* "YOU!"

He was worried for a while that she would turn him in, either as a Force-sensitive or as a spy, but she eventually gave him a vaguely-worded hint that she was keeping his secrets for him.

Sabine still has a big falling-out with her family, but this time, since the Duchess was never used, it's more about the machine's creation itself (and Sabine's decision to run away to the Imperial Academy.) She ends up joining the Spectres for a little while before Hera convinces her to reconcile with her mother. Afterwards, Sabine (and her family) end up joining in with the Mandalorian Resisance.

Korkie, Ezra, Sabine, and Tristan earn the title of Gremlin Squad. Leia is an honorary member as well. Korkie is a lot older than them, but he has enough chaos energy to fit right in.

Ezra and Sabine spend about a year apart during their late teens. By the time they meet again, Ezra has started pulling his hair back. Sabine thanks the Force that she managed to handle the reunion normally because for the first minute and a half there was nothing in her brain except oh no ponytail hot

Thrawn is still purgilled, but since Ezra is a Mandalorian and has a jetpack, he's able to fly out of the window and doesn't get yoinked into the unknown with Thrawn.

mandoverse-era:

So, Mandoverse events take place about five years sooner than in canon. this is solely for the purpose of giving ezra a Chaotic 23 Year Old Who May Not Have His Life Figured Out But By Golly He Has A Laser Sword vibe.

(I've figured some more stuff out, so bear with me because I've changed up the part about Din's introduction from what I said yesterday.)

Luke has also become an honorary member of the Gremlin Squad at this point. He and Ezra met up and discussed their Jedi training. Ezra meets Ben Solo at some point too. He recognizes in the child the same Dark influences that Ezra himself went through after Maul took him, and helps the boy pull through. Ben never Falls, thus averting the events of the sequel trilogy. Luke is secretly a little jealous that Ben thinks his honorary uncle Ezra is cooler than his actual uncle Luke, to which Ezra says, "Aliit ori'shya tal'din."

With Luke's help, the Gremlin Squad becomes the Official Jedi Search-And-Rescue Club. They go looking for more Jedi survivors and invite them to Luke's Jedi school on Mandalore. (Cal and Merrin are some of the first to show up.)

This search for Jedi ends up leading Ezra and Tristan to the planet Arvala-7... mere days after Din Djarin has already retrieved Grogu (AKA the Jedi they were looking for.)

(Din is there early because Moff Gideon's inability to take over Mandalore has moved up the timeline on some other events.)

(Also, Moff Gideon still has the Darksaber, but in this AU, he didn't get it from Bo-Katan, since Bo never got it from Sabine, because Sabine never went to Dathomir, because the events of Visions and Voices never happened. Instead, Gideon got it from Morgan Elsbeth, who took it from Maul's creepy cave and passed it on to him so he could. like. flex on the mandalorians or something idk.)

Ezra and Tristan track Din, because they're worried about Grogu. They constantly follow him for, like, basically 1 1/2 seasons of The Mandalorian. They're always just slightly behind and keep showing up a tiny bit too late to get mixed up in Plot Events.

When Bo-Katan offers to bring Din and Grogu to her Jedi Mandalorian son, Din is not expecting to see one of the two Mandalorians who have been following him constantly. The misunderstanding takes a bit of explaining to clear up.

Oh yeah also. Ezra's response to Bo telling him that she insulted Din to his face when they first met was "Oh, so you're into him?" It was a joke, but the more he saw of the two of them together, the more he started to wonder if there might actually be something there.

When Grogu gets kidnapped, the (official) members of the Gremlin Squad join in the rescue.

After winning the Darksaber and reluctantly agreeing to be Mand'alor, Ezra decides not to live in the palace in Sundari. Mandalore is a dead planet, and a Jedi needs to live with the living. He sets up as Mand'alor on Kalevala, under Bo-Katan's guidance.

Sabine is Ezra's official advisor and Korkie is his PR guy, but Korkie is the one with actual good advice and Sabine is kind of a miracle worker for PR (when she tries. which is not often.) Bo points out that it would make sense to switch their titles, but Ezra thrives on chaos and so he refuses.

Ezra refuses to sit on his Mand'alor Throne in any remotely normal or dignified way. He slouches. He lounges. He sprawls. He sits upside-down. He does one-handed handstands. He and Korkie and Tristan all squeeze together and sit on the throne in identical sets of armor to mess with people. Ezra's Throne Antics are a source of constant exasperation for Bo.

Speaking of the throne, Sabine has claimed the armrest as her official Mand'alor Advisor seat. She thinks sitting there makes her look cool. and yknow what? She's right. It does make her look cool.

Oh yeah, also, nobody knows that Sabine is Ezra's advisor. She wears a plain set of armor, keeps her helmet on, and goes by an alias. This disguise is supposedly for security purposes, but it's actually to keep herself out of the gossip holomagazines. She gets enough attention just as acquaintances with Ezra... imagine what would happen if the press found out she was the one lounging on the armrest of his Mand'alor Throne!

Sabine is also Ezra's bodyguard. She volunteered enthusiastically and kind of begged for the position. Sabine takes a maniacal delight in ferreting out assassination attempts and turning the hunters into the hunted, so to speak. It's like if Kevin McCallister was homicidal.

The first time a Mandalorian clan leader proposes marriage to Ezra, Tristan laughs so hard he falls out of his chair.

----

I have to leave for work now, but I'll probably ramble some more tonight!

#Bo and the Blueberry AU #bo katan kryze #ezra bridger #mandalorian ezra bridger #sabezra #dinbo

72 notes · View notes

jedi-enthusiast · 8 months

Text

My Thoughts on Episode One

Keep in mind that these are just my thoughts that I've written down as I watch the show, they may change or I may expand on them later.

"Former Jedi Knight Ahsoka Tano-"

Bitch, she was never Knighted! She was a padawan!

I see we're already starting off strong /s

Although, I will say, I'm glad they put "the EVIL Galactic Empire" because the way some people talk about the Empire is like they're trying to make it seem like it wasn't that bad---at least this shuts those bootlickers up. So, silver linings!

----------

Ngl I think Dave Filoni was trying way too hard to recreate the "hallway scene" with Darth Vader in Rogue One and failed miserably.

Also, if people keep referring to Ahsoka as a "Jedi" throughout this episode, I may or may not explode.

-----------

"The Order doesn't exist anymore."

And I am once again reliving Order 66 and crying, thanks a lot.

----------

"Let's just say I didn't follow 'standard Jedi protocol.'"

Given what we see of her interrogation tactics in that one TCW episode with Luminara, as well as Anakin's tactics, when not following "standard Jedi protocol" ...I'm more than a little concerned by what Ahsoka means by this. Did she torture Morgan? Did she take Morgan's mind apart like Maul did to Jesse?

C'mon Ahsoka, what did you do that wouldn't have been standard Jedi protocol?

----------

"They seem to have abilities like you."

Hera, you were literally basically married to a Jedi and you were also captured by Maul at some point, Kanan talked to you about this stuff and you experienced it...you know what a Sith is.

Ahsoka, you also know what a Sith is.

They're literally wielding red lightsabers in the holo.

Why are both of you acting like you don't know this?

Also, why is Hera talking like she wasn't literally at the battle of Lothal and like she also didn't know of/have beef with Thrawn?

----------

Once again with calling Ahsoka a Jedi.

Also, Ahsoka has always said "I am no Jedi' or said that she isn't a Jedi anytime someone has called her that since she left the Order, so why isn't she denying it now?

----------

LOTH CATS OH MY FUCKING GOD-

----------

Ok, I know Ezra's recording is supposed to be this really emotional spurring moment but like...

1. The dialogue feels so utterly flat- (so far most of the dialogue has felt that way for me tbh, it's like...none of the characters are really talking like the characters, yknow? And it all just feels so stilted, like they don't know themselves or the people around them).

And 2. Ezra wouldn't have had time to make a recording??? Him taking out Thrawn was a spur of the moment decision, they didn't know everything was gonna happen the way it did, so how exactly did he make this recording???

----------

FDSLKJALJHFJA IT WAS A NIGHTSISTER TEMPLE???

MORGAN IS A NIGHTSISTER???

AHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!

----------

"Ahsoka Tano's former apprentice is on Lothal...you're looking for Sabine Wren."

I assume this is gonna be explained later, so I'm attempting to hold in my judgement---but since when did Jedi start taking non-Force-sensitive apprentices?

Kanan taught Sabine how to use the Darksaber so she wouldn't hurt herself and so that she would let go of her fear/anger/pain so she could face her family---so why in the world was Ahsoka teaching her, and since when is taking a Force-null as an apprentice a thing?

I'm just so confused.

----------

"There is nothing easy about being a Jedi."

AHSOKA HAS SAID REPEATEDLY THAT SHE IS NOT A JEDI, WHERE IS THIS COMING FROM????

Also, again, since when can Force-nulls become Jedi?

I'm assuming that they're taking the "Sabine is Force-sensitive" route for this, even though it's very weird considering she never showed signs of it in Rebels, but I still feel like they should've already revealed that if that's the case---because right now it's just confusing.

If they don't go that route then I genuinely already hate the route this is going as far as Jedi stuff goes.

----------

"Anakin never got to finish my training. Before the end of the Clone Wars, I walked away from him...and the Jedi."

*long sigh* not this bullshit again.

Ahsoka he literally helped Palpatine commit genocide against the fucking Jedi---that was probably a bigger factor in you not finishing your training than you deciding to take some time to figure yourself out. Seek therapy, please.

----------

I'm gonna be honest, this lightsaber battle between Sabine and the apprentice is...so disappointing.

To be fair, though, I've been disappointed by every lightsaber duel since everything set in the Prequel era---nothing can really live up to those duels.

----------

Since when can people live through getting stabbed with a lightsaber, without drawing on the Dark Side?

Sabine should be fucking dead, like Qui-Gon was in TPM.

And before anyone says- "oh it's the end of the episode, you don't know if she's still alive" -yes I do, because I already know she's in episode 2.

----------

My thoughts on episode 2 will probably either go up tomorrow night or sometime this weekend, I don't know yet because I'll be moving into my dorm tomorrow.

Already though I can safely say: my expectations were literally in the ground and I'm already disappointed.

#star wars #ahsoka series #ahsoka spoilers #ahsoka tano #ahsoka tano critical #rosario dawson

57 notes · View notes

devondeal · 2 days

Note

6, 12, 14, and 21 for the Star Wars Violence Ask Game!

