Star Wars: Rebels

[RogueIce]

Well, they would have been shooting into their own TIE Fighters, if you're talking about the second episode's opening. Which would seem rather counterproductive.

And hey, at least it was clear they were A) running, B) in trouble (Kanan couldn't get a shot) and C) failed their mission (not getting whatever the shipment was).

So hey, progress.

[applejack]

So, according to starwars.com, Vader is going to make a cameo on the rebroadcast of "Spark of Rebellion" on ABC on October 26.

STAR WARS REBELS // OCT 9, 2014

STAR WARS REBELS: SPARK OF REBELLION WITH A NEW SCENE FEATURING DARTH VADER COMING TO ABC

The critically-acclaimed epic adventure Star Wars Rebels: Spark of Rebellion will air on ABC on Sunday, October 26 (7:00 p.m. ET/PT). Executive producer Dave Filoni states, “We wanted to do something special for the ABC broadcast. We’ve added a scene which gives audiences insight into the Inquisitor and includes a cameo by Darth Vader voiced by the distinguished actor James Earl Jones.”

The television movie Star Wars Rebels: Spark of Rebellion delivered 6.5-million viewers in its premieres on Disney Channel and Disney XD around the world including the U.S. and 16 markets in Europe, Middle East and Africa and Canada. The Star Wars Rebels weekly series on Disney XD (Mondays 9:00 p.m. ET/PT), has been renewed for a second season.

Set between the events of Star Wars Episodes III and IV, the Star Wars Rebels story unfolds during a dark time when the evil Galactic Empire is tightening its grip of power on the galaxy. Imperial forces have occupied a remote planet and are ruining the lives of its people. The motley but clever crew of the starship Ghost – cowboy Jedi Kanan, ace pilot Hera, street-smart teenager Ezra, the “muscle” Zeb, warrior firebrand Sabine, and grumpy old astromech droid Chopper – will face threatening new villains, embark on thrilling adventures and become heroes with the power to ignite a rebellion.

The voice cast includes Freddie Prinze Jr. as Kanan, Vanessa Marshall as Hera, Steve Blum as Zeb, Tiya Sircar as Sabine, Taylor Gray as Ezra, David Oyelowo as Agent Kallus and Jason Isaacs as the Inquisitor.

“Star Wars Rebels” is created by Dave Filoni (“Star Wars: The Clone Wars”), Simon Kinberg (“X-Men: Days of Future Past,” “Sherlock Holmes”), and Carrie Beck. The Lucasfilm Animation production is also executive-produced by Filoni and Kinberg as well as Greg Weisman (“Gargoyles”).

Kinda sucks for those who already bought the DVD... Unless Disney doesn't plan on releasing the ABC version as a stand alone disc.

[Rogue 9]

They'd already released it on DVD?

[RogueIce]

According to Amazon, it's coming out on Tuesday.

[Rogue 9]

I find it really notable that the walkers apparently pack a much larger punch from their cannons than TIE fighters as depicted in the series so far.

[tezunegari]

Why did they have to turn Kallus into another psychotic imperial.

"I gave the order!" [to kill Zebs people] with a manic face?!

That somehow cheapened the character to me, if instead they had made him say those lines completely calm and dispassionate to get under Zebs skin...

What is it with these Stormtroopers?! They can't even hit a single humanoid that is about a meter away? Worse, these Troopers don't have the excuse of being ordered to miss on purpose. Add a scene at the end of the episode with Kallus where he states 'The sting op was successful. We traced the Rebels to their contact, and found a disloyal senate member."

[Rogue 9]

They named him Callous Kallus. What did you expect?

[Darksider]

So far the series is mostly stupid goofy shit for kids with the occasional moment of genuine quality. TCW started that way, then it got better as Filoni and co. worked the kinks out.

I wonder why they've reverted to something so childish and unsubtle?

[biostem]

I wonder why it's such a big deal that the ion blaster thingies were used on organics - no one seems to bat an eye about how many people are killed with regular blasters. Is it supposed to be that death by ion disruptor is horribly painful or something?

It was kind of fun to see Chopper *not* get along with R2.

But yeah - the extreme close range and horrible aim of Stormtroopers was dumb, to say the least.

The fact that the Ghosts's crew would blatantly let C3-P0 have free reign of the ship was also a huge oversight - "Here are 2 strange droids that were with an Imperial just a few hours ago, let's allow them to wander around freely" - I suppose they would have fitted them with restraining bolts eventually, if timing permitted...

[tezunegari]

They named him Callous Kallus. What did you expect?

cal·lous
adjective \ˈka-ləs\
: not feeling or showing any concern about the problems or suffering of other people

• 1
  • a : being hardened and thickened
  • b : having calluses <callous hands>
• 2
  • a : feeling no emotion
  • b : feeling or showing no sympathy for others : hard-hearted <a callous indifference to suffering>

A character that is actually callous, not psychotically revelling in killing people and gloating about it.

Killing the Lasat should have been a job done in the name of the Empire. Done, because it was necessary (by whatever reasoning he employs anyway).

Torture someone 'for the lulz'. No.
Torture someone because they know something about a possible rebel hideout or planned attack. Yes and without guilt.

Tarkin from ANH would be a callous character in my opinion.

The fact that the Ghosts's crew would blatantly let C3-P0 have free reign of the ship was also a huge oversight - "Here are 2 strange droids that were with an Imperial just a few hours ago, let's allow them to wander around freely" - I suppose they would have fitted them with restraining bolts eventually, if timing permitted...

