There are spoilers here, and we need to talk about what Star Wars: Rebels has done. I hope that there are some of you that are brave enough to talk about this with me, spoiler warning be damned.
First, Star Wars Rebels is canon. This is not "fake news." Disney (the company that purchased all of the rights to Star Wars from George Lucas for $4 billion a few years ago) has said as much. Here's a quote from the article on what is canon and what is not canon from Wookiepedia.
The sledgehammering of the Star Wars universe took place in the Jedi Temple that had an entrance picturing the "Mortis gods" from an episode in The Clone Wars. This was a very interesting (old) episode, for the father (pictured in the middle) had two children: one represented the Dark Side of the Force and the other represented the Light Side of the Force. The father was essentially the balance between the Light Side and the Dark Side. The three of them were very powerful.
Anyway, once inside the temple, Ezra used the power in the temple and his own abilities through the Force to save Ahsoka Tano from Darth Vader (who I had presumed was dead two seasons ago in a spectacular battle on Malachor, where a Sith holocron was located). So he used time travel to actually save a major character who is now alive in the universe because Ezra chose to save her. Just think about that a moment. Time travel has now been introduced into the canon of Star Wars, and it is not just an observation kind of time travel. It is a kind of time travel that can undo literally anything.
Mace Windu was killed by the Emperor. Well not so fast. Are you sure? Let's time travel and fix that by giving Mace Windu a heads up at Anakin's betrayal.
The Jedi were taken by surprise that Senator Palpatine was in fact, Darth Sidious. Well...not so fast. Let's time travel and fix that by giving the Jedi council a heads up that's years in the making.
Oh, the singular moment where Han Solo is killed by his own son in The Force Awakens goes down as a spectacularly bad decision on Han Solo's part. Well...let's fix that by undoing a few things.
Seriously...everything that we know about Star Wars' entire story from the very beginning can now be rewritten. Nothing is sacred unless Disney wants it to be. Holy Cow! That is just crazy to consider, and I don't know how exactly I should feel about this. It's incredibly tempting to say that it is a good thing for the franchise which now has a way to deal with plots that are unpopular. But does it feel like maybe too powerful a weapon with regard to a story that is close to the hearts of so many? Does it feel like Star Wars Rebels maybe crossed a line somewhere?
I want to talk about this with someone. Let me hear your thoughts. Hopefully there are going to be some who are intrigued or horrified by this new development in the Star Wars universe's canon. Maybe Princess Leia should have uttered the phrase (back in A New Hope), "Help me Dave Filoni...you're my only hope" instead of "ObiWan Kenobi," because Dave Filoni has just upended everything.
First, Star Wars Rebels is canon. This is not "fake news." Disney (the company that purchased all of the rights to Star Wars from George Lucas for $4 billion a few years ago) has said as much. Here's a quote from the article on what is canon and what is not canon from Wookiepedia.
"The new canon began on screen with the Star Wars Rebels animated television series and in print with the novel A New Dawn. Under the direction of the Lucasfilm Story Group, all elements of Star Wars canon now operate in a unified and collaborative storytelling setting...."
Anyway, once inside the temple, Ezra used the power in the temple and his own abilities through the Force to save Ahsoka Tano from Darth Vader (who I had presumed was dead two seasons ago in a spectacular battle on Malachor, where a Sith holocron was located). So he used time travel to actually save a major character who is now alive in the universe because Ezra chose to save her. Just think about that a moment. Time travel has now been introduced into the canon of Star Wars, and it is not just an observation kind of time travel. It is a kind of time travel that can undo literally anything.
Mace Windu was killed by the Emperor. Well not so fast. Are you sure? Let's time travel and fix that by giving Mace Windu a heads up at Anakin's betrayal.
The Jedi were taken by surprise that Senator Palpatine was in fact, Darth Sidious. Well...not so fast. Let's time travel and fix that by giving the Jedi council a heads up that's years in the making.
