Before I dive into Hera’s Heroes, I need to explain something first.
Dave Filoni and the gang over at Star Wars headquarters have brought some wonderful stories that fit neatly within the new expanded universe. The Clone Wars explores the time between Episode II and III and Rebels delves into the time shortly before the events in Episode IV. What’s great about these shows is that they show us how the fall of the Galactic Republic and the rise of the Empire.
While most of the episodes in each show provide excellent depth into the milieu of the Star Wars universe—focusing on character development, storytelling, and exploring the greater universe—some episodes fall short.
Hera’s Heroes was one of these episodes.
Episodes 4 takes place on Hera’s home planet of Ryloth. After a supply run gone bad, Hera discovers that the occupying forces on Ryloth have taken up residence in her ancestral home. While this is less than favorable, what Hera really finds unacceptable is that the Empire is now in possession of treasured family heirloom.
The episode focuses on the retrieval of this family artifact.
Highlights of the Episode
While at first glance the episode was somewhat of a filler, there is value in it if you look deep enough. Here are some of the highlights Hera’s Heroes.
Chopper, Hero of the Clone Wars
It’s easy to forget about Chopper’s backstory. We see the plucky little droid staring at a destroyed Y-wing, the same Y-wing Hera pulled him from when he crashed on Ryloth. If this moment about Choppers past wasn’t important, then it wouldn’t have been included in the episode. Whether you liked the episode or not, Filoni and crew never put anything in an episode that isn’t important.
We know that a droid who doesn’t have his memory whipped starts to develop a personality, and Chopper has a strong personality. So we can assume that he has never had his memory erased. This leads me to ask a number of questions about his past.
Who was he in during the Clone Wars? What did/does he know? What information is he not telling us??
Thrawn, the Outsider
If there is one thing we know about the Empire, it’s that it’s xenophobic; they hate all things alien. Then how could a Chiss like Thrawn rise so high in the imperial ranks? We don’t have an explanation for this in the new EU. At least not yet. Early next year we will get more of the cultured Chiss’s backstory in the new novel Thrawn. Until then, he is something of an unknown.
This episode revolves around how the human leadership in the Empire treats aliens. But if Thrawn has made it to the rank of Admiral, I am left to wonder if the xenophobia goes all the way to the top, or is it something the Emperor fosters to keep the humans in check?
I am leaning to the latter.
Predictions for the rest of the season
I think we are going to see more connections to the Clone Wars. I think we are going to get more of Choppers backstory in the coming season. This information will get us to love Chopper just enough that when Filoni finally finishes the droid for good, it will hurt that much more.
Cham Syndulla will also meet his maker sometime towards the end of the season, whether at the hands of Thrawn or some other trooper, I don’t know. This will likely set off a series of events that will lead to more death and destruction.
I think we are going to see major characters killed off this season. I also think we are going to see a stronger connection between Ezra and Sabine grow. How else are they supposed to give birth to Rey?
What did you think of Hera’s Heroes? How far off-base are my predictions? Leave a comment in the section below.
Oct 30 2016
Star Wars Rebels Recap Hera’s Heroes S03 E04 [Potential Spoilers]
Before I dive into Hera’s Heroes, I need to explain something first.
Dave Filoni and the gang over at Star Wars headquarters have brought some wonderful stories that fit neatly within the new expanded universe. The Clone Wars explores the time between Episode II and III and Rebels delves into the time shortly before the events in Episode IV. What’s great about these shows is that they show us how the fall of the Galactic Republic and the rise of the Empire.
While most of the episodes in each show provide excellent depth into the milieu of the Star Wars universe—focusing on character development, storytelling, and exploring the greater universe—some episodes fall short.
Hera’s Heroes was one of these episodes.
Episodes 4 takes place on Hera’s home planet of Ryloth. After a supply run gone bad, Hera discovers that the occupying forces on Ryloth have taken up residence in her ancestral home. While this is less than favorable, what Hera really finds unacceptable is that the Empire is now in possession of treasured family heirloom.
The episode focuses on the retrieval of this family artifact.
Highlights of the Episode
While at first glance the episode was somewhat of a filler, there is value in it if you look deep enough. Here are some of the highlights Hera’s Heroes.
Chopper, Hero of the Clone Wars
It’s easy to forget about Chopper’s backstory. We see the plucky little droid staring at a destroyed Y-wing, the same Y-wing Hera pulled him from when he crashed on Ryloth. If this moment about Choppers past wasn’t important, then it wouldn’t have been included in the episode. Whether you liked the episode or not, Filoni and crew never put anything in an episode that isn’t important.
We know that a droid who doesn’t have his memory whipped starts to develop a personality, and Chopper has a strong personality. So we can assume that he has never had his memory erased. This leads me to ask a number of questions about his past.
Who was he in during the Clone Wars? What did/does he know? What information is he not telling us??
Thrawn, the Outsider
If there is one thing we know about the Empire, it’s that it’s xenophobic; they hate all things alien. Then how could a Chiss like Thrawn rise so high in the imperial ranks? We don’t have an explanation for this in the new EU. At least not yet. Early next year we will get more of the cultured Chiss’s backstory in the new novel Thrawn. Until then, he is something of an unknown.
This episode revolves around how the human leadership in the Empire treats aliens. But if Thrawn has made it to the rank of Admiral, I am left to wonder if the xenophobia goes all the way to the top, or is it something the Emperor fosters to keep the humans in check?
I am leaning to the latter.
Predictions for the rest of the season
I think we are going to see more connections to the Clone Wars. I think we are going to get more of Choppers backstory in the coming season. This information will get us to love Chopper just enough that when Filoni finally finishes the droid for good, it will hurt that much more.
Cham Syndulla will also meet his maker sometime towards the end of the season, whether at the hands of Thrawn or some other trooper, I don’t know. This will likely set off a series of events that will lead to more death and destruction.
I think we are going to see major characters killed off this season. I also think we are going to see a stronger connection between Ezra and Sabine grow. How else are they supposed to give birth to Rey?
What did you think of Hera’s Heroes? How far off-base are my predictions? Leave a comment in the section below.
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By Thaddaeus Brodrick • TV • • Tags: Hera's heroes, Ryloth, S03 E04, Star Wars, Thrawn