Category: Rebels

Stinging from the losses incurred by Darth Vader’s attack at Lothal, the Rebel cell including the Ghost and the remnants of Phoenix Squadron limps into hiding, hoping to find a base. Ahsoka sends Kanan, Ezra and the Ghost crew to the outer rim desert planet Seelos to track down a “great military commander” she once knew, who may be able to help the Rebellion. What Kanan and Ezra find there is a leftover AT-TE “walking tank” from the Clone Wars, manned by aged Clone Troopers who want nothing to do with either the Empire or the Rebellion. Kanan, reminded of the horrors of Order 66, doesn’t trust them anyway, but Ezra tries to find middle ground between the two groups. But one of the Clones still feels loyalty toward the Empire, and has sent word that the Rebels are there.

written by Matt Michnovetz
directed by Dave Filoni and Sergio Paez
music by Kevin Kiner
based on original themes and music by John Williams

Cast: Taylor Gray (Ezra Bridger), Freddie Prinze Jr. (Kanan Jarrus), Vanessa Marshall (Hera), Tiya Sircar (Sabine), Steven Blum (Zeb / Imperial Officer / Tactical Droid Head), Dee Bradley Baker (CC-3636 / CC-5576-39 / CT-7567 / Kassius Konstantine) David Oyelowo (Agent Kallus), Ashley Eckstein (Ahsoka Tano), Keone Young (Commander Sato)

Notes: Commander Rex was a mainstay of the Clone Wars animated series, appearing in a great many episodes throughout the show’s run as the Clone Trooper Commander assigned to Anakin Skywalker. (Dee Bradley Baker provided the Clone Troopers’ voices in that series too.) Rex says that he and his surviving comrades discovered and removed their control chips before Order 66 was issued, and did not turn against their Jedi compatriots. But this also made them likely targets of the newly formed Empire, hence the Clones’ dropping out of sight on Seelos. The Clone Wars ended 15 years prior to this episode, and Kanan says that Ezra wasn’t born yet, so Ezra was probably 12 or 13 years old when he joined the Ghost‘s crew. The Lost Commanders is part one of a two-part story further tying Rebels in to the Clone Wars animated series.

LogBook entry by Earl Green

Stranded on Seelos while Sabine repairs the Phantom and Hera repairs the Ghost, Kanan is uneasily forced to ally his group with the retired Clone Troopers. The Empire is already on its way to deal with both the rebels and the clones, who have nothing more than the weapons and vehicles on Seelos to protect themselves. Commander Rex is happy to be fighting alongside a Jedi again; getting Kanan to trust him may be as big a battle as the looming fight with Imperial walkers.

written by Steven Melching
directed by Bosco Ng
music by Kevin Kiner
based on original themes and music by John Williams

Cast: Taylor Gray (Ezra Bridger), Freddie Prinze Jr. (Kanan Jarrus / Stormtrooper 1), Vanessa Marshall (Hera), Tiya Sircar (Sabine), Steven Blum (Zeb / Technician 1 / Technician 2), Dee Bradley Baker (Admiral Konstantine / Clone Troopers), David Oyelowo (Agent Kallus), Ashley Eckstein (Ahsoka Tano), Dave Filoni (AT-AT Pilot), Philip Anthony-Rodriguez (Fifth Brother)

LogBook entry by Earl Green

Tired of the verbal sniping between Kanan and Captain Rex, Ezra takes it upon himself to tag along with Sabine, Zeb and Chopper on a mission to an abandoned Republic base from the Clone Wars, hoping to find unused medical supplies. But there is someone already waiting for them there: two Inquisitors, each skilled in the dark side of the Force, and neither of them working together.

written by Kevin Hopps
directed by Brad Rau
music by Kevin Kiner
based on original themes and music by John Williams

Cast: Taylor Gray (Ezra Bridger), Freddie Prinze Jr. (Kanan Jarrus), Vanessa Marshall (Hera), Tiya Sircar (Sabine), Steven Blum (Zeb / Imperial Technician 1), Dee Bradley Baker (Admiral Konstantine / Rex), David Oyelowo (Agent Kallus), Philip Anthony-Rodriguez (Fifth Brother), Sarah Michelle Gellar (Seventh Sister)

Notes: Sarah Michelle Gellar starred as Buffy Summers throughout the wildly popular ’90s TV series Buffy The Vampire Slayer, and is married to Rebels regular Freddie Prinze Jr., the voice of Kanan Jarrus. This is the first hint that the Inquisitor previously defeated by Kanan was the Grand Inquisitor.

