Star Wars Rebels: Season 3.2 Trailer Analysis

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Dennis Keithly digs into the mid-season trailer for season three of Star Wars Rebels to analyze the amazing episodes to come.

Season three of Rebels commences this coming weekend. In order to whet the appetite of Rebels fans, Lucasfilm released a mid-season trailer on Wednesday. This trailer promises big things for the second half of the season. Dave Filoni and the creative team behind Rebels appear to have pulled out all the stops. Here is an analysis of the trailer and speculation on what is to come.

The Jedi Holocron Revived

The trailer commences with Ezra awakening to the voice of Obi-Wan Kenobi. Ezra’s searches the Ghost for the voice and calls out to Kanan. He then discovers the Obi-Wan’s image flickering from the remains of the Jedi Holocron destroyed earlier this season in the “Holocrons of Fate.” Obi-Wan’s warning to the Jedi stutters and repeats. His message that “this is a warning” echoes through the trailer and sets an ominous tone of doom and foreboding.

Rogue One Connections

The mid-season trailer features a number of connections to Rogue One. First and foremost, Saw Gerrera fights with the Rebel Alliance against the Empire, at least temporarily. Saw originally debuted in the Star Wars universe during The Clone Wars. Anakin Skywalker, Obi-Wan Kenobi, and Ahsoka Tano trained him and others to form a resistance to the Separtists and the monarchy on Onderon. Most recently, Saw made his live action debut in Rogue One as the leader of a radical Rebel cell. By the time of Rogue One, Saw is a broken man, nearly as much machine as Darth Vader. He appears far healthier in this trailer, and it also appears he will accompany the Rebels to Geonosis. Perhaps this season will explain how Saw became the broken man seen in Rogue One. As in Rogue One, Forest Whitaker provides Saw’s voice for Rebels.

Saw Gerrera is not the only Rogue One tie-in. This trailer also features Death Troopers. These elite troopers were absent from Star Wars prior to Rogue One and were thought to be servants unique to Director Krennic. However, they escort Grand Admiral Thrawn in this trailer. How they play into the Imperial structure should be interesting.

Expansion of the Rebellion

The Rebellion continues to grow. For one, the fleet has new assets. The Nebulon-B Frigate joins the Rebel fleet. It is not alone. The GR-75 transport fills out the fleet. Both ships originally debuted in The Empire Strikes Back and most recently in Rogue One. The Rebellion is still without X-Wings though. Might they surprise audiences by the end of the season?

The Rebellion’s leadership also expands in the second half of this season. Commander Jun Sato leads the Phoenix cell, and thusfar has been the face of the Rebel command. Bail Organa appeared from time-to-time in a minor leadership capacity. Although Hera Syndulla received promotions within the cell, the Rebellion remained small with few leaders. That changes with Mon Mothma‘s introduction in the second half of this season. The identity of the actress providing Mon Mothma’s voice in Rebels remains undisclosed at this time.

A Rogue One Easter Egg revealed that Hera received a promotion to general. Might the second half detail the merits behind this promotion?

Legends Return

The mid-season trailer confirms that Legends material continues to impact season three of Rebels. For instance, the Dark Troopers that debuted in “The Wynkanthu Job” return. This time they are sparring partners for Grand Admiral Thrawn. In addition, the TIE Defender, assuming it keeps that name in Rebels, emerges as a functioning ship after it was teased in “An Inside Man” when Kanan, Ezra, and Chopper stole the plans.

Sabine Conquers Mandalore

Rebels has hinted at Sabine’s backstory as a Mandalorian since the beginning with her iconic armor. Season two announced her membership in House Vizsla, which was made famous by Pre Vizsla in The Clone Wars. The first half of season three concluded with Sabine recovering the fabled Darksaber. The Mandalorians stole this weapon from the Jedi in an ancient war, and it became a symbol of power among the Mandalorians.

From this trailer, it now appears Sabine plans to rally the Mandalorians behind her to oppose the Empire. Kanan attempts to train Sabine how to use this weapon. Later in the trailer, Sabine wields a green lightsaber, perhaps Ezra’s own weapon, against Gar Saxon, who then possesses the Darksaber. Gar Saxon first appeared in Rebels during the “Imperial Super Commandos” episode as the Imperial Viceroy of Mandalore.