Thank you wifey! 💙💚 I'm gonna enjoy these

6. Opinion on canon and/or fanon use of the secret child trope? Discuss

I don't mind it. The secret child can be a good trope if the context is right for it. I mean Star Wars is centered on secret child trope pretty much. Where I'm not so into it is the Korkie headcanon that he is Obi Wan and Satine's son. It's a bit too crackhead for me and also it's not my ship so I'm biased against it.

12. Name a common fandom complaint that you're sick of hearing.

Anything about Rey tbh. I may not be a big sequels person but anytime the fandom tries reduce her to an overpowered female Luke and say she's unoriginal I roll my eyes.

Like they are nothing alike. Luke got to live comfortably taken care of by his aunt and uncle. He never had to scavage scraps just to be able to eat. And before anyone comes for me, I'm NOT ripping on Luke. He had what anyone should have.

What I'm saying is Rey didn't get to have guardians or a comfortable house or regularly even be able eat. She was abandoned and did what she had to to survive. As for the overpowered thing like she's able to fly ships or fight back, like come on. I repeat, she. was. a. scavanger. She got to know ship parts and as for fighting, she's had to fight dickheads like Teedo and probably worse to keep food, homes, etc. After rewatching TFA, i notice she learns from OBSERVATION. She mimics what others do around. This is a survival skill she had her whole life.

Of course Luke is going to take a little more time to learn things. He was never put in that situation where it was do or die (as any child shouldn't). Rey was and however fast she was at learning a skill is a result of basic survival instincts.

She and Luke ENTIRELY different characters and to say she's a female version of him cuz she's from a desert????? Reductive and a big lack in media literacy tbh.

14. What's the most egregious example of fridging in canon?

God which one? 😅 Fridging is probably one of Star Wars biggest crimes. Leia is the first that comes to mind because she died to redeem her piece of shit son that she did not deserve.

But then again, Anakin's turn to the dark side is also due to fridging with his mother and his wife. Especially with Padme since there's an old version where she actually gets to live a little bit longer with the Rebellion and tried to kill Anakin.

I may not be a big Satine person, but that's fridging too to give Obi Wan angst and more Maul animosity.

I'm still going to say Leia in the sequels though as the most egregious. Because it was so out of nowhere (yes I'm aware that Carrie's death was probably the reason but I don't care. There are better ways to kill off/write out a character than fridging). Her death served no purpose other than Kyle Ron no accountability. Like what in "Jesus died for our sins" is this bullshit? Why must Star Wars' most iconic woman have to go out for a man that did nothing but hurt and betray her? It's insulting tbh.

Edit: Luminara's death was fucking awful too. Like ain't no reason to have it be so horrific. Sigh... can Star Wars like not hate women for once.

21. Best canon example of a healthy relationship in Star Wars

Romantically that is a tough one. Honestly I'm coming up short with this one. Can't say Han and Leia cuz we only see their rocky start and end and nothing in between.

Maybe Kanan and Hera but their relationship kinda got ruined for me when suddenly at the end, he wasnt aware if Hera felt the same about him??? I just thought they were basically married and I'm supposed to be believe they haven't even had that conversation by THAT point in time??? Plus the ghost baby thing creeped me the fuck out. Can Star Wars please stop with the out of nowhere pregnancies please?

So yeah canon romances, nothing comes to mind. In fact Star Wars is kind of built on toxic romance.

The crackhead in me wants to say Owen and Beru 🤣

Ooo! Wait I found my answer! Cal and Merrin from the Jedi games! They are perfect 🥺 Idk what the next game will have in store for them but so far, the way they empower and comfort each other. They accept and love each other's differences. And just adorable all around. Sweet ginger boy with spicy witch lady 👌

#choose violence ask game #jedimasterbailey 💙💚#calmerrin #cal kestis #nightsister merrin #cal x merrin #star wars #rey skywalker #leia organa #han solo

13 notes · View notes

tarisilmarwen · 9 months

Text

Rebels Rewatch: "Steps Into Shadow"

Everything is all shaken up for Season Three, let's go.

So I know I said I really like it when shows change up the Status Quo but...

Some of the changes took a bit of getting used to in Season Three. I'll admit it.

(It's the hair, Ezra's hair took getting used to, I believe my exact reaction was, "Nooooooo not the cute shaggy shonen protagonist hair!" I'm okay with it now and it's hella easier to draw but it was a bit of a mourning period.)

So! Season Three begins six months after the end of Season Two. Everyone has had a cosmetic upgrade. They're all older. Ezra is seventeen. *cries*

Ezra had his seventeenth birthday offscreen while he and Kanan were not on speaking terms.

*sobbing forever*

Anyway we open In Media Res with the Spectres (minus Kanan) pulling off a jailbreak.

Oh it is absolutely not a coincidence that our first sight of Ezra this season has him bathed in shadow.

Sabine and Ezra casually bantering mid-mission and Ezra being seamlessly badass. <3

That cute little fond smile of Ezra's when he sees Hondo. T_T

Ohhhh I remember when people were freaking out over just how casually Ezra shoots this Stormtrooper with a blaster very obviously not set to stun. It's such a contrast from "Stealth Strike" in which he promises not to hurt any of them. He's taken some parts of Maul's words to heart, sadly, and now he's acting like a proper soldier in a war.

Ouch.

Don't mind me appreciating Ezra and Sabine's brief battle tag-teaming moment here.

As if the Luke parallels were not strong enough, Ezra's new lightsaber--after a harrowing fight against Darth Vader in which he lost his other one--is green. And sue me, I love his green lightsaber, it's my favorite.

Also a big fan of how Ezra demolishes this whole hallway of Stormtroopers by himself. He doesn't even blink.

"Is that really Ezra?" "Most of the time." The meaning behind this exchange is ambiguous and there are plural interpretations. I think Sabine is referring to how utterly serious he is, no stopping, no delays, all-business. We only really saw him banter and smile with the others when on their way in, once the reinforcements arrived it was all go time.

It really isn't Ezra's fault that Terba got killed. But Ezra's Hero Complex, Guilt Complex, and sense of hyper-responsibility are all colliding and making him take the blame on himself for not having complete 100% control of the situation, also why he snaps at Hera later for griping about just that.

Never not gonna love Ezra as leader with Sabine as his competent lieutenant. <3

The Force Theme goes creepily off-tune here. This is NOT a Jedi Mind Trick. This is Force Dominate and yes, it is a Dark Side power.

This scene is deliberately uncomfortable. It's almost like possession, like Ezra using the AT-DP pilot like a meat puppet.

Sabine looking Very Concerned as she watches what Ezra does here. :)

There's just a moment where they hold on the shots of the AT-DP's legs and Ezra's feet, juuuuuuust to give you enough time to comprehend the horror.

"When did Kanan teach you that?" There's just a smidge of discomfort in Sabine's voice here, she knows full well that's not something normal.

Ezra's "I did what I had to do." here is a bit needlessly defensive, Hera didn't offer any commentary in judgement at all, he's just instinctively already verbally flinching about it because he knows it was wrong.

We can already see the effects of Malachor on Ezra, he's angrier than usual and bristles at Hera's criticism.

"Ah the fiery spirit of youth, eh?" "It's not all bad." Hera looks so SAD here. :( There's so much unspoken sorrow. You can hear a certain frustration and helplessness.

Cut to Ezra having the expected angst session in his room. The holocron, sensing his anger, lights up, making his cadet helmet (the one Sabine painted for him, that's supposed to represent a sense of safety) look creepily demonic.

"You can see things clearly your friends cannot." Ohhhhh you absolute bitch, that specific turn of phrase is meant to dig at Ezra's guilt over Kanan's blindness isn't it? Ezra even repeats it. "They can't see..." This scene here, his speech, is the lynchpin of his entire experiment with the Dark Side; his guilt over Malachor is eating him up and like Anakin before him he's resolved to never let it happen again. So he must become stronger, more powerful. His fear of further loss--his attachment--is leading him down the same dangerous path.

It hurts so good, it's such good angst.

THERE SHE IS, MY FAVORITE FABULOUS BITCH.

She's awful. I love her. <3

The entire crew being so Done with Hondo lol.

Heeeeeeey remember how I talked about how a large part of Rebels the show is how the Ghost crew in particular helps put the Alliance together piece by piece, ship by ship?

Yeah these are the Y-wings that take part in the Battle of Yavin.

Sato promoting Ezra, awwwww. The sheer respect these two have now. Sabine and Zeb are very happy for him and Hera says Kanan would be too and ow ow ow the lined hurt in Ezra's face when he points out that Kanan is never around anymore.

The man himself has grown a Sadness!Beard and is in such inner turmoil that it's woken the Bendu, whose voice we hear calling to him.

I really feel for Hera, trying to mediate between her two Jedi, who are both hurting and both avoiding each other, the frustration and anguish she must feel.

Perhaps nudged by her words Kanan does try to pay Ezra a visit to talk... aaaaaaaand immediately discovers the open holocron.

Ohhh this conversation hurts. Ezra's so angry and hurt by Kanan seemingly abandoning him and all Kanan can think about is protecting him from the holocron's influence and he must feel like such a failure as a teacher, especially when Ezra yells about how he doesn't need Kanan.

:((((

Rebels says vehicle registrations and tolls are tyranny lol.

Right so, mistake number one: Running instead of playing cool. The Alliance does have a small amount of funds and they could easily forge a ship registration. Give the Mining Guild fake credentials, pay the fee, and they could have bought enough time to deflect suspicion for an hour maybe.

Yeah the krykna aren't any less creepy.

Hi Bendu!

The Bendu is an interesting addition to the lore. He seems in the vein of the Mortis Gods, an ancient entity in tune with the Force, though the normal rules of such don't apply to him. He's a neutral party, possibly representative of the spirit of nature, which is neither Light nor Dark it just is. His True Neutral alignment would later be challenged by Kanan but for now he seems a helpful ally, offering to assist Kanan learn how to "see" through the Force. (I do like to joke that he's trying to get all the Force noise to calm down so he can go back to sleep.)

Mixed feelings on how Kanan's blindness is handled. Would have liked to see more of a recovery/coping arc, but a lot of the little subtle hints and nods they do in later episodes are really effective at showing how he's adapted. And then there are the odd moments where Rebels writers forget he's blind entirely. So there's some room for improvement.

Also he should have been allowed to make some blind jokes. DON'T @ ME THEY WOULD HAVE BEEN HILARIOUS.

Ezra: "No witnesses! 😠" Sabine: "Dude WTF?" Love how even though his Dark Side tendencies concern and worry her she's not afraid to push back at him.

Kanan assumes the "source of unbalance" he's carrying is the Sith holocron and confesses his fears that it's corrupting Ezra. The Bendu claims, "An object cannot make you good or evil.", explaining how it's one's mindset that determines that.