LogBook entry by Earl Green

Feeling overburdened by his constant duties, whether it’s Jedi training with Kanan, sharpshooting lessons with Rex, or cleaning the Ghost, Ezra yearns for the days when he was on his own. When he hears a distress signal from the ship belonging to Lothal trader boss Vizago – to whom he owes a favor – Ezra takes the Phantom (and Chopper) to go help, alone. But Vizago’s ship is no longer commanded by Vizago, and Ezra has to think fast, adopting the alias of Lando Calrissian for good measure. But when he has a chance to procure just what the Rebellion needs, and finds himself up against an old enemy, Ezra yearns for the days when he had backup.

written by Bill Wolkoff
directed by Saul Ruiz
music by Kevin Kiner
based on original themes and music by John Williams

Cast: Taylor Gray (Ezra Bridger), Freddie Prinze Jr. (Kanan Jarrus), Vanessa Marshall (Hera), Tiya Sircar (Sabine), James Hong (Azmorigan), Keith Szarabajka (Cikatro Vizago), Keone Young (Commander Sato), Jim Cummings (Hondo Ohnaka), Dee Bradley Baker (Rex / Imperial Technician)

Notes: Series regular voice artist Steve Blum does not have a role in this episode. Azmorigan was last seen in season 1’s Idiot’s Array.

LogBook entry by Earl Green

The reconstituted Phoenix Squadron attempts to run an Imperial blockade to take much-needed food and supplies to an isolated Rebel enclave, only to be forced into retreat. Hera is sent to follow up on rumors of a legendary engineer who has built a fighter better and faster than anything in the Imperial fleet. The rumor turns out to be true, but the prototype B-Wing still needs work…and the work to bring it up to speed must be done fast, because the blockaded Rebel planet still needs help.

written by Steven Melching
directed by Dave Filoni and Sergio Paez
music by Kevin Kiner
based on original themes and music by John Williams

Cast: Taylor Gray (Ezra Bridger), Freddie Prinze Jr. (Kanan Jarrus), Vanessa Marshall (Hera), Tiya Sircar (Sabine), Steve Blum (Zeb / Phoenix Leader / Blockade Runner Captain), David Oyelowo (Agent Kallus), Keone Young (Commander Sato), Dave Filoni (Phoenix 2), Dee Bradley Baker (Rex / Phoenix 3), Corey Burton (Quarrie / Eesh Fahm / Imperial Officer)

Notes: This is the origin story of the B-Wing fighter seen in Return Of The Jedi, though its focused-energy weapon seen here is nowhere in evidence in that movie, probably relegated only to luxury models with a sunroof and a decent sound system.

LogBook entry by Earl Green

Sabine is sent on a mission to find an undercover Rebel courier carrying much-needed information, with Ezra and Chopper as backup, though they’re all surprised to find that the courier is a lowly power droid – and it already has a Black Sun bounty hunter on its trail. But this bounty hunter, Ketsu, knows Sabine…because Sabine was once a fellow bounty hunter. Now Sabine must fight her old friend in order to get the droid offworld, but if there’s one thing Sabine knows about Ketsu, it’s that she isn’t easy to lose – and she doesn’t give up.

written by Kevin Hopps
directed by Bosco Ng
music by Kevin Kiner
based on original themes and music by John Williams

Cast: Taylor Gray (Ezra Bridger), Vanessa Marshall (Hera), Tiya Sircar (Sabine), Steve Blum (EG-86 Gonk Droid / Dispatch / Imperial Technician), Stephen Stanton (Imperial Officer / Pilot Droid / Stormtrooper 1), Gina Torres (Ketsu Onyo), Dave Filoni (Rodian / Stormtrooper 2)

Notes: Freddie Prinze Jr. (Kanan) does not appear in this episode, and while series regular Steve Blum does, Zeb does not. Gina Torres is best known to genre fans as Zoe Washburne from Firefly, and before that co-starred in Cleopatra 2525. R2-D2 makes an appearance at the end of this episode. The Black Sun crime syndicate is a rare callback to the pre-Disney “Legends” expanded universe, and figured heavily in such ’90s fiction as Shadows Of The Empire.

