Review: Star Wars Rebels “In the Name of the Rebellion”

Can I super-size that kyber crystal?

Overview (Spoilers Below):

Well, the final season of Rebels is wasting no time, throwing us straight into a three-way clash between the Empire, the budding Rebellion, and Saw Gerrera’s own version of proper Rebellion.

After the events of last season’s finale, Ezra is understandably concerned about getting aid to Lothal. Mon Mothma tries to explain why Lothal can no longer be their first priority. As the leader of the Rebellion, she has to look at the bigger picture. But this method of operating a resistance has its naysayers: Saw Gerrera, mainly. When the crew is tasked with infiltrating the Empire’s new communications device, Ezra, Sabine, and even Hera wonder why they don’t simply destroy it. Only Kanan, in his role as wise Jedi mentor, can see the error in taking the low road. Thanks to some bad luck (and Ezra being Ezra), the plan backfires. Just when things are starting to look grim for our heroes, who would appear but Saw Gerrera himself, the rebel of the Rebellion.

In part two, Sabine and Ezra repay Saw for their rescue by helping him infiltrate a cargo ship with a mysterious load. Not only are there prisoners on board (captured for their engineering know-how), but there’s a massive kyber crystal. While Ezra and Sabine’s first thoughts are getting the prisoners to safety, Saw is determined to wait it out and see what the Empire is up to. When the two Rebels disagree, he shoots and stuns them. Finding nothing at the ship’s destination but a star cruiser, he decides to turn the crystal into a bomb (how did he know it wouldn’t explode immediately?) and escapes without Sabine, Ezra, or the innocent captives. Stealing the commander’s shuttle, Sabine smartly puts the cruiser between them and the kyber bomb. It explodes in a blindingly big blast, rendering their transportation useless. The two-parter ends with the Ghost swooping in their aid. The Rebellion may have won today, but the Empire has something sinister up its sleeve, and Saw Gerrera will stop at nothing until he uncovers the purpose of the kyber crystal.

Our Take:

In The Name Of The Rebellion is a strong follow-up to the premiere, building on its themes of fighting the ever-growing Imperial forces despite a huge disadvantage in size, weapons, and information. But the Rebels have something the Empire doesn’t: passion. They’re fighting for their friends, their freedom, and their lives.

The show does a good job showing how Saw’s huge hatred of the Empire clouds his vision when it comes to the smaller picture. Perhaps he has more in common with Mon Mothma than either of them would like to admit. They’re both focused on larger matters, while Ezra still retains his commitment to saving even the least important of innocent lives. If these episodes stumbled, it was probably in their handling of Ezra’s attempts at comedy relief. He had some genuinely funny moments in the season premiere, but his prank call in the midst of a vital mission feels like it belongs back in season one.