Which I mean, point, buuuuuuuut this is also a fictional universe in which the traces of Sith ghosts stuck in soul jars can literally possess you sooooo...

Anyway the scenes of Bendu teaching Kanan how to "see" through the Force are amazing. 10/10 no complaints. Will comment on things as I go just to point them out.

For starters, how about the panic and fear in Kanan when Bendu destroys the sensor beacon? And his angry hopeless, "I can't see anything! Not anymore."?

MEANWHILE WITH THE IMPERIAL DOOM SQUAD:

*ANGELIC CHORUS*

Hello my favorite blue bastard.

The first hint of Kallus's changed allegiance is here with this vaguely accusatory comment about civilian deaths outnumbering insurgent deaths at Batonn, which Thrawn was promoted for. Pryce calls them "acceptable margins". Timothy Zahn would later reveal in the first new canon Thrawn book that it was her who detonated the bombs that killed everyone. For the moment I will refrain from commenting on his concerning habit of retconing things to absolve Thrawn of anything bad ever and just respond with the appropriate amount of disgust at Pryce.

Always loved the cool effect where everything except Thrawn's red eyes fade out.

Mistake number two: Not calling Hera to tell her, "Hey the Empire is scrapping the bombers literally as we speak." and asking for advice. Hera probably would have consulted Sato and the combined brainpower could have come up with a better plan than "Charge in recklessly and scoop them up against orders without further observation or research."

Even Rex, who backs Ezra up later, thinks they should tell Hera about it first.

"That's an order!" Ouch, Ezra, that is the most insensitive thing you could have said to a former clone trooper.

Ezra's need for control over every possible variant situation (to prevent himself from suffering further loss) is actively making things worse for the mission, not better. He is showing a distinct lack of trust in the command structure, and an almost possessive need to keep his team safe and under his direction.

No one comments on his bossing them around though, not even Sabine, and into the maelstrom they go.

Hi Brom Titus!

Rex still showing a very slight deathseeker tendency.

Sabine's been taking notes from Hera on flying a ship with no power, clearly, lol.

This cue right here is going to come back later in the climax of the episode. The frantic rapid percussion definitely gives off the feel of "falling".

Love Melch feigning a malfunction he fits right in with Han "slight weapons malfunction" Solo lol.

Sabine sounds tired and exasperated when she points out the fighters won't have any fuel. I can only imagine the kind of impulsive, reckless, rash leadership decisions she's had to put up with from Dark Side Depression!Ezra for the past few months.

Rex is supportive tho. <3

Bendu going through Kanan's other senses methodically to help him relearn how to navigate. <3

Kanan foresensing the danger Ezra's going to be in from across the galaxy and freaking out about it. <3

I'll be honest I don't quite understand this philosophical mumbo-jumbo but whatever it works, Kanan's got his mojo back and is going to go get his padawan.

Ohhhhhh oh I know this cue right here has been used before, dammit where was it used before?

Hang on... I think it's Kanan's theme?

*goes back to check "Stealth Strike"* No, not there. Ugh, this is gonna bug me.

*checks YouTube* It IS Kanan's theme! Holy crap.

Sabine does not have a good time of it against this Dismantler droid. Zeb's prehensile feet save the day, though. Always love when they get to use those.

Worried Ezra be worried. <3

Ezra's strained "Oh shit it's mom." tone here lol.

Recall what I said back in "Fire Across The Galaxy" about how the Rebellion will always pull your fat out of the fire even if you've been stupid? Yeah.

Hera's face when she sees Kanan sitting in the co-pilot chair. <333333

Rex, ah... may not be all mentally here I think the Dismantler droid is bringing up some unpleasant memories.

The subtle symbolism continues!

This exchange is hilarious. "Yeah, get ready for another demotion." Lol Ezra.

Ezra considers the dilemma for half a second and then chooses violence. Mistake three.

Chopper pitches a fit about getting in a Y-wing. Given that he was shot down in one, that's understandable.

This fond smile and headshake at Hondo. <3

Mistake four, not checking to see if the Y-wings had hyperdrives before taking off.

Always love it when one of the kids uses Zeb's "Karabast!" He's a bad influence on them lol.

All of Ezra's previous bad decisions culminate here, he's stranded on a collapsing station, unable to contact help, and the last thing he heard from Sabine was that the Empire was there. It's not any wonder he's practically breaking down in tears.

"This is wrong, it's all gone wrong!" Well, that's what happens when you choose all the Dark Side options, Ezra. Should have kept a save point.

:((((((

Taylor's acting here is amazing, Ezra sounds SO lost and scared and desperate and he just wants Kanan to be there.

A bold and serious "Shenanigans" cue as Phoenix Group blazes in to the rescue. <3

And there's that cue that I told y'all would be coming back. :)

This sequence is perfection. Ezra clinging to the station as it falls, Hera flying with such microprecision she misses all the debris flaking off of it, the rushing wind, the music...

Ezra's shock when he hears Kanan's voice.

KANAN BATHED IN WHITE LIGHT REACHING OUT TO EZRA AS HE AND THE STATION PLUMMET INTO THE ABYSS.

THE RETURN OF THE ARC WORDS, "I'VE GOT YOU."

THE SOUND DROPPING OUT AS THE FORCE THEME PLAYS SOFTLY AND KANAN TELLS EZRA TO LET GO.

EZRA TRUSTING KANAN, LETTING GO, AND LETTING THE WIND CARRY HIM WITHIN REACH.

Cinematic poetry. <333333333

Hera smiled at first when Kanan told her he'd gotten Ezra buuuuut she's pissed now about the Phantom lol.

Pryce's shade at Konstantine, ha ha.

Thrawn sounded so disappointed too, almost sulky. "That's not the Rebel fleet!" 😠

Major "mom grounding her rebellious teenager" vibes. Love that Zeb and Sabine stick up for him.

Dodonna namedrop!

I know some people wanted a bit more out of Ezra's flirtations with the Dark Side but personally I think it's fitting that as soon as Kanan and Ezra bury the hatchet he never touches it again. The major impetus behind his running to the holocron was Kanan's distance from him, reinforcing all the self-negative beliefs Ezra had about the whole situation--that it was his fault Kanan was blind, that Kanan blamed him, that he wasn't a worthy student, that he couldn't rely on anyone but himself to get strong enough to protect the people he cared about, that he needed the holocron and the Dark Side to get that strength.

And you'll notice he doesn't quite swear off the thing entirely, he asks after it both here and in the beginning of the next episode, a bit like an addict antsy for their next fix.

(No, fandom, Kanan's "I'll always come back." here was not secret foreshadowing that the writers failed to follow up on in Season Four, it was a straightforward sentiment in the moment.)

This is a heartwarming sight. <3

This... is my favorite of the season premieres. For obvious reasons.

Once again the main strength is the focus on Kanan and Ezra's fractured relationship as it pieces back together. The action is tightly written and every single element serves its purpose. It's funny, dramatic, heartbreaking...

I don't really have any other words, this episode is just amazing.

#star wars #star wars rebels #ezra bridger #rebels rewatch #liveblog #sabezra #space dad and his precious pumpkin child #spoilers #grand admiral thrawn

51 notes · View notes

kanerallels · 10 months

Text

For my 501st follower celebration from this ask, a fic for @ladywren7! Au #73, the Time Travel Au. Rated G, with major character death implied

The first time it happened, he didn’t really understand.

One minute, he was on the bridge of the Chimaera, facing off with Thrawn. Or, rather, he was defeating Thrawn. And launching himself into the unknown with a ship full of enemies and a handful of purrgil as backup.

Generally speaking, it wasn’t Ezra’s best idea.

But it was the only one he had. It was the only way out for his home. Sometimes, you had to make the sacrifice. Like Kanan had taught him.

So he’d done it. And as hyperspace had rushed to meet them he felt this awful twist, and—

He reeled backwards, his head spinning. Every bone in his body hurt, like he’d been shoved into a small space he didn’t really fit in. Stumbling backwards a little, he caught himself on the low wall behind him and gasped for breath. Ow. What just— wait.

As he blinked the spots out of his vision, Ezra registered the familiarity of his surroundings. He wasn’t on the Chimaera any more. He was on a rooftop in Lothal.

What? Frowning, Ezra cautiously stepped forward, looking around. There was something strangely familiar about this particular rooftop, like he knew it somehow. Is this real? Or is it just a Force vision? He was too familiar with those to totally rule that possibility out. Swiping his hair out of his eyes, he started towards the roof’s edge— and then froze again.

His hair. His hair was supposed to be short. Cut close to his scalp.

So why was it long enough to brush his jawline? Like he hadn’t had a haircut in months. Like… when he’d first met the crew.

No way, Ezra thought. That’s impossible. But he remembered how he’d rescued Ahsoka, and how the hyperspace jump had felt, like he was being shoved into a too small space.

Or… a too small body?

Reaching up, he touched his cheek where the two scars from the Inquisitor’s lightsaber were. But his fingers met only smooth skin. Oh, crap. Does that mean—

Taking a step forward, he peered over the edge of the roof— and saw the ponytailed figure of Kanan Jarrus. His dead master. Looking years younger than the last time Ezra had seen him.

This was the day he’d first met him. Somehow, Ezra had wound up in the past.

He did his best to keep up after that. Followed along with events similarly to how they’d gone the first time through. But it was so much harder to just toss Kanan a snarky salute and zip out of there, instead of hurling himself into his master’s arms. His master, who he missed so much.

Still, Kanan didn’t remember him— Ezra’s prevailing theory was that only people on the Chimaera, or possibly only him and Thrawn, since they’d been most directly involved with the purrgil, could remember what happened— so he played along. Pretended like his heart didn’t leap with joy at the sight of Sabine, and Hera, and Zeb. Force, he was even glad to see Chopper.

He stuck to the timeline as long as he could.

And then, he didn’t any more. Ezra figured he was here for a reason. It was his job to figure out that reason, and help as many people as possible.

So he saved lives. He helped them evade the Grand Inquisitor, and Gall Trayvis. He tried to save Kanan at the comm tower— but his master wouldn’t leave. Ezra reluctantly let him, knowing they’d get him back. And they did.

He managed to prevent Minister Tua from dying, and got the Rebellion important intel. He played mediator on Seelos and kept them out of the way of the two new Inquisitors. When the question of a base came up, Ezra nudged them towards the planet where Chopper picked up AP-5.

He hadn’t been sure if it was the right idea. But when they made it to Malachor, and he ran into Maul again, Ezra let him come with. But when Kanan voiced doubts, he made sure his master knew he agreed. “Just stay out of his way,” Ezra begged him. “Be careful, okay? Trust that I can keep myself out of danger.”