LogBook entry by Earl Green

Ezra temporarily joins the crew of a Rebel blockade runner looking for a missing ship. Something yanks the ship out of hyperspace: a Star Destroyer of an unusual design. Their captors are testing a new gravity weapon that could give the Empire complete domination of the spacelanes. Kaanan, Rex and Chopper are sent – in stolen stormtrooper armor and a stolen Imperial shuttle – to board the ship incognito and mount a rescue. It turns out that Ezra has used the Force to escape his cell without help…and now the biggest danger aside from the Empire is that fact that Kaanan and Rex can’t agree on an escape plan, or much of anything.

written by Matt Michnovetz
directed by Brad Rau
music by Kevin Kiner
based on original themes and music by John Williams

Cast: Taylor Gray (Ezra Bridger), Freddie Prinze Jr. (Kanan Jarrus), Vanessa Marshall (Hera), Tiya Sircar (Sabine), Steve Blum (Zeb Orrelios / Imperial Officer #1 / Stormtrooper #2), Derek Partridge (Admiral Brom Titus), David Oyelwo (Agent Kallus), Keone Young (Commander Sato), Matthew Wood (Imperial Officer #2 / Imperial Weapons Technician #2 / Stormtrooper #1), Dave Filoni (Imperial Technician), Dee Bradley Baker (Rex / Rebel Pilot / Imperial Weapons Technician #1)

LogBook entry by Earl Green

Seemingly random Inquisitor raids on civilian transports strike fear into the galaxy. Ahsoka works out who the targets are: the Inquisitors are kidnapping infants who have latent Force abilities, perhaps hoping to train them as future Inquisitors. The Rebels set out to recover the kidnapped babies, finding the Inquisitors to be formidable foes.

written by Bill Wolkoff
directed by Saul Ruiz
music by Kevin Kiner
based on original themes and music by John Williams

Cast: Taylor Gray (Ezra Bridger), Freddie Prinze Jr. (Kanan Jarrus), Vanessa Marshall (Hera), Tiya Sircar (Sabine), Steve Blum (Zeb Orrelios / Freighter Pilot / Ithorian Driver #2), Ashley Eckstein (Ahsoka Tano), Grey Griffin (Darja / Oora), Philip Anthony-Rodriguez (Fifth Brother), Dee Bradley Baker (Pipey), Dave Filoni (Ithorian Driver #1), Sarah Michelle Gellar (Seventh Sister)

LogBook entry by Earl Green

After a powerful Force vision about his parents being alive, Ezra all but demands that the Ghost crew help him find them. Hera checks with her sources, and Ezra and Kanan check with the Force, coming up with two pieces of information: a prisoner breakout at an Imperial installation, and the Empire’s unusual withdrawal from Lothal. Ezra’s obsession with finding his parents almost puts him in the hands of the Inquisitors, and endangers the entire Rebel fleet during another operation. Returning to Lothal, Ezra continues on his reckless course, alarming Kanan since there is still an Imperial presence on the ground level even though the fleet has pulled away. But what exactly has the Force been leading Ezra to discover?

written by Henry Gilroy
directed by Mel Zwyer
music by Kevin Kiner
based on original themes and music by John Williams

Cast: Taylor Gray (Ezra Bridger), Freddie Prinze Jr. (Kanan Jarrus), Vanessa Marshall (Hera), Tiya Sircar (Sabine), Steve Blum (Zeb Orrelios / Imperial Technician), Dee Bradley Baker (Admiral Konstantine / Rex / Ephraim Bridger), David Owelyo (Agent Kallus), Keone Young (Commander Sato), Philip Anthony-Rodriguez (Fifth Brother / Rebel Trooper / Phoenix Squaron Pilot), Kath Soucie (Mira Bridger), Clancy Brown (Ryder Azadi), Sarah Michelle Gellar (Seventh Sister)

