SPOILER Rebels Review S01 E05: "Out Of Darkness"

I've been pounding the table for this and it....kinda happened? So many Clone Wars references you won't know what to do with yourself? Asteroid base? Confused? SCROLL DOWN YO!




LAST CHANCE FOR SPOILERS!!!!!




"Out of Darkness" is another check mark in the lovely "character development" box. Does this episode deliver powerful moments where the fan base will be talking for weeks about the ramifications? Yes and No. But there is also NOTHING wrong with smaller scaled episodes focusing on learning about two central characters more. Or in Hera's case...more of nothing. You also might be wondering "Hey!...Didn't we get a buddy episode like this already with Zeb and Ezra?" and you would be correct. Before you get bent out of shape please know that the circumstances are VERY different and could also prove to be bigger reveals down the road.



What worked for me:


- Sabine finally opens up and we get a few clues on why she's with our band of Rebels.



Apparently Sabine wasn't lying to the Imperial Ambassador in "Droids In Distress" when she said she was an Imperial Academy student. On Mandolore no less. Was Sabine used at her full potential like I've been complaining about? No, but this a good step in the right direction. I don't blame Sabine for feeling left out and wanting to feel included in why they are doing certain jobs and who for. Isn't she risking her life for them? I do love Hera's reasoning of protecting her though. Obviously alluding to how the Empire has ways of making people talk. See ANH on how that works. ;-)



- Opening Tie Fighter and Phantom chase!



You will read this a lot throughout my reviews for the series on how much Rebels gets the LOOK of Star Wars right. This opening chase scene is NO exception. It's fantastic! Seeing Hera fly the Phantom through the pillars of Lothal from Tie Fighters was one of the better openings of this series. No question.



- Hera is more than a mother figure. This girl has layers.




We have been beat over the head on how Hera's the "Mother" of the ship and frankly...I came into Rebels disinterested with her because I expected this "Mother hen" role for her. BUT...5 episodes and a novel in...we are finding out she is much more than that. Hera is connected deeply with other Rebels it appears with the intention of creating something bigger. She seems to be keeping everyone else besides Kanan out of the loop on something big. Rebel Alliance? Seems that way. Is this Folcrom (No idea if I'm spelling this wrong FYI) a well known character that will blow our minds later when we find out who he/she is? LET THE SPECULATION BEGIN!!!!


- Clone Wars Easter eggs all over the place!




Hera and Sabine pick up supplies from an old abandoned Clone Wars base and we get to see a number of call backs that are a nice touch for those of us who love the prequel era. (We do exist. We DGAF) Not only does the base feature many recognizable Clone Wars ships, but in the scene where Zeb is about to get his grub on...listen to the music. It sounds very close to the music being played in the Clone Wars episode "Rookies". I can't tell if it's the same, but it could be!



- The asteroid base. This thing is so Star Wars.



Another pic for good measure!



It's designs like this that give my overly critical mind a chill pill. It's simple yet, it's obviously Star Wars without it being derivative or out of left field. Rebels is finding the balance/sweet spot that is almost impossible to find on most of it's designs...not all of them, but most. Impressive none the less.


What didn't work for me:


- The series hasn't missed much on the design front, BUT...these creatures are not menacing at all.



In fact, they look incredibly cuddly. I expected them to end up like the creatures in "Rise Of The Old Masters" helping Hera and Sabine in some way. Maybe something a little more vicious looking next time?


- Do I have to say anything about the below picture?



..............why Dave? Please...just make it go away.


I enjoyed this episode much better than "Breaking Ranks". The pacing had me from the get go and the "slow parts" had me intrigued and held my attention due to possible meanings in the future!

As always I look forward to hearing from you all in the responses along with your speculation on what this episode means for the future!

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