Rebels: 2x16-17
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tori_reviewsStar Wars Rebels: 2x16 – The Honorable Ones
I’m not quite sure how to feel about that one. As an adult watching this, it’s a very familiar trope to me; and while it isn’t quite baby’s first ‘enemy mine’ story it’s a very kid friendly version of the trope.
I find myself a little torn between being super glad that I didn’t have to put up with Ezra in this one (and he was notably annoying in the brief scenes he did have), and reluctantly pointing out that I just don’t find Zeb that interesting. Boring is a step up from wanting to punch the show’s main character, but it did mean that I spent a good chunk of the episode thinking about how much the characters look like plastic toys. Which might be a selling point depending on your POV, but certainly isn’t helping my opinion of the show. It’s the hair that gets me the most, and since Zeb has more hair that’s clearly meant to look a little wild but just looks like plastic, it’s especially noticeable here.
I don’t know how I feel about them setting up a redemption arc for Callus. I’m not sure I’m opposed to that as a writing choice, but I think it highlights how much none of these people are characters. It wouldn’t be out of character for Callus to defect, because we don’t know anything about his character. It’s not that out of character for Zeb to be willing to work with him and point him towards going in the right direction, at least I don’t think it is, because the show hasn’t done much to show Zeb’s anger (which is probably less now) or drive towards vengeance.
But at the same time, if I have to say it’s within the realm of possibility for Callus to be redeemed, should I still assume the show won’t decide one of the other non-characters can jump sideways onto whatever side the writers want them to be on? Not the main characters, (‘characters’) but anyone else starts to look like fair game. And I think it’s a problem that I don’t even know who else I mean in that statement, after all there aren’t really characters to compare relative redeemability between.
Someday I’ll go on a rant about how little I think Anakin/Vader was redeemed and I’m kind of bothered that the story acts like he was. But I don’t really feel like it right now.
I will say that the structure of the last scenes were effective at what it was saying, even if what it was saying was pretty predictable. Highlighting how the Rebels (especially our crew) are family, while the Empire is cold and impersonal and unfeeling.
Overall, a fine episode I suppose; you just take my usual not really caring stance and make it deeper for this one. It was functional, not objectionable, and effective in places I suppose; just it was also very bland. I guess that’s why I have so little to say about it (maybe I should have that Vader rant, but it doesn’t really fit with this material that well).
Star Wars Rebels: 2x17 – Shroud of Darkness
I know saying that I don’t know how to feel about an episode has at times become an almost cliché way to start these reviews, but I can’t even tell if that’s the right thing to say about this one. The one was just weird, which is kind of a distinct feeling, but I’m not sure if that weird feeling was good or bad.
We can start by doing as the show does and give a passing mention of half the cast who get nothing to do. In this case there is sort of a reason for it, as this is a Jedi business episode, but since it’s such a common facet of this show, I can’t let it go without commenting that it happened again. Also, I hate Chopper, have I mentioned that lately or have I been too distracted hating Ezra? I thought R2 could be a Droid Sue at times, but Chopper is so much worse. I’m sure he works for the target audience, but when I watch him I’m far too aware of how cool the story thinks he is so I end up hating him.
Now, did I hate Ezra in this one? Not as much as I have lately, but that could be that he was talking to Yoda, who I also hate. I probably need to rewatch the OT to remind myself there was a time I didn’t hate Yoda (or at least see how I react to him in those movies these days). I think the most interesting thing about Ezra happens over in Kanan’s plot, but I don’t think the two plot lines work off each other very well. Unfortunately, they think they do; that showing Ezra’s desire to fight the Empire as part of the darkness that lurks inside him. But this story seems to have an odd view of the Jedi so that it can frame Ezra as not a very good one…while also having Kanan earning his stripes in a way that is counter to the Jedi way the episode needs us to believe in for Ezra’s story to reflect what Kanan’s story tells us.
Because Ezra has shown signs of potential darkness at other times this series, especially a few times this season that I have noted. But they were never remarked on at the time by the story. In fact, they were often done as triumphant moments; and even his super whiny teenager behavior was something the show usually condoned. Hell, it usually acts like he was right.
Now, if those other times are what this episode is calling into question, then I could reframe this as a well-managed story. As if it’s been a little of what they could never quite do with Anakin and frame moments that in hindsight are steps on the wrong path as being the right moves at the time. But because the characters are so shallow and the storytelling reflects it, I am going to need a lot of convincing that the writers knew what they were doing to that extent. It feels very much like this foreshadowing things to come, when it ought to be just as much a reflection of what has been happening until now.
