Review: Star Wars Rebels – “Shroud of Darkness”

The Inquisitors are back and they are badder than ever. As Kanan and Ezra search for a secret base for the rebels, they keep getting thwarted by The Fifth Brother and The Seventh Sister. The two rebels only manage to get away because Ezra, once again, uses his Force powers to call some winged creatures to help them. Chopper picks them up in The Ghost and they head off to have a talk with Ahsoka. Realizing that they are a liability to their friends, Kanan insists on having the meeting away from the fleet.

Aboard the Phantom, Ahsoka is watching a hologram of Anakin Skywalker teaching lightsaber moves. Ezra finds her and she tells him about Anakin, including the part about him being her teacher. When she hears about the Inquisitors, she notes that Anakin used to turn to the wisdom of the Jedi. Kanan has an idea. They should go back to the Jedi temple on Lothal to attempt to talk to Yoda again.

When they arrive on Lothal, Ahsoka finds out it is Ezra’s home. Ezra finds out that Ahsoka left the Jedi order. Since she is unable to help open the temple, the job is left to Kanan and Ezra. They open the temple to an entirely new area. A new problem, a new door. The trio heads inside, leaving Chopper with The Ghost to stand guard.

Together, the three Force users begin to meditate. Almost immediately, a door appears for Kanan, which he enters. He is greeted by a temple guard, who he battles. The guard turns out to be The Grand Inquisitor. The Inquisitor tells Kanan that the evil forces have come for them and he cannot protect everyone. Eventually, Kanan gives in. It is only then that he becomes a Knight of the Jedi Order.

Meanwhile, Ezra is transported to an empty space. Master Yoda appears to him. They also have a conversation about fighting and whether that is the Jedi way. Yoda tells Ezra the story of the Clone Wars and the Jedi Order’s arrogance. Suddenly, the temple begins to shake. The Fifth Brother and The Seventh Sister has come to Lothal for them. Yoda tells Ezra to find Malachor. Ezra assumes this is a person but Ahsoka later tells him that it is a place.

Finally, Ahsoka. While she meditates, she hears Anakin’s voice. He asks her why she abandoned him. Anakin asks her if she knows what he has become and he transforms into Darth Vader. Ahsoka spins, ready to fight with her lightsabers in hand. But the vision has disappeared. Now the two Inquisitors are outside attacking the temple, trying to get in.

As the Inquisitors enter the main chamber, they are met by the temple guards. The guards attack them so Ezra, Kanan, and Ahsoka can escape. On her way outside, Ahsoka sees Yoda, who waves to her. The three exit the temple, where Chopper picks them up in the Ghost. Shortly after they leave, we see Vader and his Stormtroopers enter the temple. The Inquisitors tell him about the Jedi’s growing powers but Vader is not worried. He knows that will be their undoing.

There was a lot of information in this episode. Kanan and Ezra learning that fighting isn’t always the way. Ahsoka finally admitting to herself that Anakin is Vader. Yoda telling Ahsoka, in his own way, that she is not unwelcome. While it was a little sad not having Sabine or Zeb (or even Hera, really) in the episode, it is much more interesting to see Ezra’s powers grow and the cooperation between Ezra and Kanan. If they can keep each other from turning to the Dark Side, they will be a force to be reckoned with.