Worse is that in one scene they use codenames "Spectre-One" to "Spectre-Six" while still in front of R2D2 and C3PO and in the very next Zeb calls Kanan by name... in front of the still un-bolted droids. R2 is even shown to listen in and recording it...

[biostem]

They named him Callous Kallus. What did you expect?

cal·lous
adjective \ˈka-ləs\
: not feeling or showing any concern about the problems or suffering of other people

• 1
  • a : being hardened and thickened
  • b : having calluses <callous hands>
• 2
  • a : feeling no emotion
  • b : feeling or showing no sympathy for others : hard-hearted <a callous indifference to suffering>

A character that is actually callous, not psychotically revelling in killing people and gloating about it.

Killing the Lasat should have been a job done in the name of the Empire. Done, because it was necessary (by whatever reasoning he employs anyway).

Torture someone 'for the lulz'. No.
Torture someone because they know something about a possible rebel hideout or planned attack. Yes and without guilt.

Tarkin from ANH would be a callous character in my opinion.

The fact that the Ghosts's crew would blatantly let C3-P0 have free reign of the ship was also a huge oversight - "Here are 2 strange droids that were with an Imperial just a few hours ago, let's allow them to wander around freely" - I suppose they would have fitted them with restraining bolts eventually, if timing permitted...

Worse is that in one scene they use codenames "Spectre-One" to "Spectre-Six" while still in front of R2D2 and C3PO and in the very next Zeb calls Kanan by name... in front of the still un-bolted droids. R2 is even shown to listen in and recording it...

Yeah... I would describe Kallus as more of a zealot than, well, callous.

As for the R2 thing - if they only kinda threw in a line or 2 where it was apparent that Chopper had basically convinced R2 to help them or that they were on the same side, and both kinda played C3-P0 and the whole situation to their mutual advantage, it would have been better.

It also bugged me that they basically sat there while the arms dealer just loaded up the weapons before paying them - I'd show him the crates, then ask for payment, and only then hand them over...

[Rogue 9]

The jarring thing is that it really broke what's been established of his character thus far. Until he whipped out that electrostaff and challenged Zeb, he'd basically come off as calculating and exactly what his name suggests. Admittedly there hasn't been a lot of character-building time yet, but his demeanor dealing with Ezra in the cell block didn't suggest that he was a psychopath - he didn't torture him, just told him that he was bait and left. I mean, he obviously didn't believe Ezra's claim that he didn't know anything and was playing mind games, but it looked like he was going for the long game on that front. Then he lands at Vizago's camp and goes bugfuck nuts for no really good reason - possessed of armored support and a platoon of stormtroopers, he goes for the huge personal risk of single combat with Zeb. I mean, I hope that they have some reason for it to be that personal for him, but so far it just looks nonsensical.

[FaxModem1]

Potentially, it could be that he's calm and collected while dealing with 'rebel scum', but for some reason, it's rather personal when dealing with Zeb's race. As it is clearly established that his race and Kallus have a history. Smart writing would be for Kallus to have lost his innocence, a loved one, mentor, or some other thing fighting them. However, I don't really have faith in that happening, so we'll just assume Kallus is an idiot.

[Darksider]

First seasons have issues with characterization sometimes. I'm just hoping the creative staff works out who they want Kallus to be and sticks to it.

[biostem]

Potentially, it could be that he's calm and collected while dealing with 'rebel scum', but for some reason, it's rather personal when dealing with Zeb's race. As it is clearly established that his race and Kallus have a history. Smart writing would be for Kallus to have lost his innocence, a loved one, mentor, or some other thing fighting them. However, I don't really have faith in that happening, so we'll just assume Kallus is an idiot.

If Kallus kicking that stormtrooper off the bridge for saying something snarky is any indication, maybe his main character fault is his losing his cool whenever someone "beneath him" sort of defies/resists/disrespects him. Either way, I do hope they develop that into more than just him being cool and calculating one minute, and a psychopath the next...

[Batman]

Well there goes 'Imperator' class SDs not being atmosphere capable.

[Mange]

Well there goes 'Imperator' class SDs not being atmosphere capable.

Well, the earlier canon (that's now labeled "Legends"), or more specifically The Force Unleashed, showed them to be able to enter the atmosphere of Earth-like planets.

[Thanas]

I miss the TCW characters. There, I said it. The characters in Rebels are so bad I actually miss characters like Asoka, Ventress, Anakin etc. They are all just so bland and forgettable. Heck, the best character this episode was the villain. UGH.

Other gripes:
- an Imperial minister travels without an escort and blabs about war crime stuff to total strangers?
- bratty kid is bratty. I hope he eats a blaster soon.
- troopers can't hit a guy from a feet away
- rebels suddenly have a ship that has no com security whatsoever
- episode felt rushed and badly edited

[The Romulan Republic]

To be fair, The Clone Wars started badly and got better. And I suspect some of those Clone Wars characters will appear in Rebels eventually.

[Thanas]

Clone wars had the best arc of its existence within the first eight episodes. I highly doubt the same is true for this shitshow.

[The Romulan Republic]

Which arc was that?

[Thanas]

The hunt for the super dreadnought the seperatists were building. Action-packed, greatly edited and very strong.

[The Romulan Republic]

That one didn't really appeal to me for some reason. It wasn't bad, but I thought the show did better later on.

I thought the one with Ventress breaking out a prisoner in season one (Cloak of Darkness?) was when the show started to really impress me.

[Thanas]

Yeah that was good too.

[Vance]

I think the unbelievable level of inaccuracy is supposed to offer up some comic relief. In the fruit-hunt episode stormtroopers literally leave a circle of blaster marks around where Zeb was on the wall, with a massive gaping untouched section where his body was...