A confused Kanan had agreed— and somehow, made it out with his eyesight intact. Ezra breathed a sigh of relief. The months between Malachor and Kanan’s return had hurt, and he knew it would still hurt, even knowing what he did.

Things had gotten… a little confusing at that point.

Mainly because Ahsoka made it out alive.

And Ezra was pretty sure that was something he did.

So he did a little casual snooping, while Kanan and Hera reunited, and everyone else tried to figure out what was next. And it turned out that the Ahsoka who was here? This wasn’t the Ahsoka who’d been fighting with them the past few months.

This was the Ahsoka from Ezra’s timeline. And she had her memories, same as him.

She still needed a little catching up, but it was nice to have someone else who knew what was going on.

Unfortunately, there was someone else who knew what was going on. Sort of. And he showed up right on time, in all his red-eyed, blue-skinned glory. Thrawn had his memories, same as Ezra. But he seemed to be playing it safe, just to see what Ezra would do.

So Ezra kept going, kept saving people. He handled Maul, made sure Sabine found the darksaber, supported her through that. (And still teased her a little. This was the one area he was better at something than her— was he supposed to resist it?)

And when Thrawn’s fleet found Atollon, Ezra was ready. He made sure everyone escaped safely, even Commander Sato. And when the crew, plus Kallus, made it out, he let out a sigh of relief. Maybe this could be better this time.

But then. Lothal came. Hera still ran the blockade, the Rebellion still refused any real help until the last minute, and Pryce still caught Hera.

Ezra did everything in his power to convince Kanan to stay. But his master wasn’t about to let the woman he loved be in danger and do nothing.

So, for the second time, Ezra lost his master. And despite everything, despite all his frantic working and planning, he still wound up on the bridge of a Star Destroyer. Just him, Thrawn, and the purrgil.

But then he woke up as Kanan helped him and the crate of blasters onto the Ghost. And that was when Ezra realized it.

He was stuck in a time loop. This wasn’t a second chance. This was a “get it right and you get your second chance, otherwise you’re stuck reliving this over and over again”.

So Ezra went to work.

It didn’t really go as planned. For one thing, Thrawn seemed to have put this together, too. And he had decided to hound Ezra as long and hard as he could, ruining every plan he could. But Ezra was stubborn, too. He would go through this loop as many times as he had to— a loop that he quickly became aware was growing smaller with every go round. Every time he woke up, time had passed since his previous awakening— in order to get it right.

He grew bolder. Prevented bigger things, or at least he tried to. Some things seemed to be a fifty-fifty chance, like Kanan going blind. He got rid of Inquisitors and… well, he tried to get rid of Maul. He seemed to be pretty consistent, though.

But Thrawn kept throwing bigger things at him— more Inquisitors, more troops, more everything. And Ezra was finding it hard to keep up on his own.

