Sure, this was another fighting episode, but I’m here for it. We haven’t had one that’s entirely action-centric since episode 3, so this was a long time coming. It’ll likely work as a good bridge from Part 6 to the show’s season finale.
Like episode 3, episode 7 was preceded by an emotionally heavy storyline. As such, it makes sense for us to return to our heroes’ ongoing fight for survival and victory. I’m not complaining about more lightsaber action. And these are all characters I’ve loved since the very first episode of Rebels.
Hera and her diplomatic immunity
In my review of the previous episode, I ended with my theories about what would happen to Hera. Since she openly ignored the New Republic and seemed to be breaking away from its structure, I assumed we’d see her on trial. Her allies would come to her defense, but things would still seem grim. Hera would then be faced with a choice – sacrifice precious time to try and convince the New Republic that she meant well, or break away from them entirely to aid Sabine and Ahsoka in their efforts.
However, the opening of episode 7 wraps up this entire plotline in a single scene. All of Hera’s aforementioned problems are washed away in under ten minutes. No lingering issues or conflicts remain.
I liked Threepio’s cameo and Leia’s support of Hera, as well as Hera and Mon’s allyship. But I still felt frustrated that such a major threat to Hera’s character and standing was corrected so neatly and quickly.
(Also, side note – so this is how Gideon got away with all his shit in The Mandalorian? The New Republic really thought he “acted on his own” and wiped out all of Mandalore? How does that even work? How incompetent are these senators??)
Ahsoka’s calm before the storm
Ahsoka listening to an old training holo of Anakin was beautifully heartfelt, not to mention another welcome Hayden Christensen cameo. Her quiet assurance to Huyang that Anakin “was a good master” gave that scene a lovely touch. I still feel like there’s more to explore with Anakin and Ahsoka’s dynamic beyond episode 5, but I’ll take what we’ve been given so far.
Speaking of master-apprentice dynamics, though, I wish we were given a better foundation of what to expect when it comes to Sabine and Ahsoka. If I’m not mistaken, the concept of the two of them locating each other through the Force hasn’t been brought up before this episode. This could’ve been a great plot point if it was established earlier on. We could’ve seen how Ahsoka and Sabine’s relationship became so fractured pre-Ahsoka that they can’t sense each other in the Force anymore, making their connection in this episode feel all the more poignant. Instead, it’s a plot device brought out of nowhere. But hey, it’s not a bad one.
These kids have grown so much
Sabine and Ezra’s reunion at the end of the last episode was wonderfully touching. But nothing compared to the two of them updating each other on their lives since Ezra’s disappearance. It’s still so painful to acknowledge that Ezra’s been gone for roughly twelve years… but at least he should be home soon.
And hey, Zeb finally got his first mention! (Took long enough, since he was one of the main characters of the show this show is a sequel of… but I digress.) I’ve been saying this every week, but I hope he shows up soon. I’m glad he’s been keeping busy in the years since we’ve seen him last. Not counting his cameo in The Mandalorian, of course.
It didn’t sound like Sabine mentioned Jacen to Ezra, though – and I’m thrilled about that. She better be saving Jacen as a surprise for when Ezra finally comes home. I can’t wait for him to realize that Kanan and Hera have a kid.
Ezra and Sabine talking together was great, but Ezra and Sabine fighting together was one of my favorite parts of the entire show so far. I absolutely adore Ezra’s growth He’s become a “wild Jedi” of sorts, training himself in the Force entirely on his own.
I also liked the confirmation that Ezra’s lightsaber is now officially Sabine’s. I had been wondering if it would be awkward for her to wield his old weapon, but Ezra having moved past the need for it is fantastic.
Great, these guys again
I started this episode thinking that both Baylan and Shin would be killed in it. After all, since Thrawn is the central villain, it would make sense for the Sith knock-offs to be taken care of for the sake of focusing on Thrawn in the finale. With the way everyone was separated, it seemed as if Ezra and Sabine would defeat Shin together, and Ahsoka would take down Baylan.
