SPOILER The occupation/flight of the defender discussion

He did at least immediately believe Ezra about the wolf in the end of part 2.

I think that's the pilot who who screwed up back in Season 1 or 2, can't remember which. He probably got kicked out and that's why he's running a bar now. And the pilot they were gonna have for the flight test was the lead instructor at the TIE flight school back when Sabine was breaking Wedge out.

 

Lol when Kallus and Rex are debating who's in command of the Ghost and Rex tells him that it's because he commanded Star Destroyers that he's not in command and Kallus gives him a "Yup...that's actually a pretty good reason" look. Don't worry Al, you'll get your big chance to shine soon I think.

I'm really digging Sabine's new hair. It looks a little more grown up but still has her "look". It was a good move. I hope she ends up keeping that for the rest of the season. Still hoping she grows it out longer, but I doubt that will happen. She still has a helmet to wear after all, but alas, I can always hope.

First episode was pretty decent.

And the second episode was awesome. You might even say it went from good to great!

Ezra you dummy, why are you carrying the hyperdrive with your arms. Use the Force.

I will say I'm a little perturbed at the bait and switch with the wolf-rescue scene. The trailer built it up to be so much more, but nooope, Sabine's just asleep. They really missed a moment to have some good character bonding and development, but there's still quite a few episodes left. Maybe in the future. I'm probably the only one who wishes there was less violence and action and more subtle character moments and dialogue. Still, a great episode and definitely in my top 5 for the whole series at this point.

I will say it was nice seeing Sabine be the one to come up with the crazy plan that backfired and screw up the transponder thing for once and Ezra have some moments to shine. It's almost always Ezra being the one who does something careless and causes a problem that he then has to either get out of, or be rescued. Sabine is one of my favorite characters, but it's nice to see even she can screw up and need someone to help. And this episode did a great job of playing them both off each other, each filling in the gaps and helping to fix a mistake the other caused, saving each other, each coming up with good ideas the other didn't think of, etc. They make a great team and this episode really showcased that.

 

I have to agree, I was extremely disappointed in terms of character development. I thought Sabine and Ezra would have a chance to take their relationship up a notch. But NOOOO. And the reason why she is unconscious is because of the wolf’s halitosis...

I will say this, things like this are what really making me disappointed about Star Wars Rebels. To me it seems to be going downhill. And at Yavin 4, why are there only like 10 people around? Mickey Mouse is a cheapskate...

 

That's the reason lol. For a company worth billions of dollars, they sure are shortchanging their only ongoing Star Wars material at the moment. Can't spare a few million of that billion you'll make off TLJ for a few more animators? Geeez

And I'm still holding out hope. There as a little more Sabine Ezra goodness in this one compared to the Saw episodes, so while I didn't get everything I wanted, it wasn't entirely a let down.

And it does seem that at least Kanan is cluing in on them being...something. He had total faith that they would get through whatever was going on as long as they had each other. That was a nice comment from him. I bet Hera saw through Sabine's hard to get act ages ago.[/QUOTE]

 

The wolf seems to talk. Before Sabine faints, it seems to say 'Sabine'. When they arrive at the Rebel camp, it appears to say 'doom'. Did it say these things, or do you think it said something else?

--- Double Post Merged, Oct 31, 2017, Original Post Date: Oct 31, 2017 ---

Also see Rebels Recon:

 

Knew he sounded familiar: Dante Basco (who VA’d Zuke in The Last Airbender) voiced Jai Kell!

 

Could definitely be 'Dume'. I had difficulties understanding the wolf. If it was 'Dume', then that would be interesting.

 

That’s what I heard watching it too, can’t wait to find out what the connection is. Perhaps something to do with the Bendu?

I got some very strong Princess Mononoke vibes once the Lothwolf started to appear.

Oh, and I want a Lothcat

Taylor Gray had some interesting stuff to say on Rebels Recon which could shine some light on the Lothwolf:

 

Spoiler: Spoiler

Apparently he is Caleb Dume according to the Star Wars Wikia: http://starwars.wikia.com/wiki/Kanan_Jarrus

 

I enjoyed both episodes but Flight of the Defender is the better of the two episodes. I just wish Stormtroopers wasn't so incompetent. I understand that this is a "kids" show and I normally can over look it but the incompetent Stroomtroopers in The Occupation really bothered me this time. I didn't feel any real danger in the sewer scene. In the sewer scene there was one part where Hera was on the ladder and a Stromtrooper was shooting at her as she was pretty exposed. That would of been a good opportunity to have her be shot in the arm or leg or something. I'm not saying that they have to show an on screen death but give us a small bone to make it feel like that Ghost Crew might not make it. Show us a character get injured in a fire fight at some point, especially if they are really exposed like the sewer scene.

With that said, I really liked Flight of the Defender. I enjoyed how Thrawn was piecing out the Ghost Crew tactics by figuring out who was doing what to the point where he figured out that Sabine wasn't even flying during the dog fight. The Loth Wolf (whatever the name it had) was really cool. I can't wait until they elaborate more on the Wolf. I can't wait until next week episode since they are going to finally introduce Rukh. Hopefully he isn't a throw away character.

 

I wonder if Closed Caption will help out on this?

 

The Closed Cation for Rebels Recon has the Wolf saying, "Dume".

 

I really liked the visible changes to Lothal since the first season, it looks like a heavily industrialized and bleak place now, kind of like Wobani in Rogue One or Geonosis from last season. Sabine's new look is very nice it appears to have a closer resemblance to Clan Wren's colors which is an appropriate change for her character visibly. The disguises were a nice touch as well and they certainly helped to portray the oppressive nature of the Empire really well in "The Occupation". I really liked the cameos by some of the characters from season one, even if I completely forgot who they were. The Imperial March playing in the bar was nice too. Ezra's connection to the animals on Lothal was also a nice callback to Season one. Lastly, I liked the Lothwolf. It looks pretty cool and its connection to the force is really interesting, although I do have some concerns with that.

I don't mind the stormtroopers being incompetent on a regular basis but I do have a problem when the deathtroopers are as well. They are supposed to be this elite group and yet they seem surprisingly amateurish both this week and last. Thrawn was also disappointing to me this episode. I certainly enjoy seeing him again but he really hasn't done anything extraordinary or impressive in Rebels beyond being a relatively competent Imperial. Finally, the Lothwolf making Sabine fall asleep was just weird and I was mildly disappointed as the trailer made it appear like she was injured, oh well.

Overall, I enjoyed these episodes but I would say I enjoyed last weeks a lot more.

 

It all seems to be going downhill...