And then he did something that he hadn’t tried before. He brought someone else into the time loop with him.

~~~

Sabine knew what Ezra was planning. She’d seen the look in his eyes, and knew the odds just as well as he had. So she’d let him go.

And about five minutes later she’d regretted it.

And so, somehow— she still wasn’t quite sure how— she’d snuck onto the Chimaera after him. She’d made it onto the bridge just as the purrgil showed up, which she hadn’t expected. But Ezra had this really bad habit of making plans and then refusing to share them with others, so it wasn’t really her fault.

Diving under a tentacle, she pushed her way into the bridge, where Ezra had Thrawn pinned. Around them, Sabine could feel the thrumming in the air that was the Force— and something else, as the tentacles surrounding them flashed.

We’re about to jump to hyperspace.

This was his plan?

Ezra was saying something as she moved out into the open. A stormtrooper moved towards her, and Sabine shot him before he could take another step. The sound of blaster fire caught Ezra’s attention, and he looked towards her. His eyes went wide with horror. “Sabine?”

And then they made the jump and everything hurt, in a way that was Wrong. Sabine stumbled backwards, smacking into something. Her stomach churned, and she clenched her teeth, eyes squeezing shut. Don’t be sick. Don’t be.

The turmoil swirling around them seemed to still as Ezra’s voice came again, this time closer. “Oh, boy. Uh, Sabine? Are you okay?”

“Fine,” Sabine mumbled, taking a deep breath. Opening her eyes, she said, “That plan was— AHHH!”

Letting out a very undignified yelp, she leapt backwards from Ezra Bridger. But it wasn’t her Ezra. It looked more like Ezra when they’d first met him— long hair, scruffy clothes and an overall scrawny look. “What the kriff?” she demanded.

“Don’t panic,” Ezra said, holding up his hands. “It’s okay— we just went back in time a little bit.”

“We WHAT? How? Wait, what color’s my hair?”

“Orange and blue,” Ezra told her. “I think this is… right after Zeb and I stole that TIE fighter?”

Sabine rubbed at her face as she blearily took in their surroundings. They were in the Ghost kitchen— but it looked different. Some of the paintings she’d done on the wall were gone, as were some of Kanan’s newer implements. This can’t be happening.

But she took another look at the much shorter Ezra, who was gazing at her earnestly, and knew it was.

“What. Just happened,” she said, propping her hands on her hips. “Particularly how and why, too.”

Clearing his throat, Ezra said, “So, in coming on the bridge of the Chimaera— like I specifically told you not to—”

“You did no such thing. Also, since when do I listen to you?”

“Fair. Well, when you did that, you kinda got yourself… caught in a time loop with me?”

Sabine’s eyebrows shot up. “What?”

“I’ve been reliving my time with the crew repeatedly,” Ezra said matter of factly. Then he frowned. “Well, kinda. Some parts seem to kinda get skipped over. Like, I’ll go to sleep and you and Ketsu’s mission already happened when I woke up, and I was there. Some things are on autoplay, I guess. But other things aren’t, which is where I change stuff.”

Rubbing her face with one hand, Sabine said, “Okay, let me get this straight. You’ve been time looping your way through the past four years, and changing stuff?”

“Trying to,” Ezra said. The expression that flashed across his face was far, far too old for a fourteen year old to be wearing. Although Sabine supposed he wasn’t technically fourteen.

“Okay,” she said slowly. “It’s because of the purrgil, I’m guessing?”

“Yeah, but Thrawn and I seem to be the only ones who remember anything,” Ezra said with a frown. “Well, except Ahsoka.”

“Ahsoka?”

“Yeah, she… long story short, she gets her memories of the original timeline back on Malachor.”

Sabine lifted her eyebrow at him. “What’s the long story?”

“Really, really long,” Ezra said. “But I’ll tell you someday.”

“I’ll hold you to that,” Sabine told him. Starting to pace back and forth, she said, “Okay. So you’ve been changing stuff. Like what?”

“Well, for one, Ahsoka doesn’t always come back with us from Malachor,” Ezra said. “For another… we lose people. Commander Sato, some of the others. I’ve tried to save him in as many loops as possible. In— in some of them, I even kept Kanan from getting blinded.”

The catch in his voice was obvious, and Sabine felt an internal pang at the memory of how much both he and Kanan had been through during those six months. But that hadn’t been the first time he’d handled that.

“Ezra— how many times have you done this loop?”

Ezra’s gaze flicked downwards, and his voice held a note of forced casualness as he said, “Oh, like eighty-six or so.”

“EIGHTY-SIX?”

“SSSSH! The others will hear you!” Ezra hissed. “But… yeah. Not all of them were the full loop, though. Turns out that when you die, the time loop resets.”

Sabine stared at him, shock stabbing through her. “You— you’ve died?”

“A couple times, yeah. First time Thrawn did a little orbital bombardment thing. A couple times the Inquisitors got me, and Vader did once. Oh, and Maul, obviously. And the fight on Atollon, once— what?”

Sabine shook her head. “Nothing, I just— you’ve been doing all this alone?”

Shrugging, Ezra said, “No one else knew. And no one would have believed me. I couldn’t really ask for help.”

“You have it now,” Sabine told him firmly, and a smile crossed his face.

“Thanks.”

“So,” Sabine said briskly. “How do we break this time loop?”

Sighing, Ezra said, “I have a theory. The one thing that’s been the same every time has been… Kanan.”

Sabine swallowed hard, pain shooting through her chest. He’s not dead here. Which means… we can save him. “Challenge accepted,” she said with a shrug. “We have a Jedi to save.”

#501st follower celebration #star wars rebels #swr #ezra bridger #sabine wren #time travel au #hehehehehe i love this time travel au. so much #it's one i would happily write more for someday #writing stories is a kind of magic too

42 notes · View notes

amaraudermind · 11 months

Note

YOU'RE SOOOOO RIGHT ABOUT EZRA YOU'RE SO RIGHT IT'S LIKE YOU LOOKED INTO MY HEAD AND WROTE EVERYTHING DOWN

he's so in tune with the force I HAVE SO MANY THOUGHTS

NO YOU'RE RIGHT HE IS

And it's like. Being in tune with the force is one thing, right? Lots of Jedi are, lots of force users in general are, even!

But like. Okay so Hera mentioned in the pilot that Ezra opening the Holocron being a level of test, right? And it sounded like she and Kanan had discussed before something about him opening the Holocron meaning Kanan would train him.

But that's such a horrible test! In clone wars they specified that you could only open a Jedi Holocron as a Jedi. You had to be so dialed in specifically on the light side of the force.

So walk with me here. Ezra Bridger. He not only has a strong connection to the force. He not only instinctively calls on it without knowing a thing about it. He effortlessly tunes into the light side of the force, like it's as natural as breathing.

"but Void" I hear from the crowd "Ezra also tunes into the dark side of the force"

Indeed. Yes. Correct.

No but just stick with my crazed rambling for a sec okay? Because the dark side is supposed to be the easy path, the one that's so simple to fall into, it calls to force users, I mean, we see that the dark side is exactly that time and again.

I bring this up because. It's not for Ezra. The first time he grasps for the dark side he's in a panic, and it hurts him. It does get them away from the grand inquisitor but it almost doesn't. And the next time? It's after encouragement from Maul, and even then he's having to actively pursue it. He has to try to use the dark side.

And, because I think of this oh so much, when Maul needs him to open the Jedi Holocron--after he's been using the dark side and frequently, mind you--Ezra still can.

And like I have so many more incoherent thoughts about him and his force connection there's just so much he has taken up my entire brain<3

#void answers #star wars #ezra bridger #seriously words cannot encompass the amount of emotions i feel about him #why and how and what #how are you the way that you are ezra bridger #literally i have seen never seen a single other character as confounding as ezra #there are REASONS everyone latches onto this kid #i just feel like when he's actively using the dark side and clearly changed a lot #like. okay sabine says it's still ezra 'sometimes' when we see him using the dark side.#and i don't know. this part i know is more of a stretch but it feels like ezra is less called to the dark side #and more is convinced that it's the way to protect his family in a logical sense. like he has logic'd his way into thinking he NEEDS #the dark side of the force. and therefore it makes sense for him to continue using it wven though it's not natural to him.#it's still him 'sometimes' because he's having to put effort into using the dark side. when he's not trying he's...bouncing back.#and once he found a reasonable argument to NOT use the dark side. to see that it wasn't helping. it was pretty easy to step back again.#i don't know i might have just literally lost my mind from thinking about him too much i am in the middle of yet another watchthrough #we'll see how well my thought processes hold up against seeing it all transpire again #anyway

23 notes · View notes

nicolabarth · 6 months

Note

Trick or Treat!

Give me ObiMaul, post-ROTS pleaaasee :D :D

This is mean, because there are so man good fics for this already and the obvious answer would be something along the lines of "Maul moves in with Obi-wan in his desert hideout", but that has been done already and I'm not going to repeat it. I do have a different idea for this stuck in my head for a while, though. So here it is:

When Ezra and the Ghost crew find Maul on Malachor, they also find a weird old Sith artifact. In their fight against the Inquisitors, the artifact gets triggered and binds Maul to Ezra in a way that he has to do what Ezra says. Which means, no double crossing, no attacking Kanan. He becomes a very unwilling and grumpy new member of the crew.

He's still secretly working on the thing with the holocrons and manages to corrupt Ezra a little bit for a while, but in the end, Ezra gets his shit together and Maul is forced to admit what he's looking for: Obi-wan Kenobi.

Ezra is like: "Fuck yeah, let's go find him!" So they do.

Obi-wan has been hiding on Tattooine in the meantime, but the whole thing with Leia and Reva attacking Luke and all that has convinced him that maybe he should train Luke so the boy can defend himself.

So when they find Obi-wan, not only does Maul not attack Obi-wan, because Ezra is all: "Bad Sith! Stand down!" but also Ezra and Luke meet and get a really cute crush on each other.

And Obi-wan is not convinced at first that Maul is harmless, so to prove to him that he is, Ezra transfers the Sith artifact power over Maul to Obi-wan. And Maul is really not sure how to feel about that. On the one hand, he's finally not being ordered around by a teenager anymore, on the other hand, he's suddenly at the mercy of his old enemy. Obi-wan is also not sure how to feel about this, because Maul has hurt him a lot in the past, but he's a Jedi, so he doesn't get to hold a grudge, and he can see how much Maul has suffered over the years. Plus, there's a lot of sexual tension between them, because first of all it has always been there, but second of all the power dynamics on top of that trigger some Nightbrother instincts in Maul.

In the end, Obi-wan uses his power over Maul to force him to talk everything out. Then A New Hope happens, but they have Maul, and Luke is already trained in the force and constantly space-texting with Ezra. Obi-wan doesn't die, because Maul goes absolutely feral at Vader when he tries to kill him. In the process, the Sith artifact and Obi-wan's power over Maul are destroyed. Everyone is worried for a second there, but Maul doesn't even seem to notice that anything has changed and keeps following every single order from Obi-wan.

In the end Obi-wan asks Maul if he's aware he doesn't have to do that anymore, and Maul is just like: "I know, but do you want me to stop?"

Obi-wan considers that for a moment. "Actually, no," he says.

"Then better don't expect to get rid of me any time soon."

Send me a Trick or Treat message to get a fic idea as a treat this Halloween

#halloween #obimaul #star wars

7 notes · View notes

helsingvania · 1 year

Text

I want bitches to know that whenever i think about star wars rebels it brings me to the verge of tears. Like this series isn't a tie in like clone wars was, it was an aftermath. This series was picking up the pieces of the clone wars and what both sides stood for in the face of the empire by a completely new generation of people.

We come to know and adore all of the members of the ghost and understand their personal traveisties. Hera and chopper with the loss of her childhood, Kanan and Zeb and the lost of their home and everything they knew, Sabine and Ezra with the sins of their parents they have to live with. All of these characters have their own problems and only ever find comfort and safetey with eachother because no one else knows what they feel.

And since they’re so sprated from the movies, we don't know rheir fate, we don't know what they'll leave behind. We watch these characters grow and we cannot predict their deaths and legacies, we're forced to sit and watch them with the feeling of uncertainty. We sit and greve with these characters because we have become one with this space family fighting facism.

Everywhere you look in this series is monuments to a fallen republic. We're forced to sit here and stare at it as these old bases and facilities are from a bygon era that at one point in time we come to find as home and comforting with the clone wars series taking place in places like these. Its all remains forgotten, unappreciated, abandoned, and utterly in ruins much like the troops who ran them.