But, frustratingly, this wasn’t what happened. It’s fine that these two didn’t die yet; it would be a lot to have them both killed off within the same episode. And since it looks like we could be getting a second season of Ahsoka, they could hang around a while longer. (Well Shin could, at least, given that Ray Stevenson passed away after the filming of season 1.)
I found Ahsoka’s confrontation with Baylan to be disappointing. The music in that scene is good, but it doesn’t make up for the lack of plot. They sparred, Baylan survived unharmed, and Ahsoka escaped without injury. What was the point?
If I looked deeper, I suppose I could see the impact of Ahsoka choosing not to fight Baylan all the way. Maybe it’s because she knew this battle wasn’t important when Sabine and Ezra needed her, maybe it’s because she was taking Anakin’s advice and not engaging in a duel to the death. But neither of these possibilities was clear enough. Overall, this face-to-face just felt like padding for a filler action episode.
There was certainly more to appreciate in Ezra and Sabine’s encounter with Shin. Given that Sabine was nearly bested when she previously clashed with Shin, this was a chance for her to win a proper victory. And watching Sabine and Ezra fight together again was just so amazing. It was a throwback to Rebels while still being novel and unique. The two of them both maintain fragments of their old fighting styles, but you can see how they’ve changed. Ezra uses the Force itself as a weapon, moving and blocking like a true Jedi, and Sabine has both blasters and her lightsaber in her arsenal.
This episode made me want to rewatch episodes of Rebels with Ezra and Sabine just to marvel at how far they’ll come. It’s more than the bond they formed across the show; it’s the unity they developed from so long at the other’s side.
However, when it comes to their opponent, it still feels like Shin hasn’t developed as a character or enemy. What has she lost in losing this most recent battle? Has she given up on her goal altogether? Does she have a new course of action? Baylan seemed to imply that they were going their separate ways, so will she not be seeing him again? Is she truly on her own now?
That last possibility could be interesting. If Shin is left without a master, friend, or leader, where will she go? What will she do? What would she be fighting for? This could actually be a path that’ll give her proper development. We’ll see if that’ll be the case.
The end approaches
While this episode was certainly action-heavy, it’s the kind of action I enjoy. There’s nothing to be gained from a fight scene where you have no emotional investment in the players. Ezra and Sabine together once more was exactly what I wanted. With Ahsoka aiding them, there’s no force they won’t be able to conquer.
Ahsoka’s reunion with Ezra was the sweetest part of the episode. It’s more than the hug; it’s the way she cupped his face and laughed at how much he’s grown. I’ve eagerly anticipated this moment since The World Between Worlds back in Rebels, and it did not disappoint. It just made me wistful that Kanan never got to see Ezra grow up. Oh, but Hera still hasn’t had her connection with Ezra yet. That’ll surely be lovely.
What comes next?
Before this episode, I was under the impression that Ahsoka would be a miniseries, like Obi-Wan Kenobi, and consist of only one season. But I’m doubting that now. With Thrawn’s arrival, Ahsoka and Sabine’s driving forces have been multiplied: now instead of just saving Ezra, they also have to defeat a threat greater than any they’ve faced in years. There’s no chance of Thrawn being taken down in the finale episode, meaning his presence will continue past season 1 of Ahsoka – and, as such, so must the presence of the Ghost crew.
At its core, Ahsoka is a sequel to Rebels. And with that in mind, there are still plot threads from the latter that we’ve yet to see play out. Disappointing as it is, we may never get a Force Ghost Kanan, and that’s fine. But Zeb was one of the main characters of Rebels, so we should be seeing him soon. And Ezra still doesn’t know about Jacen, so that’s another bond – like Ezra and Hera – that we can expect from the Ahsoka finale.
Only one week to go. We’ve almost reached the end of this leg of the journey – let’s hope we’re given a strong note to close on.
For the penultimate time, here are my live episode notes!