Once again I find myself bringing up Avatar (AtLA and Korra) as showing that the half hour kids cartoon doesn’t have to mean stories are this shallow. And those shows took time out to do reflections and philosophy exploration like this. Only it’s done better in Avatar world.
But, as so often happens, the most interesting person is still Ahsoka. She’s clearly twigged on to the truth about Anakin/Vader, but is still trying to deny it. Although, I am assuming her section of the vision quest was at least very influenced by her guilt rather than the Force trying to spell it out for her. Because it coming from the outside would mean she does know and this was just confirmation, and I find that a bit less interesting than her still wrestling to accept what she kind of already knows.
I also have a few confusion moments trying to figure out what the writers thought happened between Ahsoka and Anakin at this point. Because I know this was written before s7 of TCW. They did a decent job matching the events in s7 to what Ahsoka describes here, but there is a little inherent contradiction in her saying that the last time she saw Anakin he was running off to save the Chancellor and yet her guilty conscience implies that she feels like she abandoned him when she walked away from the Order. Which makes sense coming from her guilty conscience (and probably also in Anakin’s Dark Side addled brain), thinking that she could have changed things if she hadn’t been away so long.
I’m not sure how I feel about the moment between Ahsoka and Yoda in the end. On one hand I do like that Ezra isn’t just super special and the only one who can talk to Yoda. And considering where they are and who she’s with, it’s not like seeing Yoda id what’s taking away any sense that she thought she was still alone. But also…if Yoda could talk to her, then why couldn’t he have shown up earlier and broken the news about Anakin to her a little more delicately?
If anything, I kind of wish we had gotten something from Ahsoka seeing Yoda about how she feels less alone knowing someone else out there remembers the people she knew and loved. Kanan is probably about the same age as her (not that I’m entirely sure the show knows that), but they clearly ran in different circles. Or the show could have taken time on her likely somewhat conflicted feelings about seeing Yoda; that he’s probably the first Master that she’s found alive in all these years and she might be grateful for his knowledge and skill; and yet their relationship is complicated and he didn’t reach out to her in all this time. There were a whole lot of things that could have been done if the show knew what was actually important in almost any plotline.
Also, I get annoyed with Ezra yet again for assuming that Melcore is a person when my first question was whether that was a person, place, or thing (and my instinct said place, it sounds like a place). It’s not even that dumb, the writing was just obvious; but the writing doesn’t care that it always makes Ezra look like an idiot.
I’m not quite sure how to feel about that one. As an adult watching this, it’s a very familiar trope to me; and while it isn’t quite baby’s first ‘enemy mine’ story it’s a very kid friendly version of the trope.
I find myself a little torn between being super glad that I didn’t have to put up with Ezra in this one (and he was notably annoying in the brief scenes he did have), and reluctantly pointing out that I just don’t find Zeb that interesting. Boring is a step up from wanting to punch the show’s main character, but it did mean that I spent a good chunk of the episode thinking about how much the characters look like plastic toys. Which might be a selling point depending on your POV, but certainly isn’t helping my opinion of the show. It’s the hair that gets me the most, and since Zeb has more hair that’s clearly meant to look a little wild but just looks like plastic, it’s especially noticeable here.
I don’t know how I feel about them setting up a redemption arc for Callus. I’m not sure I’m opposed to that as a writing choice, but I think it highlights how much none of these people are characters. It wouldn’t be out of character for Callus to defect, because we don’t know anything about his character. It’s not that out of character for Zeb to be willing to work with him and point him towards going in the right direction, at least I don’t think it is, because the show hasn’t done much to show Zeb’s anger (which is probably less now) or drive towards vengeance.
But at the same time, if I have to say it’s within the realm of possibility for Callus to be redeemed, should I still assume the show won’t decide one of the other non-characters can jump sideways onto whatever side the writers want them to be on? Not the main characters, (‘characters’) but anyone else starts to look like fair game. And I think it’s a problem that I don’t even know who else I mean in that statement, after all there aren’t really characters to compare relative redeemability between.
Someday I’ll go on a rant about how little I think Anakin/Vader was redeemed and I’m kind of bothered that the story acts like he was. But I don’t really feel like it right now.
I will say that the structure of the last scenes were effective at what it was saying, even if what it was saying was pretty predictable. Highlighting how the Rebels (especially our crew) are family, while the Empire is cold and impersonal and unfeeling.
Overall, a fine episode I suppose; you just take my usual not really caring stance and make it deeper for this one. It was functional, not objectionable, and effective in places I suppose; just it was also very bland. I guess that’s why I have so little to say about it (maybe I should have that Vader rant, but it doesn’t really fit with this material that well).