The last battle makes me want to cry seeing the remains of the droid army making up eith the clones when they realized that neither of them won the war. Both of them are equally sentient and used for nothing but a war that neither of them would've ever won. Both of them trying to fight for something that seems right (separatists wanting better representation, and the republic not wanting the galaxy to dissolve into conflciting governments) but both sides equally become corrupted by the interests of a single man.

For something so small, vader and a ahsoka is a gut punch for me. We see this build up for the entire season and ends with one of the most gut wrenching lines (I WON'T LEAVE YOU, NOT THIS TIME!). Its extremely departed from the plot and achives so kany feels in soo little time i love it and hate it at the same time.

Bro i can't even get into farewell and homecoming without shedding tears im not touching that.

BUUUT i can talk about maul and his end. Twin suns is easily a favorite episode especially with the kenobi series and the journals from the 2015 star wars series. I definitely think maul is used too much in this post clone wars era of star wars media, but none of them can really beat out how rebels worked with him and gave him a meaningful narrative death. Like his journey of hatred and revenge beginning where it ends on tatooine is just poetic writing. How hes alway attach to his past and then subsequently gets beaten after trying the same move he tried doing to qui-gon, but outwitten by obi-wan. By this time Obi-Wan has moved on from his guilt and past regarding anakin and the purge, maul hasn't and thats how he failed.

Also the line about luke being the avenger for those used by Palpatine, both jedi and sith alike also makes me want to cry. Like so many people who learned about this dumbass kid had so much faith and hope in him that he'll do the right thing in the end makes the movies and comics hurt more

This show brings up so much shit from the events of mortis, the horror of the empire, the foundings of a rebellion and how to truly make a stance and what it takes, the importance of trust and faith in others, and just so much more i just don't wanna shed tears on my keyboard rn

If you made it this far...thanks i guess

#star wars #star wars rebels #helsing speaks

13 notes · View notes

taybatwo2 · 1 year

Text

I just finished the season finale of The Bad Batch, and while I already knew what was coming (YouTube thumbnails kinda ruined that for me), it still broke me!

I was kinda teary eyed during the whole thing, but didn’t break down crying until several minutes after it ended. I wrapped myself up burrito style and just bawled. It was a great season, haha, that’s the only reason why I could feel so attached to these characters and so upset when they are also hurting….

I. Can. Not. Wait. For the next season. Spoilers below

With Star Wars being, well, Star Wars, it’s kinda difficult to determine if Tech is actually dead. Did he go out like Kanan, 99, and Fives did, or will he come back like Maul, Fennec, or even Palpa-toots did??!?!!!?!?! I wasn’t even a huge Tech fan until this season!! And now he’s gone!! He didn’t even get a good bye kiss from Phee!! Everyone else is all depressed too! Poor Wrecker…witnessing it first hand. The sniffling sound he made when Tech’s name was brought up broke my heart…. Hunter feeing more broken because he lost someone else under his command and his daughter, Omega (the shining light in his life right now that will make every loss worth it…or at least feel a little less painful), is gone with no way to find her. I can also understand why he wanted to cut his losses and give up on finding Crosshair. Everyone almost died, his DAUGHTER almost died, Tech did die. He wasn’t about to risk anyone else, especially when he has the chance to give Omega a real life on Pabu. And Echo….he’s already lost so many brothers, but to add Tech to that (when he looked at the empty pilot’s seat -oof my poor heart) and have Omega kidnapped and taken to a lab (that he knows is doing something with clones) must dredge up the worst memories….

I know what Cid did was wrong, and made things way worse for the Batch, but I can’t even be angry with her. She looked pretty miserable taking the money and I wouldn’t be surprised if she tries to make it up to the Batch later. Not that it makes it right though. I wonder if she had already let the empire know that they frequent her establishment or only let them know after she saw them come in…? I want to believe Phee when she told them that she saw more in Cid.

I also don’t think Saw purposely wanted the Bad Batch to die, but I know that he is written to be an extremist sect of the rebellion, and he doesn’t mind sacrificing a few people in order for the greater good (including the Batch), but would it have killed him to have offered them a lift out of there?!?

Sigh…..I am really going to miss Tech….he gave the best quips….his facial reactions were always so good. He was SO SKILLED at everything he did. Like his reactions were amazingly quick.

The whole season was good; I’d give it a 9/10. The animation has just been getting better with every season (the extra details in the expressions and the body language of the characters are great); and I am forever grateful they went with Clone Wars inspired animation models instead of Rebels.

#the bad batch #star wars #bad batch #clone force 99 #hunter #wrecker #tech #omega #spoilers #the bad batch finale #tbb season 2 spoilers #tbb #tbb season 2 #the bad batch spoilers

12 notes · View notes

nimata-beroya · 10 months

Note

11, 16, and 21 for the Rebels ask game?

Thanks for the asks @is-that-sand-in-my-waffles!

11. What is one joke/moment from the show that always makes you laugh?

In Legends of the Lasat, when Zeb whines about Kallus being the Warrior of the Lira San prophecy and complains that he wants to be that. It's absolutely hilarious!! I don't know how many times I've watched that scene, and every time I laugh until my belly hurts.

16. Who is your favorite villain/antagonist?

The very alien, very blue, genius tactician, grand admiral Thrawn. I always loved him in the show, love him even more in the books. I can't wait to see him in live action!! (🤞 Fingers crossed that his storyline won't be disappointing)

21. What is one of your favorite Chopper moments?

There are several throughout the series, mostly when he showed his soft side, even when it didn't happen often. He actually care for everyone in the crew, much more than he lets on, not just Hera. Like when he sneaked in the A-wing and went with Ezra to Tatooine searching for Obi-Wan and Maul, to have Ezra's back. Or how he grabbed Hera's hand to comfort her after Kanan died, and after that, when he suggested Hera to include him in her Kalikori. Also when he gave up the original droid he stole to fix AP-5.

He wouldn't hesitate to kill anybody but he's a softie when he wants to 😆

Star Wars Rebels ask game!

#mare replies #star wars rebels ask game #sw rebels

2 notes · View notes

shenanigans-and-imagines · 2 years

Note

So, my clumsy self hurt my knee, had to have a surgery and currently walks like na elderly penguin. However, I have had time to watch The Clone Wars, The Bad Batch And Rebels in a really short time... which is one positive thing to come out of it. I was wondering, since I love hearing your thoughts, what do you think were the strengths and weaknesses of each show?

Hey sorry I'm late to a reply. You sent it pretty late and I wanted to be fully awake to respond. Let's just jump right in.

Star Wars: The Clone Wars (2008-2020)

General Thoughts: This is probably my favorite piece of Star Wars media besides the Original Trilogy. It made me actually care about the prequels and understand what they were trying to accomplish. I love most of the episodes, which is saying something considering the length of the series. If I was going to get anybody introduced to Star Wars I would start with the Original Trilogy, maybe show them the prequel for context and then immediately get them onto The Clone Wars.

Strengths: As an anthology series, we really get to explore the world of Star Wars in a way we were unable to in the movies. We are allowed time to really get to know Anakin and Obi Wan while at the same time expanding the cast to encompass all the Jedi at their peak. It adds humanity to the all but faceless clones in the movies and adds an extra layer of tragedy to the series that the prequels tried, but mostly failed to impart.

Weakness: As an anthology series, there are some episodes that really do miss. This is the one I believe varies in quality the most and while I don't mind it so much, I can see it bothering others. Also, it does take a while to get going and the animation in the first season is really rough. It takes until season 2 to properly find its footing, but if you can stick it out until they I still high recommend it to everyone.

Star Wars: Rebels (2014-2018)

General Thoughts: A solid, fun kid's show for the Star Wars universe. We love seeing a found family.

Strengths: Having the focus on a small core ensemble is a nice change of pace from the anthology structure of The Clone Wars. It also gives us a better sense of how the rebel cells at this point are working on their own with barely any communication between them. It gives a nice sense of tension when they do meet somebody new to know if they're a friend on an ally.

The characters are what sell it though. As I said, we love a found family and I'm a sucker for any crew that will do anything for each other.

Weaknesses: I hate the animation style, I'm just going to put that out there. I am not a fan of the redesigns of the characters we knew from The Clone Wars and even the characters specifically made for the show and rather lack luster.

But I think the real problem with the show is Ezra. Now don't get me wrong, I like Ezra fine. He's got a good arc. He's can get annoying, but its understandable given where he started vs. where he's going. HOWEVER, I think it was a mistake forcing him to be in every episode of the series. He honestly is pretty bland when you get right down to it. We've seen his arc a million times, meanwhile Kanan is right there with a much more interesting and complicated history along side Hera. Not to mention everything happening with Maul and Obi Wan in "The Twin Suns". That really should have been solely focused on the two of them since it wasn't Ezra's fight at all. But, we had to take time away to cut back to him since he's the main character. Just little things like that take away from the over all quality.

I also do think it was a mistake to bring in Thrawn as a threat in such a kid centered show. Having the target audience be younger isn't a bad thing, but Thrawn is a tactician first who's whole deal is being a magnificent bastard. The fact the Ghost crew is able to get away so frequently speak more poorly of him than well of them.

The Bad Batch (2021- )

General Thoughts: This is the one I haven't actually finished. I watched a few episodes and while there was nothing wrong with it necessarily, it didn't hold my interest.

Strengths: God! The animation is so good in this. I really cannot emphasis how I much I love the animation. I would pay so much money for the crew to go back and reanimate the earlier seasons of The Clone Wars with this quality. Chef's kiss, seriously.

Also, I'm not going to deny that Omega is cute and I will never, ever get tired of that adopted Dad trope. It is too good.

Weaknesses: I just think its boring. It's fairly predictable with it's characters who are over all rather bland. This is baby's Dirty Dozen. If you have seen really any other war movie, you've seen these characters and no exactly what they're about. It's a shame too because I am really curious about the clones and the fall out of Order 66 from their perspective. The issue is, Rex is right there! There are other clones that we know who aren't genetically altered we can focus on and who we know better.

Maybe it gets better later, but ultimately I keep thinking about a better version of this show.

#star wars #the clone wars #rebel #the bad batch #star wars: the clone wars #star wars: rebels #star wars: the bad batch

13 notes · View notes

warsamongstthestar-keen · 2 months

Text

Chapter Fifty

"So," Seventh Sister remarks, spinning her lightsaber rapidly. "The rumours are true, Darth Maul lives."

"Formally Darth, now just Maul."

Keen spins on her heel, pushing Leia behind her and stepping closer to the former Sith Lord, one of her blades extended toward his neck, the other still held out to the Inquisitor's. "You stay away from them!" the Jedi Master snarls.

"Now, now, Lady Quinara, you must watch your temper. We wouldn't want you to fall to the Dark Side, now would we?"

"Keen," Ezra grumbles, tugging on the arm holding the blade to the Danthomirian's neck. "I swear he's on our side!"

She pulls her arm out of the Padawan's grasp, but keeps the blade toward her side. "Sithspit, Ezzie! You don't even know him," turning to glance at the ex-Sith, she snarls, "Or what they're capable of."

"Are you really still caught up on the topic of myself killing Qui-Gon Jinn?"

The Inquisitor's blades begin to spin, and Kanan shouts back at the Jedi Master, "Can we discuss this later?"

Maul smirks, dropping the bottom part of his cane, revealing his lightsaber. "Perhaps my actions will speak louder than words." He ignites his dual-bladed lightsaber, quickly attacking all three Inquisitors at once.

"What are we waiting for?" Ezra questions, launching himself into the fight.

Kanan shrugs, jumping at their enemies himself, Ahsoka following him into the battle. Ari'abel looks over at Leia, "Be mindful, Princess. Don't trust him."

"Okay."

The Jedi Master nods at her Padawan, launching herself directly at Fifth Brother.

There isn't much of a fight, Maul doing most of the work, the Jedi, and Ahsoka, standing back to watch the fight. The Inquisitor's flee, leaving only one dual-bladed red lightsaber still glowing in the cavern. Maul turns quickly to face the rebels.

"Maul, what game are you playing?" Ahsoka demands, stepping toward him.

