Top 20 Moments From Star Wars Rebels

“Fire Across the Galaxy”

If there’s one thing “Rebels” was good at, it was marrying two iconic eras of “Star Wars,” and this familiar character return gave us chills. Throughout the first season, Hera is in contact with someone under the alias “Fulcrum,” who provides assistance while the rebellion starts to take form. The season finale ends with the crew of the Ghost escaping an Imperial star destroyer. They’re then greeted by a hologram of Bail Organa, but things get even better when Fulcrum appears in the flesh, and she’s none other than former Jedi apprentice Ahsoka Tano. At this point, we didn’t know what happened to Ahsoka after “The Clone Wars,” so seeing her a bit older and with a new animation style was a real treat.

“Wings of the Master”

Hera Syndulla may just be the finest pilot in the galaxy, and she really gets her time to shine here. When the rebels find themselves stymied by an Imperial blockade, Hera takes Zeb and Sabine to meet with a Mon Calamari engineer named Quarrie, who’s been working on a very powerful starfighter. The Blade Wing - B-wing for short - proves to be very temperamental, and Quarrie isn’t much better. But Hera manages to handle herself and adapt to the ship’s unconventional design. When she rejoins the rebels at the blockade, she shocks everyone with the B-wing’s multi-cannon blast, wiping away a command cruiser. When it comes to epic space battles, no one puts Hera in a corner.

“The Last Battle”

Ended, the Clone War has, although nobody seems to have told General Kalani, the commander of a remnant army of battle droids. After the rebels, including former Clone Trooper Rex, land on his planet, Kalani captures and forces them to engage in war games. When the less than harmless games are interrupted by a visit from the Empire, Kalani refuses to help the rebels fight, until Ezra drops an extra-strength logic bomb on the droid. The positive message of putting aside grudges for the greater good may not be subtle, but it’s still relevant and well executed. We’d be lying if we said Rex taking out swarms of clankers didn’t make us feel a little nostalgic.

“Idiot’s Array”

It’s always nice to see an old friend, and that’s exactly what we got in this funny episode, which featured an appearance from suave super-smuggler and lady’s man extraordinaire, Lando Calrissian. Original Lando actor Billy Dee Williams returned to voice the fan-favorite character, and it’s clear that he still has that same easy-going charm… and occasional backstabbing tendencies. His interactions with the rest of the Ghost crew, which includes him cheating Zeb at a game of Sabacc and Hera getting him back for his actions, make for some great comedic moments, reminding people that “Star Wars” can be just as funny as it is epic.

“Legacy of Mandalore”

To say Sabine’s familial relationships are fraught would be an understatement, but she more than proves herself when she returns to her homeworld. Clan Wren has been since buckled under Imperial rule, but Sabine’s wielding of the Darksaber, a Mandalorian legend, is enough to inspire hope for liberation. However, when the ancient blade falls in the hands of Imperial Mandalorian Gar Saxon, Sabine uses Ezra’s lightsaber to duel the turncoat. It’s a seriously dynamic duel, as the combination of Mandalorian and Jedi fighting styles makes for a unique experience. Sabine defeats and spares Saxon, but his cowardice prompts Sabine’s mother to end him, repairing their relationship in the process. Sabine doesn’t wield the Darksaber for much longer, but we say she’s more than worthy.

“The Siege of Lothal”

While Lothal is arguably the planet we see the most in the series, it becomes an even more fraught location in the Season 2 premiere when Vader tries to snuff out the rebel sect there. In a chilling moment, Vader confronts our heroes as they make their escape, forcing Kanan and the inexperienced Ezra to fend him off. They of course make it by the skin of their teeth, but not before Vader roughs them up quite a bit. It ultimately takes putting Vader in the path of a falling walker to get away, but this is of course nothing to the Dark Lord, who merely shrugs it off with the Force. Aware they can’t defeat Vader, the rebels wisely flee while they can.

