Star Wars Rebels "Rise of the Old Masters" S01E03

***Each review is built on the assumption that you have some base knowledge on the show's character's. If you don't and would like to know click the spoiler below***

---

The Story:
We start off the show seeing Kanan teaching Ezra how to be a Jedi on top of the Ghost. Ezra is struggling to do a handstand, reminiscent of that which Luke does in Star Wars Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back. Similarly, Kanan quotes Master Yoda on a popular phrase he told Luke, that he also apparently taught the younglings in the Jedi Temple as well, saying "Do or do not, there is no try". There is then a light hearted poke at the phrase with Kanan remarking how he never understood the phrase as you "How can you not do something if you don't try first?" It becomes a small theme for the episode  to know the understanding of the phrase to help Kanan and Ezra teach each other.

Soon into the training, Zeb and Chopper attempt to "help" Ezra, by throwing what look like cartons of blue milk at Ezra for him to deflect with his lightsaber. They soon go overboard with it and accidentally knock Ezra off the top of the ship. Cue intro. Kanan then force grips Ezra after he's fallen about 300 feet and gets him back onto the Ghost (seriously, why didn't Vader do that to Luke in Empire?)



After the training, the Ghost crew intercept broadcast from the Holonet, saying the Luminara Unduli has been capture alive by the Imperials and is currently waiting trial. Naturally, the Ghost crew embark on a rescue mission. Kanan mentions when they rescue her, she will become Ezra's new Master. Ezra feels hurt thinking Kanan doesn't want to train him anymore. They make their way to the prison where Luminara is being held and enter via a weak point in their defense, while throwing four Stormtroopers to their deaths in the process. Hera stays on board the Phantom (smaller ship inside the Ghost used for quick drop offs and escapes) and waits for the others to return. Of course though, she encounter's some problems as the jammer they are broadcasting on happens to be on the same frequency as a native species. It just so happens to be a mating call as well, so the species start rubbing their bodies all over the Phantom.



The rest of the Ghost crew make their way into the facility. Sabine and Zeb guard  the escape route while Kanan and Ezra go to rescue Luminara. Once they get to Luminara's cell, they find only a hologram of right before she was executed. The hologram backs up into a container that has a frozen-mummified corpse of Luminara's body. They turn around now to see the Inquisitor in the door way. The Inquisitor mentions that they've been using Luminara's body as a lure for Jedi to their deaths. A battle ensues, but Kanan having not completed his Jedi training (he was like 15 when the order fell) is no match up against the Inquisitor. The inquisitor remarks that he recognizes his lightsaber style (Lighsaber forms are canon again, yay!) and know's of his former Master, Depa Billaba.



The Inquisitor toys with Kanan throughout the whole battle, trying to analyze him. After he over powers Kanan, he attempts lure Ezra to the dark side. When Ezra refuses, The Inquisitor goes in for the kill, but is stopped by Kanan's pretty powerful force grip. The two manage to run away, while the Inquisitor pursues after them. They meet up with Sabine and Zeb and high tail it out of there. However, a squad of Stormtroopers is waiting for them at the landing pad.With the Inquisitor right behind them, they seem royally screwed. That is until Hera shows up with an army full of horny bat things. The Stormtroopers being Stormtroopers, they shoot at the bat things and piss them off. The bats start attacking the Stormtroopers, giving the Ghost crew time to escape before The Inquisitor gets to them. The episode ends with Kanan and Ezra back on Lothal, talking about the issue Ezra had with Kanan wanting Luminara to be his Master. They make up with each other and Kanan and Ezra continue their training. Kind of resembles a boy and his dad playing catch.

---

Score:
9/10
The best episode of the season by far. It definitely implicates lots of dark themes in it, and shows how sadistic the Empire is, while still keeping it family friendly. Should give those fans who's mindset is "Star Wars needs to be dark, not a show for kids" enough to be contempt with until the 1 hour special later in the season. There were some goofy moments, but they felt appropriately placed to help balance things out with the dark implications of the episode. If you want to get a friend into watching this show who has doubts about it, this is the episode to introduce them with. My only complaint is it felt slightly rushed. I think I would have enjoyed this much more as a two part story arc.

I'd be more on board with the show if they at least made the Stormtroopers competent and dangerous.

I've been rooting for them since I first saw Star Wars, at least let them win sometime. Maybe as the series progresses, and the Rebellion gains a militia of sorts, we'll have a bunch of expendables for the Stormtroopers to kill.

I decided to check this out and It's much better than I thought it would be, so far it and what I've seen of the clone wars tv show are far better than any of the prequel films.

I may be a Star Wars fan yet.