Star Wars: The Clone Wars really, really grew on me. The animated series became a gripping, emotional, and exhilarating ride, so it was a major bummer when the show came to an end. However, director Dave Filoni isn't done with the Star Wars universe just yet! Now, he's joining forces with Simon Kinberg and Carrie Beck (as well as executive producer Greg Weisman!) to give the world all-new adventures in the franchise's fantastic universe. We've seen plenty of the Clone Wars era, but now it's time to get a good look at the time period between episodes 3 and 4. As the Empire continues to expand its power and crush spirits, the Rebel Alliance is beginning to take action.
This first episode -- which is an hour-long -- really is Ezra Bridger's tale (who's voiced by Taylor Gray). Through his eyes, we get a good look at how the Empire's ruling through fear. While we do get a fair understanding of what his newfound friends are like, Ezra's arc is front and center and he's a legitimately likable lead. Some of the dialogue and plot developments with him were pretty predictable, but it's an engaging journey that's paced very, very well. When all was said and done, I felt emotionally invested in this character and sincerely want to see where this adventure will take him next. As for the rest of the rebels, they may never steal the spotlight for very long, but we're left with a proper understanding of each character. It's just enough to get us interested in them and leaves us wanting to learn more about them. While Kanan Jarrus (Freddie Prinze Jr.) has a standout scene and we get a good read on him, I believe Zeb Orrelios (Steve Blum) was fleshed out more than the rest of his peers. He's essentially the group's muscle and he loves giving people a tough time, but there's just a few moments that reveal there's so much more to the character. I'm looking forward to a better insight into each of these characters, but he's the one I'm intrigued by the most.
A big concern I've seen from a lot of fans is about the tone. Some feel it'll be too kid friendly and it's an understandable fear. Sure, Star Wars has plenty of gags along the way, but it's loaded with compelling and character-driven scenes. Even though this show is trying to appeal to all ages, it really doesn't hold back when it comes to the action. Just like in A New Hope, characters are hit by blasters, explosions kill Stormtroopers, and TIE fighters are blown up. I mean, there's even a point where someone is murdered just for an amusing comment they made! It may not be graphic and you may not see limbs flying around, but it's definitely not just for kids and there's a ton of action to enjoy in this one. Kanan has a particularly memorable scene (I don't want to potentially spoil it, so that's all I'll say) and it's so thrilling to be back in this universe. The battles and chase sequences feel like they could be a scene from one of the original movies. There's a lot of passion for the franchise and it really shows.
There's a young wookiee who is absolutely adorable, but the rest look like either action figures or tall characters wearing smooth costumes. This really was the one spot where the animation was jarring. There's one bit with Stormtroopers in a hall which looked impressively realistic and there's a mesmerizing field, but the wookiees look very off and it's a little distracting. Additionally, there's one line which felt a little too forced. Really, really casual fans may appreciate it, but for everyone else, it'll just feel a wee bit unnecessary. All of the other problems I have are minor and pretty much countered by just how enjoyable the adventure was.
Star Wars Rebels is pure fun. This hour-long premiere was a totally joyous experience and reminded me why I love the franchise so much. The action's a blast and there's just enough humor sprinkled throughout. The new characters are most certainly intriguing and there's a strong sense of wonder. Now that we have a basic understanding of the main characters, I can't wait to watch how they grow and see what'll happen next. Star Wars Rebels is off to a great start and it has a whole lot of potential. Seriously, go into this one with an open mind and you'll most likely be very entertained. Consider me hooked!