LogBook entry by Earl Green

Awaiting pickup by Hera aboard the Ghost, Kanan and Ezra catch up with Lothal’s former governor, Ryder Azadi, now a fugitive from the Empire, when a new wrinkle crops up in their escape plan: a Rebel convoy of three cruisers is being delivered to the Rebellion by way of Lothal, which is still patrolled by the Empire. Bringing the cruisers to Lothal is Princess Leia Organa, a member of Senator Bail Organa’s staff and a commanding presence, despite still being a teenager. But when the Empire locks down her three ships, Leia, Kanan and Ezra have to improvise fast.

written by Steven Melching
directed by Saul Ruiz
music by Bosco Ng
based on original themes and music by John Williams

Cast: Taylor Gray (Ezra Bridger), Freddie Prinze Jr. (Kanan Jarrus / AT-AT Driver #3), Vanessa Marshall (Hera), Tiya Sircar (Sabine), Steve Blum (Zeb Orrelios / AT-AT Driver #2 / Stormtrooper Commander / Stormtrooper Deck Officer), Dave Filoni (AT-AT Driver / Stormtrooper / Stormtrooper Commander), Liam O’Brien (Lt. Lysle / Stormtrooper Squad Leader), Julie Dolan (Princess Leia Organa), Matthew Wood (Rebel Pilot), Clancy Brown (Ryder Azadi / Imperial Officer / Stormtrooper #2)

LogBook entry by Earl Green

As the Empire’s hold on shipping and supply lanes grows tighter, the Rebellion is forced to try to make new pacts with allies. This brings Hera and Phoenix Squadron to the war-torn Mandalorian world of Concord Dawn, whose leader, the outlaw Fenn Rau, might be receptive to an alliance. But Hera discovers too late, and at the cost of half of Phoenix Squadron, that that Fenn Rau has declared his allegiance to the Empire. Sabine is the only pilot other than Hera to survive, and Hera herself barely survives. Kanan decides to go back to Condord Dawn to engage in more aggressive negotiations with Rau, but Sabine may have other ideas…such as declaring a Mandalorian blood feud.

written by Henry Gilroy & Kevin Hopps
directed by Brad Rau
music by Kevin Kiner
based on original themes and music by John Williams

Cast: Taylor Gray (Ezra Bridger), Freddie Prinze Jr. (Kanan Jarrus), Vanessa Marshall (Hera / Phoenix Four / 2-1B Surgical Droid), Tiya Sircar (Sabine), Steve Blum (Zeb / Phoenix Two / Wingman #1), Keone Young (commander Sato), Kevin McKidd (Fenn Rau), Dave Filoni (Phoenix Three), Dee Bradley Baker (Rex / Imperial Officer / Wingman #2)

LogBook entry by Earl Green

Ezra learns from Hondo, a somewhat unreliable source, that some of the last living Lasat refugees are about to be taken into the custody of the Empire. Zeb is relieved at first to see fellow Lasat, but then becomes frustrated when they seem intent on allowing ancient prophecies decide where they will settle. Worse yet, they insist that Zeb is part of those prophecies. How can he take part in them when he doesn’t believe them?

written by Matt Michnovetz
directed by Saul Ruiz
music by Kevin Kiner
based on original themes and music by John Williams

Cast: Taylor Gray (Ezra Bridger), Freddie Prinze Jr. (Kanan Jarrus), Vanessa Marshall (Hera), Tiya Sircar (Sabine), Steve Blum (Zeb Orrelios / Imperial Officer #1), Dee Bradley Baker (Admiral Konstantine), David Oyelowo (Agent Kallus), Grey Griffin (Chava), Gary Anthony Williams (Gron / Stormtrooper #2 / Stormtrooper Commander #1), Jim Cummings (Hondo Ohnaka), Dave Filoni (Stormtrooper #1 / Stormtrooper Commander #2)

