SPOILER Rebels Review S01 E9: "Idiot's Array"

Have to navigate through some popups, but here's a stream:

http://vodlocker.com/6oes11ggpnlq

 

First off, nice review. For me personally, I thought the a bit over the top suaveness fit well into Lando's character progression.

There's a video on the main site where Filoni talks about Lando still learning his moves.

It makes sense that this is a moment in Lando's life where he's molding himself and finding out what works and doesn't. By the time ESB rolls around, we have a more mature and experienced figure.

 

Great fun episode!

 

I loved the protocol droid that looked like the original concept painting of C3PO. A great Easter egg for us hardcore Star Wars fans.

 

Anyone think Azmorigan looked like a fat red Yoda?


According to Wookieepedia, he was based on an early concept of Jabba the Hutt.

 

My thoughts:

I've loved Hera since day one. Was always my favorite character on the show. Thought she was better then ever in this episode.

I thought it was hilarious that a 30-35 year-old Lando was macing on a 16 year old girl.
Lando: "It's not my fault Trooper! Look at her! She's not drawn like a 16 year old!"

Had some laugh out loud moments for me. Tops was Ezra asking Zeb what Lando meant, and then echoing "I don't like him"
Second for me was when Azmorigan wanted Lando in exchange and both Ezra and Kanan didn't hesitate to agree.

A few OT music cues were well done.

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Gripes (minor)

WHY wasn't this set on a space station in orbit around Corellia? That would of been perfect no? Trying to get past an Imperial blockade in that system? AND would of made more sense that they didn't immediately recognize the Ghost? It's not like we see 50 of the things parked in Lothal's spaceport. They made it sound like it's the Toyota Camry or Honda Accord of the Star Wars universe. Plus they could of put some Falcon and Outrider-looking variations in the background as Easter Eggs.

I think they regressed Lando a little too much for my liking. I know it's a kid's cartoon, but this 42 year old viewer finds it a bit hard to accept that he goes from nothing to owning and loosing the Falcon and becoming the administrator of Cloud City all within 6 years (plus other misadventures). He also didn't act like someone in his 30s.

I really don't like the kiddie designs of the pig and Azmorigan. I know its based on Ralph's illustrations, but by following them so closely it doesn't really mesh with the style in the rest of the cartoon. The tiny hands and feet on Azmorigan really irked me to the point that I found it distracting while watching. I know, I know.. that's just a 'ME' thing. I'm sure it doesn't bother most anyone else.


I DO enjoy the cartoon a lot more then I thought I would though.

 

Wookieepedia says that Lando lost the Falcon prior to this episode. That's why he took up the puffer pig gig.

 

I didn't care for the episode. I don't mind light-hearted, but the humor just didn't work for me. The show looks cheap and I think they made Lando way too slimy.

Lando wasn't flirting with a 16 year old girl. He was trying to get under Ezra's skin. That's why he added the quip "what would he know, he is just a little kid". Hera later called him out for "trying to divide an conquer". I thought it was one of the better done things about the episode.

I agree with your minor gripe though.

 

Great review as always, Paul! I thought the actor playing Azmorigan was doing a wonderful job of suggesting James Hong in his performance, and then I read in the credits that IT WAS JAMES HONG!

James Hong and Billy Dee Williams in the same episode? Amazing. And I love that Billy Dee wasn't just phoning it in. He was all in with the performance.

 

Loved the episode and I was so hyped for them, leaving Lothal, only to ditch Lando on his farm on... LOTHAL.
Really, it is a running joke already. So in canon universe, everything happened on Lothal between Episode 3 and 4 for viewers.
Also, that Imperial Star Destroyer not recognizing Ghost, OK, I can accept this if Ghost is some type of mass produced Corellian starship.

On the other note, we have pretty small scale sense of the planets, thanks to the movies, so I can understand that there is vast amount of things on one planet and not only clone facility, or one city etc. But I would like the series better, if it went by KOTOR series model and they were staying on one planet for 3 to 4 episodes and then move on to the next. It's what I thought it will be like after the Spark of Rebellion episode..... then it slowly started to get rudiculous.

 

Did you see the unfinished clone wars episodes released a few months back? James voiced the villian in those as well. Lucasfilm must have enjoyed working with him


As an aside: I loved seeing sabbac finally being played on screen. Was anyone else stoked for this? Great callback to the 80s lando books where the term idiots array first appears!

 

I'll have to go back and watch again, but I was pretty sure Lando made a snarky remark about Lothal that seemed to suggest that they were always there.

 

His snarky remark was that there was such a large Imperial presence for a backwater world and he insinuated that it was because of the Ghost crew.

 

I didn't really like this episode. It had a strong dose of the guest star effect. I've watch so many great shows bring in a guest star and it throws off the writing and chemistry for that episode because they are working so hard to shoehorn in the whole personality of the guest. They had to show how great a card player ladies man and conman Lando is all in one episode. They could made a better episode with less.

 

I do like this show. It's ok. But after it's over every week I find myself really missing Firefly. Maybe after Joss Whedon parts ways as the Marvel overseer Disney will let him be the show runner for a live action Star Wars TV show? xD

Firefly with a cool and competent Twi'lek captain and pint-sized powerhouse Togruta action girl being hunted by a creepy sociopath in a mask?
Yes please.

 

it was a fun little episode. im glad im not alone in thinking Ezra's light saber looks like a staple gun! sure it had some silly moments that would never work in the live action movies but like the man says its primarily for kids. I for one would have fell out of my seat laughing if i was still under 10 beating up bad guys with puffer pig? im in.
BTW whats the best way to watch rebels when a new episode comes out if i dont have cable? iv been using Amazon at 3 credits an episode.
also, does this count towards one of the rebels trophy?

 

I didn't like that pig, it's a little bit dumb. Initially I thought Lando's voice sounded like a drunk but it was great. And Lothal, what the hell. Is there the center of the galaxy? And I missed more easter-eggs about Bespin and Millennium Falcon.

 

Lando was too over the top. The pig was a weak and weird plot device. It's a kids show. Huge let down after Path of the Jedi though. Probably one of the worst episodes of the season. Here's hoping the writers bounce back.