At a Glance
Rebels aired its series finale on March 5, 2018. Storylines from the show were later continued in The Bad Batch and Ahsoka.
Key Facts
Release Date: Oct 3, 2014
Seasons: 4
Total Episodes: 73
Creator: Dave Filoni
Where to Watch: Disney+
When: During the 5 years before A New Hope
Recent Coverage
What is Star Wars Rebels?
Star Wars Rebels is an animated series that follows a group of Rebels throughout their adventures in the galaxy in the years right before A New Hope. The show’s plot centers around a found family unit consisting of Ezra Bridger, an Force-sensitive orphan from the planet Lothal, Kanan Jarrus, an ex-Jedi who survived Order 66, Hera Syndulla, a Twi’lek pilot who is also the daughter of a freedom fighter from the Clone Wars, Chopper, Hera’s trusty astromech with a particularly intense personality, Sabine Wren, a Mandalorian with a penchant for art, and Zeb, a Lasat warrior who is amongst the last of his kind.
Throughout the series, the Ghost Crew (named for their VCX-100 light freighter) encounter adventures that range from the truly silly to devastatingly emotional, and along the way, they meet up with a number of recognizable figures from Star Wars history. Each main character grows significantly on their own personal journey as the galaxy crumbles under the weight of the Empire, creating some of the most well-rounded characters to be found within the saga. The show also features a number of new fixtures in the Empire including the Inquisitors and the Canon introduction of Grand Admiral Thrawn.
By the end of series, Rebels stands out amongst all other Star Wars projects for its focus on character evolution and relationships, its expansion of Force mythology, and its perfect balance of humor and emotional sincerity when it comes to Star Wars presentation.
Do you have to watch The Clone Wars to understand Rebels?
While there are characters in Rebels that initially appeared in The Clone Wars, you do not need to have watched all 7 seasons of that show to understand Rebels. However, if you would like to fully understand every reference and easter egg, The Clone Wars is recommended prior viewing.
About Star Wars Rebels
Dave Filoni
Disney+
TV-Y7
Action-adventure, Drama
24 minutes
4
73
During the 5 years before A New Hope
Cast
When Does Rebels Take Place in the Star Wars Timeline?
Rebels is set in the Star Wars timeline during the five years before the events of Episode IV: A New Hope, making it part of the era known as the Reign of the Empire.
Reviews
Story and Characters
Star Wars Rebels follows the Ghost Crew through a number of climactic events all surrounding the burgeoning Galactic Civil War. What starts as a crew willing to pull off small heists in service of the Rebellion if their needs align transforms into a found family that can no longer bear turning a blind eye to the might of the Empire.
As the crew rises in the esteem of the newly formed Rebellion, Ezra and Kanan focus on the former’s training in the ways of the Force. By setting these two storylines alongside each other, the return of the Jedi and the rise of the Rebellion are seen through the same hopeful lens. They fail and falter, but they also succeed, and in doing so, viewers learn more about the mystical aspects of the Force that were initially seeded in The Clone Wars.
By exploring these Force philosophies while also embracing advancements in technology and military tactics, the crew of Rebels are able to showcase a look at the entire Star Wars galaxy in a single show. Legacy characters from both the Prequels and Original Trilogy make appearances to ground the show in the mythos of the Skywalker Saga, and by the end, the show proves itself to be one of the most comprehensive pieces of Star Wars storytelling we have.
Ezra Bridger
Arc
Ezra begins Rebels as a playfully incompetent thief on the streets of Lothal who is just beginning to discover his abilities. Throughout the series, he grows up before our eyes and learns not only the secrets of the Force but also how to experience loss, believe in something larger than himself, and be part of a family.
Significance
Ezra acts as both a chief protagonist and as the main entry point for the audience in Rebels. We learn about the galaxy alongside him as he navigates his way through its mysteries, and his story drives the entirety of the Ghost Crew throughout the seasons.
Kanan Jarrus
Arc
Kanan enters Rebels as an enigmatic former Jedi with a past that constantly haunts him with the ghosts of those he left behind. But through his training of Ezra and his connection with the rest of the crew, he is able to overcome his past and face the trials of his present - culminating in his status as one of the wisest Jedi of his era.
Significance
Kanan serves as a type of father figure for the Rebels crew and continuously acts as Ezra’s connection to the Jedi of the golden Prequel age. His dedication to continual learning about his place in the Force also allows the series to open up to brand new areas of Star Wars mythology.
Hera Syndulla
Arc
From her first moment, Hera’s ability to lead and unite is unquestionable. Her determination to protect her family and complete their missions remains paramount throughout her tenure in Rebels, and her past issues with her father’s dedication to his own cause eventually resolve and help her realize just how much sacrifice the fight for freedom can truly require.
Significance
Hera is easily one of the breakout stars of Rebels, and her ever growing role in the Rebellion expands into many other projects such as Ahsoka and the video game Star Wars: Squadrons.
Sabine Wren
Arc
A lifelong warrior with an eye for artistry, Sabine begins Rebels as a young warrior with no love for the Empire and a deep conflict about the history of her own people. By the end of Season 4, however, she learns to accept her past transgressions, embrace a family once again, and play her part in reclaiming the former glory of the Mandalorians
Significance
Sabine plays an integral part in the personal evolution of the Ghost Crew, but she also opens up Rebels to the entire history of Mandalorian culture. Her role in the show is continued further in Ahsoka.
