by Matt Sernaker, Managing Editor
The Old Republic has fallen. The Jedi Order has been eliminated. The evil Empire reigns supreme over a galaxy far, far away.
Taking place five years before the events of the original Star Wars Trilogy, Star Wars Rebels: The Complete First Season is ready to expand the Star Wars Universe in some new and exciting ways. The previous animated series, Star Wars: The Clone Wars left some pretty big shoes to fill in terms of animation, epic storytelling, and fan expectations. How does this series hold up against its predecessors?
Episode Highlights
“Spark of Rebellion”- A small group of Rebels have taken it upon themselves to fight off the Empire, and they are gonna need all the help they can get. The crew of the starship Ghost is comprised of Pilot Hera Syndulla (Vanessa Marshall – The Spectacular Spider-Man), a droid named Chopper, Zeb “The Muscle” Orrelios (Steve Blum, Transformers: Prime), a mysterious man named Kanan Jarrus (Freddie Prinze Jr, 24.), and the Mandalorian Sabine Wren (Tiya Sircar, Witches of East End). During a heist on an Empire controlled planet, the Rebels encounter a young con artist named Ezra Bridger (Taylor Gray. Bucket and Skinner’s Epic Adventures), who has some very special talents that will come into play as the series progresses. With the Empire on their trail, the Rebels must evade capture, save some old friends from the Clone Wars, and figure out what to do with their newest traveling companion. The pilot film manages to fit in perfectly with the Star Wars Universe that we have come to know and love, and take the overall story in a fun new direction.
“Droids in Distress” – These ARE the droids that you are looking for! C-3PO and R2-D2 make their Rebels debut. With a little help from the crew of the Ghost, the droids attempt to stop a shipment of illegal weapons from making it into the hands of the Empire. This episode also reveals the backstory of Zeb and the fate of his entire race!
“Rise of the Old Masters” – When the Rebels discover that Jedi Master Luminara Unduli is alive and being held captive by the Empire, a last ditch rescue effort is launched. Can Kanan save Unduli so that she can properly train Ezra in the ways of The Force?
“Empire Day”/”Gathering Forces” – Ezra returns home on Empire Day. The secret about his missing parents will soon be revealed, as his long-lost friend Tseebo returns. What role does the Bridger Family play in the Rebellion? This episode also reveals Ezra first encounter with the Dark Side of The Force.
“Fire Across the Galaxy” – With Kanan being held captive by the Inquisitor, Ezra and the gang launch a rescue attempt for their Jedi associate. Not everyone will make it out of this one alive, as the final battle with the Inquisitor draws near. One shall stand, and one shall fall. This episode also reveals the secret identity of Fulcrum, which will prove to be a game changer for the upcoming season. Don’t miss the final moments of this episode!
The Gang’s All Here
With the stellar casting of veteran voice actors Vanessa Marshall, Steve Blum, and Freddie Prinze Jr, and the creative team of Simon Kinberg (X-Men: Days of Future Past), Greg Weisman (Young Justice, The Spectacular Spider-Man), and Dave Filoni (Avatar: The Last Airbender), it is no surprise that the show is off to an amazing start. The clear standout character in the series is Kanan, and it will be extremely interesting to learn more about his mysterious past after the events of Revenge of the Sith.
In terms of animation, the series is a mixture of Star Wars: The Clone Wars and Green Lantern: The Animated Series. There is a heavy focus on spectacular backgrounds and vivid imagery. For the most part, the character designs are sleek and flawless.
Special Features
- Rebels Infiltrates Star Wars Celebration (Exclusive to Blu-ray)
- Season Oneshorts: “The Machine in the Ghost,” “Art Attack,” “Entanglement,” “Property of Ezra Bridger”
- Rebels Recon: 14 behind-the-scenes featurettes
- Star Wars Rebels– The Ultimate Guide
- Star Wars Rebels Season 2– A Look Ahead
Overall
In a very short amount of time, the writers of the series have managed to introduce you to a brand new cast of Star Wars characters, and more importantly, have given you enough reason to care about their story. The dynamics of all of the characters on the Ghost make for entertaining television, and we are definitely ready for more quality time with Hera, Zeb, Ezra, Sabine, and Chopper as well.
Rating: 
ComicsOnline gives Star Wars Rebels: The Complete First Season 5 out of 5 Star Wars stories that we didn’t know we needed, but can’t wait to see!
Grab your lightsaber and head out to stop the evil Empire with ComicsOnline.com, and be sure to check back to our site for more Star Wars Rebels interviews, news, reviews, and everything geek pop culture!