Sabine is not alone in her quest. Fenn Rau aids her and counsels her that she needs the support of her mother. Fenn Rau originally debuted in season two of Rebels as the leader of the Protectors of Concord Dawn. Although he originally opposed the Rebels, he allied with them in “Imperial Super Commandos” after Sabine’s display of loyalty to her friends and respect for the traditions of Mandalore.

Grand Admiral Thrawn Springs His Trap

In Legends, Thrawn was always a cunning strategist. He frequently defeated the Rebellion with inferior assets. Thus far in Rebels, Thrawn has laid plans as the Rebels escaped his clutches time and again. Many fans expressed frustration by his inaction. This trailer promises that Thrawn will finally take the fight to the Alliance. Thrawn appears in the trailer proclaiming the Rebels finally revealed their defenses and the moment he waited for arrived at long last.

In addition, Thrawn displays an unexpected physical prowess. During the trailer, he spars with Darktroopers. Also, he fires a blaster while engaged in combat. In the past, Thrawn wasn’t one to get his hands dirty, but he is not above combat in Rebels.

Fulcrum, Droids, Geonosis and More…

There are a few other plots receiving attention in this trailer. In more than one shot, Chopper engages in combat with a mysterious droid. In later scenes, Chopper and AP-5 defend themselves while in combat in space. Speaking of space combat, Ezra dons a space suit and takes the fight outside while brandishing his lightsaber.

Grand Admiral Thrawn has not forgotten the Rebel spy he deduced the existence of in “An Inside Man.” During the trailer, he instructs Agent Kallus that the spy need be found. Kallas is later scene investigating Ezra’s former hideout on Lothal. These scenes cast some doubt on Kallus’s sincerity as a Rebel agent. Why would he track down Ezra to Lothal? He already knows how to contact the Rebellion. He did just that in “The Antilles Extraction” earlier this season.

The fate of Geonosis is another. Readers of the Marvel Darth Vader series know that the Geonosians met a mysterious fate. This fate was hinted at in season two of Rebels during “The Honorable Ones” episode. It appears the Rebels will return to Geonosis with Saw Gerrera as they investigate an Imperial mystery that might just tie into Rogue One. This mystery will be featured in the first episode of the second half of the season, “Ghosts of Geonosis.”

Finally, the fight between the Empire and Rebellion appears to explode. However, how well it goes for the Rebellion is doubtful. Remember, Rogue One tells the story of the first Rebel victory over the Empire mentioned in the opening crawl of A New Hope. The Rebels may be lucky to survive this season.

Obi-Wan vs. Darth Maul

The trailer ends by teasing the conflict Rebels audiences have anticipated since the “Holocrons of Fate” aired. A cloaked hermit huddles over a fire. Darth Maul emerges from the deserts of Tatooine. The hermit speaks, and reveals himself as Obi-Wan Kenobi. He tells Maul he is in the wrong place as each draw their sabers. Kenobi strikes his classic pose from Revenge of the Sith, and the trailer ends. After terrorizing the Jedi and the Republic in The Clone Wars and the crew of the Ghost in Rebels, will this be where Maul finally meets his end? Maul seeks revenge against Kenobi above all else. It was his vision of hope from “Holocrons of Fate.”

Concluding Thoughts

The mid-season trailer promises much of what viewers clamored for this season. Sabine’s story comes to a head. Her mother’s identity will be revealed. The fate of Mandalore awaits. Also, Rebels draws even closer to the events of A New Hope by tying itself directly to Rogue One with Saw Gerrera. In addition, Lucasfilm treats fans of Legends with the TIE Defender, Dark Troopers, and other nuggets from the old expanded universe. Finally, the long awaited rematch between Maul and Obi-Wan arrives.

Despite all the highlights, the mid-season trailer raises some concern. Although present, Hera receives scant attention. Will “Hera’s Heroes” be her only feature episode this season? Similarly, what about Zeb? The Lasat appears in peril frequently. However, is he merely a supporting character, or will he feature in any episodes?

Concerns aside, this mid-season trailer promises much for Star Wars fans. Long simmering plot lines come to a head. The action heats up. Bring it on.