"The end game, Lady Tano." He turns back to watch the fleeing Imperials. "The end game. I am the enemy of your enemy now, and I have my own reasons for wanting the Empire to fall." He pauses, probably for dramatic effect, taking a deep breath. "But we have little time. The one they call Vader will be here soon."

"How do you know this?" Kanan questions.

Spinning around, Maul disignites his blade, replying, "His dogs will tell him where we are. Four Jedi and a 'part-timer'. Oh, he will come. He will not be able to resist us."

"Okay, now just wait! There isn't an 'us' Maul. Handling the Inquisitors is a whole different ballpark to dealing with a fully trained Sith Lord. And there isn't any way in h*ll I'm working with you."

"Keen, we should trust him," Ezra implores. Reaching into his pocket, he pulls out a pyramid shaped object that glows a faint red. "Uh, look! He and I took this from Temple together! This is why we came here, right? To find out about the Sith. To find a way to beat them."

"Ez, you don't know Maul like Ahsoka and I do. You don't know what all he's done. He was wanted by the Republic, and now he's wanted by the Empire. If they both can agree that he needs to be arrested, that in and of itself should tell you something."

The Padawan cacks his head, looking at Maul questioningly. "What is she talking about."

"Just a small matter of me killing her Padawan once upon a time."

Leia looks nervously between her Master and the Danthomirian. "Uh, that doesn't sound like a 'small matter' to me."

Maul waves off the Princess's concerns. "Oh, it's not as if I have a grudge against Lady Quinara. It wasn't personal."

"Honestly, Maul, I've gotten over you killing Qui-Gon. You know me, I don't hold grudges easily. It's the fact that you continued to hurt, and harm, Obi-Wan, and the Jedi. That's where I draw the line. Maybe I'd give you a second chance, but you burned that bridge long ago, mate."

Maul scoffs. Ezra spins, turning to face the Togruta, "Ahsoka, you said we came here for knowledge."

"Ezra, there is no way a Jedi can unlock that holocron."

"But you may unlock the Temple itself," the Danthmirian responds, addressing Ezra.

"How? Tell me how."

Ari'abel crosses her arms, glaring at the ex-Sith. "At the top of the Temple is a chamber. Connect the holocron to the obelisk within and you can unlock the ancient knowledge of the Sith."

"Why are you working so hard to keep us here?"

Shrugging, Maul turns his back to the group, taking a few steps toward the Sith Temple. "I can not defeat Vader alone."

"I say we stay with him."

Keen scoffs, while Kanan says, "Yeah? Well I say we go, so that settles it."

Maul scoffs, crossing his arms over his chest. "Are you such cowards that you would run from this chance to defeat your enemies?"

"I wouldn't say that staying alive, and keeping others safe is cowardice. I see it as brave, having to run from a fight. Sometimes running is the only good choice, and I'd like to stay alive," Leia responds.

The Danthomirian glares at the Princess, "Your Master has certainly taught you well in the ways of the Jedi."

"Thank you!"

"That wasn't a compliment."

"Kanan? Can't we stay?"

The Knight sighs, looking over at Keen. The two have a silent argument with their eyes, Kanan evidently winning, as he sighs, pulling his comm from his belt. "Chopper, we're staying for a while." Chopper grumbles at Kanan, "Yeah, I know it's a bad idea. Just scan for incoming ships, and keep the Phantom out of sight." The astromech grumbles in response.

"Oh, how exciting," Maul says. "We're all on the same side."

"Yeah, we're about as far from being on the same side as someone can be, y'know, without being mortal enemies. Just take us to the top, and hurry."

"This way."

#wars amongst the stars #ari'abel quinara #wats #star wars rebels #au fix it fic

0 notes

holding-hands-and-hearts · 2 years

Text

Stories in Shadow

Space is cold.

The chill is seeping, slow and calm and pressing. It needles at his bones, a nagging request, a gentle scold that eats at the pit in his stomach.

He blinks, and turns away from the stars.

Chopper hoots softly, tucked into a corner shrouded in shadow where there’s a port. He’s probably programming the navicomputer, or contacting home base, or digging through the ship’s memory, looking for something they can use.

But he would shift his struts back and forth if he were irritated, an insistent clang-clang-clang that would make Zeb’s lip curl, and he isn’t. Instead, the gears in his scomp link twist faintly into the bowels of the ship, and he rotates his head in Ezra’s direction. The indistinct glow of the planet behind them casts his orange paint to beige.

He doesn’t say anything, so Ezra doesn’t either. Chopper will be vague, or he’ll be blunt, and Ezra won’t want to talk about it either way.

Chopper turns his head back to the port, having obtained whatever answer he was looking for in the spaces between Ezra’s silence. Tatooine still stains his paint too light, a dusty pale that seems too unremarkable to hurt, but the memory of grit and sand and sun prods like a bad joke too pointed to feel innocent. His breath stings at the back of his throat, a physiological reproach like bitter distrust after the searing sands.

So it’s just the light and the cold, settling on his skin, a question he doesn’t want to answer.

Ezra mutters something about checking out the rest of the ship and waits until the cockpit doors close behind him before he remembers how to breathe, pretends the walls will shield him from Chopper’s silent sympathy, stinging more than it soothes. A droid’s pity, he thinks, and there’s some dark amusement at the idea of it. Emotional intelligence was never his strong suit - unsympathetic, strong of will, demon of kneecaps, leaving bone bruises in his wake. Whatever, he’d say, if he said anything at all, and continue to plow along whatever path he had been on to begin with, even if your shins were still ringing from his collision with your bones.

Ezra had been hiding in the nose gun, wallowing in shame with the doors locked behind him, and Hera had let him go, given him space, but he was the kind of frustrated and indiscriminately upset that stony reticence spiked when she reached out. Okay, she’d said, when her fingertips set him from clenched-jaw upset to reactive vehemence. Maybe go take a minute. Chopper picked the lock. Suck it up.

Hera would bring him his meal at dinnertime, a soft smile and a soft touch as if to cushion the sharp edges of Ezra’s hurt. Sabine would tread carefully, not too close, but never out of reach. Kanan kept his distance, would meet him when he returned. Zeb would look down, a gruff you okay, kid? that toed the line of too-casual nonchalance, the dusting off of pants after a fall.

Condolence isn’t point-blank, so Chopper doesn’t bother dealing it out.

And maybe the closed doors don’t help, because Ezra is still cold. There aren’t many lights on the rest of the ship, and maybe the darkness isn’t better than Tatooine’s dusty cling.

The ship is small.

But it feels big, unnatural, because it doesn’t feel like there’s anything to fill it. There’s a fresher and a captain’s quarters and the door to the hold all off of the common room, shades of durasteel that have forgotten the concept of color. The corners are swathed in shadow. The air is still, hanging silence and not-quite secrecy, the ghosts of forgotten stories once told here.

It’s kind of funny, Ezra thinks, that a Sith once lived here.

Maul slept on threadbare sheets, pulled his meals from a drawer full of the exact same rations - Ezra remembers eating those, once upon a time when he lifted a crate of them from an Imperial shipment, and thought it was funny that no one seemed to mind. The tasteless tube of nutrition made his mouth thick for the next month, dry crumbs sticking to his teeth, bloated and waterlogged and stubborn when he tried to wash them away. There’s a pile of pens on the rickety nightstand, all run out of ink, and the artificially dyed jar of oral tablets in the fresher has lost its color.

Ezra runs his fingers over the walls, disassembles the pens, digs through the rations, strips the sheets from the bunk as if a Sith Lord would hide his secrets under his mattress. He goes through the hold as if expecting that the Nightbrother had had a penchant for collecting more deadly relics and omnipotent artifacts, tears apart the common room until the shadows shift and he is reduced to checking under the table for whispers of an answer, but he can’t seem to figure out what his question is or whether it’s why or how, whether it’s emotional or academic or compassionate or apathetic.

Did he really live here?

Did Maul walk into this ship and stop and think home? Could he have, with its empty rooms and threadbare sheets and shadows and ghosts? Did the darkness feel like a consolation? Did the cold seem comforting?

Ezra sighs, and tries to imagine Maul, listening to the stories in the shadows, and maybe that was home enough for him. But the cold needles, and the darkness is pressing, and space has never felt so empty-melancholy, a forgotten gap waiting to be filled, those forgotten stories that haven’t been told.

The Ghost always felt like a haven, something tall and wise that bent over to take his hand and lead him to the Light. Zeb’s dry humor, the wit in the clash of Hera’s persistent faith and Kanan’s grounded sagacity, Sabine’s unabated urge to paint her hope all over the walls as if she could will a better world into existence. They’d been running on yet another op gone sideways, and she’d paused to flick a phoenix across a snooty recruitment poster bathed in white helmets and superiority in crimson. Come on, Sabine! Ezra’d yelled. Why do you have to do that now? But she’d shrugged and finished the artful flair of the bird’s wing before moving on. That night, he’d flopped into his bunk before Zeb could start snoring and smelled fresh paint, and there was a crisp new phoenix on the ceiling, as if in answer.

But the walls of Maul’s former home are still a blank canvas of empty durasteel, and the floors are scuffed as if to prove that time used to pass here, and Tatooine no longer feels like some grand story.

It feels like a Jedi growing old, passing something intangible to a boy who thought he was doing the right thing. It feels like the forever-enemy who haunted them both, who was not quite Dark and not quite Sith, who slept on threadbare sheets and kept his old pens after they ran out of ink and listened to the stories in the shadows, maybe. And maybe the dark and the cold didn’t seem so bad, and maybe it was the quiet that was the appeal all along, or maybe it was the quiet that kept him chasing the past like a wraith who couldn’t seem to let go, and maybe his knuckles had been sore from how tightly he clung.

Ezra had been riding north, following the Jedi’s word, leaving them both behind. Your way out. Your way home. The dewback paused, tilted its head to one side like a question, and something had brushed up against Ezra’s mind like the way grass ripples when the wind blows, and the last thing he was expecting was for it to be peaceful.

Death never was. It was candles blown out, saplings crushed, a slow-burning fire that stifled breath as easily as smoke. But there was a finality to it, someone letting out a breath, an old wound that had never closed, laid finally to rest.

And maybe, in the dark of the desert, borne by the life-long hatred of decades ago, the man who could not let go had found some peace. Maybe, the old wound had mended, and maybe, there had been some comfort in the light of the fire and in the lines of the Jedi’s face.

Maybe the man who could not let go had been lonely.

Maul slept on threadbare sheets, pulled his meals from a drawer full of the exact same rations and kept his old pens after they ran out of ink and listened to the stories in the shadows like they could make up for all of those he’d lost. He reached out to Ahsoka as glass shattered around them, an offer that sings of desperation. Join me. He leaves his hand on Ezra’s shoulder, a little hesitant but all too certain. My apprentice. He curls his fingers into a fist, and his voice shakes with a hum somewhere between hatred and amusement, drawn out too far. Kenobi.

But the wind brushes Ezra’s mind the way grass ripples, and the echo of Maul’s death fades with the breeze.

And something settles, a buried memory, a click into place, a peace made. Now you see, Maul says. Quiet and silky, folded with extra meanings and old history and a shadow-shrouded depth.

“I do,” Ezra tells him. His voice fades into the bowels of the ship, and the cold is not so biting anymore, the darkness not so pressing.

He steps back into the cockpit.

Chopper turns to watch him come in, a muted hoot that is both a greeting and a question. They’ve left Tatooine far behind, and only the stars light the cockpit, quiet, omniscient gleams that feel like stories. The galaxy shines in his photoreceptor.

“No.” Ezra sinks into the pilot’s chair. The navicomputer is already programmed. “I didn’t find much.”

Chopper grumbles - something about Maul and stupidity and kriffing Jedi nonsense and sand in his circuits - and Ezra elects to ignore him.

Chopper, after all, was never all that good with emotional intelligence. But he’ll be grateful when they get back home, or something approaching it, will bicker with Hera and terrorize Zeb and run into kneecaps until half of Atollon is covered in bruises. AP-5 will scold him, and Chopper will scold right back until they’ve both forgotten what the offenses were. But he’ll melt into their awkward little family anyway, a grumpy rust-bucket with malicious intent.

Ezra will hesitate, already steeling for a rejection that won’t come. And, eventually, Hera will help him wash the sand from his hair and soothe the angry sunburns patched across his cheeks, and Kanan will bring them both dinner and rest a knowing hand on Ezra’s shoulder, as if there’s conversation there that already happened, an intrinsic understanding that doesn’t require speech or sight. Zeb will be close by, and he’ll look over and say, you okay, kid? with just a little too much briskness packed between the words. He’ll snore too loudly and Ezra will complain in the morning, but they’ll both smile and elbow the other one’s ribs, and there’s some kind of light in the painted walls.