Zeb Orrelios
Arc
Zeb starts Rebels as a gruff Lasat warrior who is always happy to butt heads with the Empire when the situation arises. His joy in combat never fades, but when a potential future for his people is discovered and he experiences another side to those trapped within the Empire, his outlook on the galaxy softens - culminating with his official joining of New Republic forces.
Significance
Zeb’s comedic big brother energy consistently helps keep Ezra in line, and his perspective as one of the last of a lost people gives him a unique perspective that consistently grounds the show. His adventures continue briefly in The Mandalorian’s third season, and he is said to play a part in the upcoming film, The Mandalorian & Grogu.
Key Episodes
Largely considered one of the best story arcs in all of Star Wars, this two-part season finale is one of the most pivotal moments in the series, featuring Ezra’s encounter with Darth Maul, the return of Ahsoka Tano, and her fateful duel with Darth Vader.
A key component in the history of Mandalorian lore, Sabine trains with the Darksaber, an ancient Mandalorian weapon, confronting her past and taking a significant step towards uniting her people against the Empire. This weapon was later featured heavily in The Mandalorian.
All of the evolutions in Force lore that occur throughout Rebels come to a head in this episode as Ezra discovers a mystical realm that connects all time and space, forcing him to make a decision that changes the fate of some of the most impactful characters in the galaxy.
The series finale brings the story of Rebels to a close and succeeds in setting up storylines for future projects like Ahsoka while also giving the crew a fitting send off as the Ghost Crew defends their home one final time.
Design
The design of Rebels borrows heavily from the original Star Wars designs of legendary artist Ralph McQuarrie. McQuarrie created countless concepts for the original Star Wars saga, and while many of them were eventually translated to screen, Rebels takes advantage of plenty of McQuarrie’s unused work to create a stylized universe that feels right at home in the Star Wars galaxy.
As opposed to The Clone Wars series which focuses on angular structure for its characters and architecture, the world of Rebels is much rounder and softer – a choice that can admittedly take time to adjust to for fans that go straight into the series after finishing Clone Wars. However, this art style allows the show to dive deeper into the space fantasy elements of Star Wars, and eventually, the more overtly stylized elements of the show appear as natural as any other.
Another stark difference from The Clone Wars is found in the relative lack of polish that is found in the world of Rebels. As opposed to the glorious prosperity of the Prequel Era, this show is set right up against the oppressive regime of the Original Trilogy, and as such, the Empire’s insistence on bland coloring and brutalist architecture can be seen creeping across the galaxy.
Rebels additionally employs the actual study of art into the show through multiple venues - primarily through the eyes of Sabine Wren, an artist herself, and Grand Admiral Thrawn who uses art to dissect his enemies. Conversations about color and texture and form are used in a metatextual sense throughout the show to not only enhance individual moments but also to appreciate the history of art that has defined Star Wars since the beginning.
Technology and Effects
Special Effects
Rebels drastically changes the animation style of its predecessor, The Clone Wars, in order to create a show that is far more visually in line with the style of renowned concept artist Ralph McQuarrie. The character models, architecture, and landscapes all value softer edges and vivid colors which allow the character motion and action sequences to appear extremely vibrant throughout the show.
Much like The Clone Wars, the animation technology of Rebels noticeably increases with each subsequent season, and the continual advancement of the animators allows them to create more abstract concepts like the world between worlds and far more epic battle sequences featuring Mandalorians, Jedi, and more.
Behind the Scenes
After working with George Lucas to create The Clone Wars, Dave Filoni served as the executive producer and creator of Rebels. In order to fully establish the family dynamic of the show, he often required the voice actors to record their dialogue in a single space rather than individual booths. Although a massive team worked on the show throughout its run, Filoni’s vision is credited as the driving force of the series. As the show progressed, Filoni appeared multiple times on Rebels Recon, a feature produced by The Star Wars Show to talk about individual episodes and evolutions of the show. After the series aired its final episode, Filoni brought many of the characters and plot lines with him to live action with Ahsoka.
Related TV Shows & Films
Prior to Rebels, The Clone Wars was the main Star Wars animated show that chronicled the events between Episode 2 and Episode 3. Many characters that eventually made their way to Rebels made their original appearances during this series.
Thanks to creator Dave Filoni, Ahsoka directly continues many storylines that began in Rebels including the evolution of Sabine Wren, the fate of Ezra Bridger, and the search for Grand Admiral Thrawn.
While The Mandalorian may not be as directly related to Rebels as Ahsoka, Dave Filoni played a large part in the creation of the show and snuck in plenty of homages to the adventures of the Ghost Crew throughout.
Books & Comics Related to Rebels
Awards & Recognition
Primetime Emmy Nomination
Outstanding Children's Program
2017, 2018
Primetime Emmy Nomination
Outstanding Music Composition for a Series, Kevin Kiner
2018
Top Critics
“Star Wars animation is really some of the best work from Lucasfilm in recent years.”
- Kelly Lawler, USA Today
“The show continues to revel in the latitude afforded by animation to dole out bountiful helpings of action, garnished with considerable wit and a welcome sense of fun.”
- Brian Lowry, Variety
“One of the many great things about Star Wars Rebels is that it exists in this interstitial space where there is a lot of story to mine and lots of colorful, charismatic characters who populate it.”
- Dave Trumbore, Collider
“Whatever the characters are up to, however cute or sentimental the business, it is smartly designed and cinematically staged, and not hard to enjoy.”
- Robert Lloyd, Los Angeles Times