LogBook entry by Earl Green

Hera, Kanan and the others are running low on fuel as they prepare to raid a mining guild platform based in an asteroid field – a much-needed supply of fuel for both the Ghost and the Rebel fleet, and intercepting its latest fuel shipment would also prevent that fuel from being used by the Empire. But a swarm of whale-like space creatures gets in the way…until Ezra points out that they’re heading for the asteroid where the mining platform is. The creatures need the unrefined gas that is used to make starship fuel, so destroying the entire asteroid and igniting the gas is no longer part of the plan, much to Hera’s frustration. Can they really bet everything on Ezra’s Force connection to these creatures?

written by Bill Wolkoff
directed by Mel Zwyer
music by Kevin Kiner
based on original themes and music by John Williams

Cast: Taylor Gray (Ezra Bridger), Freddie Prinze Jr. (Kanan Jarrus), Vanessa Marshall (Hera), Tiya Sircar (Sabine), Steve Blum (Zeb Orrelios), Fred Tatasciore (Boss Yushyn / Mining Guild Guard), Dave Filoni (Mining Guild Guard #2)

LogBook entry by Earl Green

After Phoenix Squadron is reduced to half strength in a high-risk raid to move cargo to other ships in the Rebel fleet, Commander Sato tasks the Ghost crew with a challenging assignment: find a base of operations which can provide Phoenix Squadron with shelter. One promising target is a massive Imperial carrier ship which holds station over Hera’s home planet of Ryloth. Hera contacts her father, Clone War hero Cham Syndulla, and tries to mend fences with him. Tiring of Imperial control over Ryloth, Cham wants to destroy the ever-present carrier rather than commandeering it… and he’s willing to betray his own daughter to make sure his plan is the one that’s carried out.

written by Steven Melching
directed by Bosco Ng
music by Kevin Kiner
based on original themes and music by John Williams

Cast: Taylor Gray (Ezra Bridger), Freddie Prinze Jr. (Kanan Jarrus), Vanessa Marshall (Hera), Tiya Sircar (Sabine), Steve Blum (Zeb Orrelios / Imperial Officer / Stormtrooper Commander), Corey Burton (Carrier Captain / Phoenix Three / Imperial Officer #3 / Gobi Glie), Robin Atkin Downes (Cham Syndulla / Rebel Captain / Imperial Officer #2), Keone Young (Commander Sato), Catherine Taber (Numa / Phoenix Two), Dave Filoni (Phoenix One / Stormtrooper Deck Officer)

Notes: Cham Syndulla was indeed a hero of the Clone Wars, appearing in two episodes of that series, season one’s Liberty On Ryloth and season three’s Supply Lines. Robin Atkin Downes, who voiced the character in his Clone Wars appearances, played the part of rogue telepath Byron in the fifth season of Babylon 5.

LogBook entry by Earl Green

Captain Rex leads the Ghost crew to the planet Geonosis, whose Separatist insect inhabitants were lured into sparking the Clone Wars, which led directly to the Republic’s transformation into the Empire. Believing that there is still a significant stockpile of Imperial material there that would be put to better use by the Rebellion, Kanan and the other rebels find themselves fighting their way out of a trap. The destruction of an Imperial orbital platform forces Zeb and Agent Kallus, the tireless pursuer of the Ghost and its crew, to share an escape pod which crashes on an icy moon of Geonosis, breaking Kallus’ leg. The two bitter enemies must set aside their differences to survive even a single night there.

written by Kevin Hopps
directed by Brad Rau
music by Kevin Kiner
based on original themes and music by John Williams

Cast: Taylor Gray (Ezra Bridger), Freddie Prinze Jr. (Kanan Jarrus), Vanessa Marshall (Hera), Tiya Sircar (Sabine), Steve Blum (Zeb Orrelios), Dee Bradley Baker (Admiral Konstantine / Rex), David Oyelowo (Agent Kallus)

Notes: The episode’s title is a play on the title of its inspiration, the 1958 movie The Defiant Ones, whose plot of two bitter enemies forced to depend on each other to survive has all but become a movie and film trope of its own.

LogBook entry by Earl Green