Star Wars Rebels: 2x17 – Shroud of Darkness
I know saying that I don’t know how to feel about an episode has at times become an almost cliché way to start these reviews, but I can’t even tell if that’s the right thing to say about this one. The one was just weird, which is kind of a distinct feeling, but I’m not sure if that weird feeling was good or bad.
We can start by doing as the show does and give a passing mention of half the cast who get nothing to do. In this case there is sort of a reason for it, as this is a Jedi business episode, but since it’s such a common facet of this show, I can’t let it go without commenting that it happened again. Also, I hate Chopper, have I mentioned that lately or have I been too distracted hating Ezra? I thought R2 could be a Droid Sue at times, but Chopper is so much worse. I’m sure he works for the target audience, but when I watch him I’m far too aware of how cool the story thinks he is so I end up hating him.
Now, did I hate Ezra in this one? Not as much as I have lately, but that could be that he was talking to Yoda, who I also hate. I probably need to rewatch the OT to remind myself there was a time I didn’t hate Yoda (or at least see how I react to him in those movies these days). I think the most interesting thing about Ezra happens over in Kanan’s plot, but I don’t think the two plot lines work off each other very well. Unfortunately, they think they do; that showing Ezra’s desire to fight the Empire as part of the darkness that lurks inside him. But this story seems to have an odd view of the Jedi so that it can frame Ezra as not a very good one…while also having Kanan earning his stripes in a way that is counter to the Jedi way the episode needs us to believe in for Ezra’s story to reflect what Kanan’s story tells us.
Because Ezra has shown signs of potential darkness at other times this series, especially a few times this season that I have noted. But they were never remarked on at the time by the story. In fact, they were often done as triumphant moments; and even his super whiny teenager behavior was something the show usually condoned. Hell, it usually acts like he was right.
Now, if those other times are what this episode is calling into question, then I could reframe this as a well-managed story. As if it’s been a little of what they could never quite do with Anakin and frame moments that in hindsight are steps on the wrong path as being the right moves at the time. But because the characters are so shallow and the storytelling reflects it, I am going to need a lot of convincing that the writers knew what they were doing to that extent. It feels very much like this foreshadowing things to come, when it ought to be just as much a reflection of what has been happening until now.
Once again I find myself bringing up Avatar (AtLA and Korra) as showing that the half hour kids cartoon doesn’t have to mean stories are this shallow. And those shows took time out to do reflections and philosophy exploration like this. Only it’s done better in Avatar world.
But, as so often happens, the most interesting person is still Ahsoka. She’s clearly twigged on to the truth about Anakin/Vader, but is still trying to deny it. Although, I am assuming her section of the vision quest was at least very influenced by her guilt rather than the Force trying to spell it out for her. Because it coming from the outside would mean she does know and this was just confirmation, and I find that a bit less interesting than her still wrestling to accept what she kind of already knows.
I also have a few confusion moments trying to figure out what the writers thought happened between Ahsoka and Anakin at this point. Because I know this was written before s7 of TCW. They did a decent job matching the events in s7 to what Ahsoka describes here, but there is a little inherent contradiction in her saying that the last time she saw Anakin he was running off to save the Chancellor and yet her guilty conscience implies that she feels like she abandoned him when she walked away from the Order. Which makes sense coming from her guilty conscience (and probably also in Anakin’s Dark Side addled brain), thinking that she could have changed things if she hadn’t been away so long.
I’m not sure how I feel about the moment between Ahsoka and Yoda in the end. On one hand I do like that Ezra isn’t just super special and the only one who can talk to Yoda. And considering where they are and who she’s with, it’s not like seeing Yoda id what’s taking away any sense that she thought she was still alone. But also…if Yoda could talk to her, then why couldn’t he have shown up earlier and broken the news about Anakin to her a little more delicately?
If anything, I kind of wish we had gotten something from Ahsoka seeing Yoda about how she feels less alone knowing someone else out there remembers the people she knew and loved. Kanan is probably about the same age as her (not that I’m entirely sure the show knows that), but they clearly ran in different circles. Or the show could have taken time on her likely somewhat conflicted feelings about seeing Yoda; that he’s probably the first Master that she’s found alive in all these years and she might be grateful for his knowledge and skill; and yet their relationship is complicated and he didn’t reach out to her in all this time. There were a whole lot of things that could have been done if the show knew what was actually important in almost any plotline.
Also, I get annoyed with Ezra yet again for assuming that Melcore is a person when my first question was whether that was a person, place, or thing (and my instinct said place, it sounds like a place). It’s not even that dumb, the writing was just obvious; but the writing doesn’t care that it always makes Ezra look like an idiot.