“Shroud of Darkness”

This is one Jedi Master who never retired. Having previously appeared in the show as a disembodied voice, Yoda finally gets to appear as himself – or at least, a very accurate representation of himself in the Jedi version of a Zoom call – in this Force-vision filled episode. While meditating in a Jedi temple, Ezra gets a direct line to the diminutive Jedi master, who gives him some sage advice about the dangers of fear, as well as the often high costs of defeating your enemy. Frank Oz returns to voice Yoda, and sounds just as funny, kind, and melancholy as he did all those years ago. And as for the complaints about Yoda’s visual design…

“Twilight of the Apprentice”

The two-part Season 2 finale is so noteworthy that we’ll have to come back to it later on. But in the meantime, its reintroduction to the Sith Lord previously known as Darth Maul is truly iconic. After Maul befriends Ezra on the group’s journey to the Sith Temple on Malachor, the latter persuades his friends to work with him for the time being. Maul, Ezra, Kanan and Ahsoka continually battle the Inquisitors. But whereas the others won’t kill, Maul has no such compunctions, ending the Inquisitor saga for good. Once their enemies are defeated, Maul betrays them and slashes Kanan’s face, blinding him. It’s a truly shocking moment, but ultimately a watershed event in Kanan’s larger journey.

“The Future of the Force”

She’s still got it. After spending almost two seasons in an administrative role, former Jedi apprentice Ahsoka Tano gets to show off her lightning-fast lightsaber skills and strength in the Force in a no-holds-barred duel against two Imperial Inquisitors. Jumping in to save her Rebel allies, as well as an adorable Force-sensitive toddler, Ahsoka easily overpowers the assassins, who only walk away with their lives thanks to the arrival of reinforcements. The well-choreographed action scene is both visually exciting, and a triumphant showcase of one of the “Star Wars” universe’s most recent beloved characters. Also, how sweet are those white lightsabers?

“Rise of the Old Masters”

Nobody expects the Imperial Inquisition! After receiving news that Jedi Master Luminara Unduli is still alive, the crew of the Ghost travel to a prison on Stygeon Prime to rescue her. However, in true “Star Wars” fashion the rescue goes awry, and the rebels are forced to escape despite being heavily outgunned by both stormtroopers and the cold and calculating Grand Inquisitor. With plenty of last-minute escapes, emotional character moments, and a climactic lightsaber duel, the episode expertly captures the inspiring derring-do and crowd-pleasing moments that “Star Wars” is known for, without shying away from the darker side of the galaxy. The Force was definitely strong with this one.

“Zero Hour”

Grand Admiral Thrawn is worthy of his status as the series’ big bad, and this is where we first saw the full potential of his strength and cunning. Not to mention that of the Bendu. When the rebels look to attack the Empire on Lothal, Thrawn anticipates this and instead tricks them into revealing their base on Atollon. From there, a full-scale invasion begins, one that requires the big guns to get out of. Ezra enlists Sabine and the other Mandalorians, while Kanan enlists the Bendu, who unleashes his entire might on the unsuspecting Imperial fleet. The rebels escape and Thrawn is able to incapacitate the Bendu, who chillingly prophesizes Thrawn’s defeat before vanishing.

“The Holocrons of Fate”

Forget horoscopes; holocrons are the best way to predict the future. When spiky former Sith Lord Maul captures Ezra’s friends, the young Jedi is forced to cooperate with the crafty villain. This means he must help Maul combine a Sith holocron and a Jedi holocron in order to obtain untold knowledge. Once the holocrons are combined, Ezra and Maul get a glimpse into the future, which teases planets and characters “Star Wars” fans know very well. Subtly infusing fan-service with an awe-inspiring light show, in addition to setting up a future confrontation between Maul and an old nemesis, it’s almost a shame when Ezra’s friends rescue him and interrupt his Jedi acid trip.

“A World Between Worlds”

After leaving Ahsoka mid-battle with Vader, we again wondered as to her fate at the end of Season 2. It wasn’t until well into Season 4 that we got any answers. After Ezra enters a mystical door in the Jedi temple on Lothal, he ends up in a World Between Worlds outside of space and time. It’s through other doorways that he’s able to interact with pivotal moments in history, as we hear a slew of familiar voices. Ezra sees Ahsoka dueling Vader as the Sith Temple collapses and pulls her through, essentially saving her life. When Ezra has the opportunity to do the same for Kanan, Ahsoka dissuades him from tampering with fate. Oh, and there’s some cool stuff with the Emperor.