One day, so long ago, a boy with a crate of stolen blasters fumbled his way onto a paint-covered freighter that felt like a funny kind of home, and dropped into the nose gun, and saw the stars. Space, he thought, was mesmerizing. And, for a little while, he forgot what it was like to be cold.

Chopper whistles at him, and Ezra grins. “Yeah, buddy. Let’s go home.”

*******

*quietly creeps out of the ether*

....bye.

Taglist: @sexy-rex @handsignals @artemis98 @ladysongmaster @moobrvoobl-moobmoob-oobmpoobroom

94 notes · View notes

cjskribblez · 2 years

Text

I just finished Rebels s2, so i wanted to dump a few of my random thoughts here; if anyone is interested lol.

SPOILERS (ofc)

I knew something bad was gonna happen to Kanan gosh dangit him and Hera had too sweet of a scene beforehand, and sure enough. BOOM guys. He did not in fact get to see her again lmao I hate it here

At least he's alive tho lol

Honestly I lost the capacity to hate Maul a long time ago so I just felt really bad for him this whole time. HE FAILED AGAIN. SHOCKER. and honestly except for that main part of removing a certain someone's retinas he didn't really do anything super evil. He didn't lie to Ezra at all, he didn't drop Ezra or try to kill him a single time either. Respect (but also dude wtf rude)

And Maul taking about how he was no longer a sith... Maul lore. Very good methinks.

"Two Jedi and a part-timer" LOL he genuinely sounded so happy to actually see people. Who knows how long he was there-

That first elevator ride up the temple had to have been awkward AS HELL for Maul and Ahsoka though I'm so upset they took that from us that would have been so funny (ik it's been 10+ years ok I just think it would be hilarious if they were just 🧍🧍*elevator music*)

EZRA'S FACE AS HE REALIZES KANAN CANT SEE ANYMORE AND IT'S BECAUSE HE LEFT HIM ALONE WITH MAUL. THAT DESTROYED ME DUDE WTF

Honestly right before they all split up though I was sitting there like "gee Ezra how come Dave Filoni let's you get 3 masters"

AND I JUST REALIZED NONE OF THEM ARE JEDI KNIGHTS HELP

no wait Kanan is now but still

Why did the temple lady sound like Ventress?? Was that intentional?? Hm🤔🤔 I'm probably reading too much into this but. Sus.

We almost had Maul and Ahsoka vs Vader.... But the world wasn't ready for that ig

And don't even get me started on the Ahsoka and Vader scene. The only reason I'm not on the ground sobbing right now is because I've seen it in edits and such. STILL HURT THO.

VERY MUCH.

I actually think the only reason Ahsoka knew. Knew it was Anakin was because of his scar. She might have even aimed for that part on his mask to check... Yeah :(

I was not expecting those inquisitors to die there JEEZ rip ig but not really they were annoying LMAO

It isn't really clear on who's ship Maul stole but IMAGINE IF IT WAS VADERS. HAHAHA. THE AUDACITY .

Speaking of audacity. Ezra sassing DARTH. FREAKIN. VADER. (And living to tell the tale) I love him guys😭

I WAS SO UPSET WHEN EZRA'S LIGHTSABER GOT DESTROYED BRUH I LITERALLY YELLED I WAS LIKE NOOOOO that thing was so cool :(

They really all lost something that episode huh :((

THE WAY THEY ALL THINK AHSOKA IS DEAD. NO. NOOO. THEY BETTER REUNITE. I STFG. ESPECIALLY REX. He better know she's alive man I'm.

Rex literally told her to wait for him before she went too :'(( bye I'm sad

THE REST OF THE SQUAD SEEING THAT EZRA IS BLIND NOW,, THEY WERE DEVASTATED ,,, UGH

In conclusion; I hate StarWars (/hj)

And I really loved s2 so WHOO I'm excited (scared) for the rest!

FEEL FREE TO LEAVE A COMMENT SO WE CAN TALK ABT THIS MORE I WANT!!

And ofc my lovely beans, these r just my opinions.

#this show better have a happy ending i stg #swtcw #starwars #blurbs #cj rambles #rebels #sw rebels #ezra bridger #kanan jarrus #hera syndulla #clonewars #sw #rebels s2 #rebels spoilers

30 notes · View notes

tarisilmarwen · 9 months

Text

Rebels Rewatch: "Through Imperial Eyes"

Spy antics, infiltrations, and endless stress holy crap.

Obligatory live reaction version. Be forewarned there's a lot of incoherent screaming in that one.

IIRC from the Rebels Recon for this episode they had briefly considered doing the whole episode as a POV shot from Kallus, which would have been cool and interesting and very artistic as a narrative decision but which they probably realized very quickly would have been a crapton of work they'd never finish on time.

So a bit of a compromise with this opening shot here, still getting across the pun, as we are literally looking through an Imperial's eyes.

Poor man looks exhausted.

They still haven't started strip mining the planet surface just yet. That wouldn't happen until right when the factories were ramping up production in preparation to start shoving TIE Defenders off the line.

So Thrawn literally had his funding pulled last minute. No wonder he was so cranky in the finale lol.

Lyste has put the light carrier on full red alert for a stolen shuttle. Not the first time he'll be flaunting his authority this episode.

Hi Ezra!

Straining the limits of Kallus' poker face already lol.

Love this little uncertain look before he takes the opportunity to sass that Stormtrooper.

Troopers once again just bullying around a teenager for no reason. Ezra's literally their favorite target for this, even when the others have gotten captured they aren't manhandled nearly as much.

I mean, not that I'm complaining or anything...

I do remember thinking that this seemed a rather dangerous course of action, and it's a bit at odds with the events of "The Antilles Extraction". Despite Ezra's reassurances to Kallus that most troopers don't actually know what he looks like now, he still has a pretty recognizable face. That was why they sent in Sabine the last time.

Buuuuuuuut Sabine's not here anymore. And they can't exactly send in the aliens of the group either. Rex and Kanan could have infiltrated by themselves though. So why exactly is Ezra sent in alone with just Chopper and AP-5 as backup?

He must have insisted on being involved in the extraction plot, like he couldn't have been for Skystrike, for the same irrational emotional reasons--because his sense of hyper-responsibility means that he will deliberately take on the most danger in order to prevent any potential harm or hurt coming to the people he cares about. It has to be him, because if he takes all the risks, no one else has to, and no one else will get hurt.

This loops back into his guilt over Malachor. Ezra's been projecting his shame and fears about Maul, about his failure there, onto everything else. He's still a bit prickly and suspicious towards Kallus several times this episode, not willing to trust so easily again and repeat his mistakes.

"I have to do this, I have to destroy the Sith and fix my mess, I have to protect my friends." Ezra's been trying to take on way more than he can actually handle, and it's gotten him in trouble multiple times this season. At Reklam, when he leaves himself for the last to get out and winds up stranded and plummeting to his doom. In the krykna cave, when he insists on going in alone without Kanan and nearly gets mulched. On Dathomir, when he nearly winds up possessed by Nightsister spirits, just to get a hint at the "key to destroy the Sith".

And here, where things very nearly go completely pear-shaped due to Thrawn unexpectedly turning up, and Lyste hoping to present Ezra as a bid for the Grand Admiral's favor.

I'll talk more about this character arc, as I've said, in "Twin Suns" when we get to the end of it.

For now let me just enjoy the hysterical strain in Kallus's voice as he bitches about being rescued. David Oyelowo does "shrill and full of stress" really well.

I love this expression so much, he cannot comprehend the Rebels risking so much just for him it's so sweet.

Despite his complaining, Ezra looks very ready to maybe trust Kallus, look at this face.

Feigning prisoner mistreatment shouldn't have worked as well as it did but lajhafksfjhkjh this is the Empire.

Thrawn conveniently turning up right when the Rebels have made a move again. It's uncanny how the man can do this. It never felt like normal narrative contrivance it always held just a bit of uncertainty and paranoia about it all.

So yeah ONE THING THIS EPISODE DOES REALLY REALLY WELL IS AMP UP THAT SUSPENSE AND TENSION. I was so anxious watching this the first time, pins and needles, it was effective but horrible.

Ezra with that brief fearful flash of, "Ohhhhh crap, we did not plan for this."

Knew from the moment we panned down to Ezra's helmet on the floor there with that brief music box snippet of Thrawn's theme that it would come into play.

Ezra's hidden cheeky smiles at AP-5. <3

And a nice little callback to "A Princess On Lothal".

See, this is what I'm talking about there's literally no reason to smack his head here, they're just being petty and mean.

Love the subtle worry in Kanan's eyes here. <3

Hi Brunsen! Hi Titus! Hi Slavin!

This moment here in front of the door serves two purposes effortlessly. First, it lets Lyste kick the dog by pulling a Karen on this poor guard, so we're not as sad when he's framed for the Fulcrum deal later. (Though I was still a little bit sad, he was pitiful and didn't deserve that.) Second, it establishes the obstacle we're going to have to overcome later.

....All right, fine, the Thrawn girlies can have one cap.

I'm pretty sure this music cue is a carryover from TCW.

God the fondness and admiration in Kallus' voice at seeing Yularen, ouch. This is a man he used to look up to and now he's betraying everything his old mentor stood for.

Right, so obviously showing them the map was a ploy, but it's wonderfully clever of him. Thrawn likes to throw curveballs at his opponents to see how they react and adapt. He develops the same kind of villainous respect for Kallus that he has for Hera, though more to do with how Kallus outmaneuvered him in the mind game and spy espionage thing.

Kinda dig that Pryce wasn't in the previous meetings because her loyalty is without question.

Also yes, I do crack!ship it a little bit.

Oh hey, the moment that inspired my "Mirrorverse" AU!

Will never not laugh at Kallus' tired, "Please stop that." at Ezra on the ceiling of the cell.

It's kind of astonishing how good Ezra looks in Imperial outfits. Really too bad his interactions with Kallus are limited because they bounce off each other in one of the most interesting and entertaining ways.

"Oh good, the thankless job." AP-5 is the best and I will hear no slander.

I was... unclear on how exactly the decoy planet was supposed to have fooled Thrawn. Still am, a bit. Surely the man has a photographic memory, right?

But then maybe that was one of the things that pinged him as being too clever for Lyste to have done.

Hilarious that Kallus managed to pull a Stealth Hi Bye on a Jedi.

This scene is so well done in the tension department. The cloying silence. Thrawn calmly walking in to check the map. The sudden attack from the sentries with a flare of dramatic music. Ezra feeling like he's just barely hidden out of sight behind the retaining wall. (Once again, symbolically using Sabine's artwork as a shield, I mean what?)

And props to Thrawn, he does really well surviving against his own sentry droids. I'm down with letting the man have a little physical combat to show off his athletic prowess. As a treat.

And I dig that the override code is his bodyguard's name. :)

This expression is delightfully chilling. The man is seething.

Another episode which does a good job handling Kanan's blindness, Kanan has to ask for clarification on what Rex is "Woah"ing over and he doesn't recognize Pryce by voice so he doesn't know not to try the Mind Trick on her.

And again, the competence of other Imperials increases dramatically with Thrawn merely present. Yularen immediately finds a shuttle asking to dock right after an assassination attempt fishy. Pryce tries to arrest them immediately and recognizes the attempt at a Jedi Mind trick. Thrawn makes people smarter just by being in the room.

My girlboss just straight up Thunderdome-ing it with Rex here. I love that she's so physically tough and brutal. <3

Lyste still would have gotten in trouble for stunning Pryce here, just saying. That bit of idiocy is all on him.

Awww a snippet of the "Shenanigans" cue!

Like I said, Lyste is kind of pitiable here. I wonder if they ever let him go, at least for the "treasonous spy" thing.

Kallus you're playing it up just a little too much here, my love.

Gods, it's just instantaneous, all he has to do is look at the helmet for a second and he recognizes, "That's Sabine Wren's work."

And then immediately draws the line from "Sabine Wren painted this helmet." to "Clearly it was done for Ezra Bridger to wear."????

See, even Thrawn can tell how close they are and how important they are to each other. He must have noticed from, idk, security holos or something that Ezra likes to wear things that Sabine's painted for him.

Thrawn sounds really smug here, I think he'd long suspected Kallus for Fulcrum and is gleeful at being right.

He's such an arrogant prick. "That's why you've been deceived." oh shut up you pompous ass just because you're super smart doesn't mean you need to be condescending about it.

And the "Thrawn's Web" organs to close us out. Nice.

*points inarticulately*

This episode! Many much good! Stress! Espionage! Cat and mouse mind games! Ezra peril! Did I mention the stress?

Hhhhhnnnnnghhh I love this one so much, it's my favorite of the season, just barely eeking out "Twin Suns".

It's all hits from here, baby. (Maybe? I don't actually remember "Double Agent Droid" that well I don't rewatch it often. We'll see.)

#star wars #star wars rebels #ezra bridger #agent kallus #grand admiral thrawn #rebels rewatch #liveblog #cute boys in peril

30 notes · View notes