Oh, the singular moment where Han Solo is killed by his own son in The Force Awakens goes down as a spectacularly bad decision on Han Solo's part. Well...let's fix that by undoing a few things.
Seriously...everything that we know about Star Wars' entire story from the very beginning can now be rewritten. Nothing is sacred unless Disney wants it to be. Holy Cow! That is just crazy to consider, and I don't know how exactly I should feel about this. It's incredibly tempting to say that it is a good thing for the franchise which now has a way to deal with plots that are unpopular. But does it feel like maybe too powerful a weapon with regard to a story that is close to the hearts of so many? Does it feel like Star Wars Rebels maybe crossed a line somewhere?
I want to talk about this with someone. Let me hear your thoughts. Hopefully there are going to be some who are intrigued or horrified by this new development in the Star Wars universe's canon. Maybe Princess Leia should have uttered the phrase (back in A New Hope), "Help me Dave Filoni...you're my only hope" instead of "ObiWan Kenobi," because Dave Filoni has just upended everything.
But you have to have the Force , right? And it only works in this one place? But hey maybe we can call Disney Star Wars an alternate universe like Abrams Trek now. 😀
ReplyDeleteThough I know they aren't going to use time travel in Episode IX that would be an interesting idea if Rey tried to go back and stop Ben Solo from turning.
DeleteYou're gonna have to wait till I get there. I don't want to be spoiled.
ReplyDeleteI'm in the paradox camp; I don't believe time travel can resolve or change anything. I've enjoyed some movies that employed the technique, but I've always felt time travel solutions are a cop-out gimmick.
ReplyDeleteThe Star Wars franchise should just move on with new characters and new plots.
There's a couple of caveats from what I saw.
ReplyDeleteFirst, Ahsoka said she had to go back to her time. All that happened was she disappeared for the exact amount of time she spent in the future and Vader was gone by the time she got back. That led to the scene of her walking into the temple we saw 2 years ago. I'm not sure why she had to go back but considering that the force is based on balance I have a feeling that's the only portal she could enter.
Second, they destroyed the temple meaning they can't travel through time on Lothal again. Of course that doesn't mean someone hasn't used it in the past. Could Yoda use it before going to Dagobah? I'm guessing we never hear about this place again in any Star Wars property.
What have you thought about all the mysticism around Force animals? I really like that they are expanding who can use the force but it has hedged on being stupid a few times.
I really hope they don't push it too far in future projects.
I was disappointed to see that next week is the last show. I really expected them to do a lot more buildup before the end but I'm glad they are showing 3 episodes so it will feel like a movie.
As it is the last show it will be interesting to see who lives. The biggest question is if Ahsoka and Ezra are doomed since the Yoda/Obiwan conversation: "That boy is our last hope." "No...there is another."
I always assumed they meant Leia was the 'other' (and probably did at the time) but it could mean Ezra/Ahsoka. My suspicion is only one will survive and it will be Ezra. The writers have always loved Ahsoka and will send her out in a blaze of glory. One other I expect to die is Rex and the rest of his remaining troopers which would give Clone Wars a sort of proper ending that show never received.
As for those that live, at the top of the list is Hera and Chopper since we are pretty sure they were in Rogue One. I'd put Zeb next since he is the last of his kind but maybe not. That leaves Sabine and I think her fate will hinge on Ezra. He's always had a crush on her even though she looked at him like a child. I think she likes him more than she's let on and they are closer in age than it appeared at the beginning of the show. I expect to see them get a lot closer this episode. I suspect whatever happens to Ezra 'ever after' will involve Sabine.
Just watched the final. Wow. It wasn't what I was expected but it really put an nice capstone on the series. Every story wrapped up pretty nice and now they can move after Return of the Jedi and give some clarity to the new Star War Universe that it really needs.
DeleteI was somewhat right on my predictions. I won't say much more here as it might spoil those who haven't seen it except I really nailed the Ezra/Sabine thing in a way I did not expect. Rumors are the the producers are already working on the next series and I'm loving the concept if it's a follow up on the closing scene.