I've been really, really enjoying Star Wars Rebels. It's constantly overflowing with nostalgia and fun. However, one reoccurring complaint I have is that Hera Syndulla (Vanessa Marshall) and Sabine Wren (Tiya Sircar) haven't received much focus. They've been supporting characters at best, occasionally interacting with others and getting involved in action sequences while Kanan Jarrus (Freddie Prinze Jr.), Ezra Bridger (Taylor Gray) and Zeb Orelios (Steve Blum) lead the way and spend a majority of time in the spotlight. This week's episode, "Out of Darkness," finally changes that and gives us an extensive Sabine and Hera team-up. Unfortunately, I think it's the least enjoyable episode yet. Bummer, right?
The theme here is trust. We get a little more insight into Sabine's past and it loosely explains why she doesn't like being kept in the loop. It's not enough to establish a really strong emotional connection or give a whole new layer of intrigue; it just adds a little more depth to the Mandalorian's story. While we see a more vulnerable side of Sabine's character, Hera remains rigid. She's the one who seemingly has her mind set on the mission and the bigger picture at all times. Because of her more focused and driven attitude, her personality may not be as exciting as the others (although, her skill at dodging questions is awesome), but it certainly makes us respect her more. She needs Sabine to trust her, and Sabine needs more information before she can begin trust Hera.
To continue the theme of trust, we have the three buds, Zeb, Chopper, and Ezra, goofing around and this leads to them making a big mistake. How can you trust your allies when they don't make sure you're safe? Obviously, we know all is well in the end and everyone learns their lesson. There aren't any big twists or shocks along the way, but it's all handled in an adequate way. It plays out pretty much how you expect, yet it still entertains just enough. It doesn't feel as satisfying as previous developments because, in the end, the dynamic seems to revert back to the status quo.
Star Wars Rebels has kept me smiling with its levity, but this episode didn't really deliver with the comedy. Zeb, Ezra, and Chopper goof around and they're supposed to be the comedic relief in this one, but instead of feeling like a playful rivalry between buddies, it just seems a little too slapstick-ish and rude as opposed to walking a fine line between mean-spirited and likable. It just didn't have the same charm as previous scenes.
The action sequences here are alright. Hera and Sabine are put in a situation that feels like if Pitch Black was a video game and it included a waves/survival mode. There's a good dose of spectacle as Sabine does what she does best (blow stuff up, of course) and, as a gamer, it was pretty fun watching them execute their plan. The episode was able to switch things up just a bit by adding just a wee bit of tension, too. None of this was as thrilling or as creatively shot as some of the previous action sequences, but it definitely wasn't bad, either.
It's very cool that Sabine and Hera finally get an episode to shine. It's too bad the episode's just okay, though. The character insight isn't that compelling, the action is never really jaw-dropping, and the comedy never made me laugh. It just doesn't deliver the same kind of joy as the previous episodes have. Don't get me wrong, it's not a bad episode, but it doesn't really feel up to par with the other chapters. That said, it's still obviously worth watching if you've grown to love these characters and, while it is technically filler, it's still an entertaining adventure. Hopefully next week's episode delivers the level of quality we've come to expect without pushing these two characters back to the sidelines.