“Path of the Jedi”

If only our coming of age involved getting our own lightsaber. While exploring a lost Jedi temple on Lothal, Ezra faces many trials in the forms of Force visions that make him confront his greatest fears. Ezra manages to complete the trials, and is contacted by Jedi Master Yoda’s voice, who gives him some words of encouragement before leading the young Jedi-in-training to a kyber crystal, which the Jedi use to power their lightsabers. Ezra building his own lightsaber is a great way to symbolize his newfound confidence and growth as a character, and when he ignites his saber at the end of the episode, it truly feels like he’s earned it.

“Trials of the Darksaber”

And you thought Jedi training was tough. After finding a Mandalorian darksaber, Sabine reluctantly decides to learn how to use it. Unfortunately, learning to wield the saber ain’t like dusting crops, and Kanan puts her through grueling training sessions that are only made harder by the fact that the blade reminds Sabine of her estranged relationship with her family. The training culminates in an emotionally raw duel where Sabine confronts her past, almost killing Kanan in the process. The scene fleshes out Sabine’s complexity as a character, while at the same time giving audiences a brutal and cathartic duel. What better way to work out your family issues than with a good, old fashioned beat down?

“Jedi Night”

After Kanan rescues a captured Hera on Lothal, the two share a tender moment when the latter finally admits her feelings for him. But because TV shows don’t want us to be happy, it’s followed by what’s easily the show’s saddest moment. When Governor Pryce catches the rebels fleeing, she has her forces open fire on the nearby fuel tanks. It takes all of Kanan’s Force ability to keep the explosion at bay. He and Hera have one brief final moment when his vision is finally restored. In his last act, Kanan pushes his friends to safety before letting the flames take him. It’s a truly tragic sacrifice, bookended by some of the series’ highest highs and lowest lows.

“Family Reunion – and Farewell”

The series finale gave us everything we ever wanted, reuniting countless fan favorite characters for one epic final showdown. But even we were floored by how things got resolved. The rebels enact an all-or-nothing campaign to remove the Empire from the Capital City, but of course Thrawn has other plans. Ezra goes to confront the Grand Admiral, before being tempted by the Emperor into bringing his parents back to life. Completing his character arc, Ezra refuses, and instead saves his new family by calling in the purrgil for reinforcements. The space whales deplete Thrawn’s fleet, before Ezra compels the beasts to take him and the villain through hyperspace, neither to be seen again for quite some time.

“Fire Across the Galaxy”

Way to go out with a bang. In the show’s first season finale, Kanan and Ezra have one last climactic battle with the Grand Inquisitor. Forced to combat the assassin, Kanan and his apprentice put up a fierce fight, but the Inquisitor still gains the upper hand, knocking Ezra off a platform, and presumably to his death. Unfortunately for the Inquisitor, Kanan’s anger and grief give him the energy and focus he needs to win, and win he does. The scene is a high-stakes fast and furious battle punctuated by some real emotional highs and lows, but the cherry on top are the Grand Inquisitor’s ominous final words of what’s to come.

“Twin Suns”

There are few Jedi and Sith whose fates are more intrinsically linked than Obi-Wan Kenobi and Maul, so imagine our satisfaction when they closed the final chapter in their rivalry. When a holocron message convinces Ezra that he needs to save a long-thought-dead Obi-Wan, he spirits away to Tatooine to find him. Unfortunately, this is all a trick by Maul to get the young Jedi to lead him to his nemesis, which is exactly what happens. After Obi-Wan sends Ezra off, he and Maul exchange a few chilling words before breaking out their lightsabers. It’s a very short fight, but one that sees Obi-Wan deliver a fatal blow. He holds a dying Maul in his arms, giving him a new hope for the galaxy.

“Twilight of the Apprentice”

Who says “Star Wars” can’t make you cry? In the “Rebels”’ Season 2 finale, fans finally got the battle they’d been waiting for ever since the end of the prequel series, “The Clone Wars.” Sith Lord Darth Vader, aka Anakin Skywalker, versus his former apprentice, Ahsoka Tano. It’s safe to say they delivered, as the former partners fight a battle that is just as internal as it is external. Ahsoka’s pleas for her old master to abandon his evil ways are especially heartbreaking, considering they seem to momentarily bring out the old Anakin, before his Vader persona takes over again. Brutal, powerful, and sad, the battle even gives Order 66 a run for its money.

Were there any “Rebels” moments we missed? Shout ‘em out in the comments below!