For those of you Rebels fans who have been disappointed in the way season 3 has played out, your hate mail has been answered. The most recent episode of Star Wars Rebels delivers on all the missing elements that you have been longing: a furthered story arc, the return of Darth Maul, and further connections to the past. In fact, if this episode had Hando in it, I would have said it was perfect. But, alas, no Hondo.
Even with the absence of the notorious space pirate we all love, Visions and Voices was one hell of an episode. If you haven’t seen it and don’t want it spoiled, stop reading now. If you don’t care, then continue on.
Episode Summary
As the episode starts out, the Ghost Crew is preparing for a new mission to Lothal, since their goal of disrupting the manufacturing plant there didn’t go as planned in the last episode. As Hera runs over the details of the plan, Ezra begins to see a face from his past: Maul. After a series of hallucinations, Kanan takes his padawan to visit the Bendu.
While there, Maul approaches. He explains that when he and Ezra combined the Jedi and Sith holocrons, a link was made between them. It allowed Ezra to see some of Maul’s thoughts and Maul some of Ezra’s. Maul goes on to explain that the information he needs is inside Ezra’s head. Reluctantly, the young Jedi goes off with Maul to severe the link and get the information they need.
Highlights
The Ezra Maul Connection
As I mentioned earlier, when the two holocrons were connected, it bound Ezra and Maul together through the force. And it seems like the only thing strong enough to break the binding is a force as powerful…as the force. So off to Dathomir they go.
Once on his home planet, Maul taps into some powerful Nightsister magic to help them make sense of the force vision. He takes his apprentice into what looks like the very cave where Mother Talzin practiced her magic. While there, Ezra notices that Maul has a pretty large collection of artifacts. The Jedi notices a type of lightsaber resting on a stand underneath a disheveled picture of Satine. Fans notice the sword to be the Dark Saber and remember Satine as the woman Obi-wan Kenobi almost left the order over.
The two share a drink over an altar and another vision takes them. The problem with this bastardized type of the force is that it requires payment. Shortly after the vision completes, a handful of Nightsister ghosts emerge from the alter demanding payment. Long story short, Maul escapes and Ezra plays the hero. The important take away from this whole ordeal is that the bond between Ezra and Maul seems to be broken. Now the only thing that connects them is destiny.
The Planet with Two Suns
If you don’t remember, the whole reason why Ezra and Maul wanted to combine the holocrons was to get information. Ezra wanted to find out how to destroy the Sith, while Maul wanted to find the location of Obi-wan Kenobi. And as any Star Wars fan knows, those two desires are linked to one place: Tatooine.
This is where I get nervous. It looks like Rebels is finally going to introduce Obi-wan Kenobi into the story. We’ve already seen a few canon characters make their way into Rebels. But with the exception on Maul and Hando, none of these characters have really been major players in the story. What will a Rebels look like with old Ben and what role will he play?
Maybe when the Ghost crew show up on Tatooine, old Ben will share a long look a Sabine and recognize her for what she is (whispers: his long-lost daughter).
I think it’s convenient that this is the last episode we get before the Rogue One premiere. I have a sneaking suspicion that Obi-wan Kenobi is going to play a bigger part to this story than many have believed. It’s speculated that Rogue One will end minutes before the beginning of Episode 4. And since Leia was on her way to get Obi-wan when she was captured, I don’t think I am too far off the mark.
A New Mandalore
Speaking of Sabine. At the end of the episode, Sabine goes back into the cave and notices something odd that is just off screen. She reaches down and picks up the Dark Saber. For my Fett Fans out there, you’ll know that the Dark Saber belonged to the Mandalore, leader of the Mandalorian people. Many people have speculated that Sabine would eventually unite the warring race and end up leading them, either against the Empire or simply against all outside forces.
If the theory about Sabine being the illegitimate daughter of Satine and Obi-wan, then by birth she would have the right to the Mandalorian throne. It would also make her a likely candidate to possess the force.
The next Star Wars Rebels won’t air until January 7th, well after the release of Rogue One. It’s my thoughts that we are going to get information in the film that will directly connect with the first episode of the second half of the season. Until then, you can catch reruns of Rebels on Disney XD or buy them on Amazon.
Did you like this Visions and Voices? Leave a comment with your opinion in the comment section below.
Dec 12 2016
Star Wars Rebels Review Visions and Voices
For those of you Rebels fans who have been disappointed in the way season 3 has played out, your hate mail has been answered. The most recent episode of Star Wars Rebels delivers on all the missing elements that you have been longing: a furthered story arc, the return of Darth Maul, and further connections to the past. In fact, if this episode had Hando in it, I would have said it was perfect. But, alas, no Hondo.
Even with the absence of the notorious space pirate we all love, Visions and Voices was one hell of an episode. If you haven’t seen it and don’t want it spoiled, stop reading now. If you don’t care, then continue on.
Episode Summary
As the episode starts out, the Ghost Crew is preparing for a new mission to Lothal, since their goal of disrupting the manufacturing plant there didn’t go as planned in the last episode. As Hera runs over the details of the plan, Ezra begins to see a face from his past: Maul. After a series of hallucinations, Kanan takes his padawan to visit the Bendu.
While there, Maul approaches. He explains that when he and Ezra combined the Jedi and Sith holocrons, a link was made between them. It allowed Ezra to see some of Maul’s thoughts and Maul some of Ezra’s. Maul goes on to explain that the information he needs is inside Ezra’s head. Reluctantly, the young Jedi goes off with Maul to severe the link and get the information they need.
Highlights
The Ezra Maul Connection
As I mentioned earlier, when the two holocrons were connected, it bound Ezra and Maul together through the force. And it seems like the only thing strong enough to break the binding is a force as powerful…as the force. So off to Dathomir they go.
Once on his home planet, Maul taps into some powerful Nightsister magic to help them make sense of the force vision. He takes his apprentice into what looks like the very cave where Mother Talzin practiced her magic. While there, Ezra notices that Maul has a pretty large collection of artifacts. The Jedi notices a type of lightsaber resting on a stand underneath a disheveled picture of Satine. Fans notice the sword to be the Dark Saber and remember Satine as the woman Obi-wan Kenobi almost left the order over.
The two share a drink over an altar and another vision takes them. The problem with this bastardized type of the force is that it requires payment. Shortly after the vision completes, a handful of Nightsister ghosts emerge from the alter demanding payment. Long story short, Maul escapes and Ezra plays the hero. The important take away from this whole ordeal is that the bond between Ezra and Maul seems to be broken. Now the only thing that connects them is destiny.
The Planet with Two Suns
If you don’t remember, the whole reason why Ezra and Maul wanted to combine the holocrons was to get information. Ezra wanted to find out how to destroy the Sith, while Maul wanted to find the location of Obi-wan Kenobi. And as any Star Wars fan knows, those two desires are linked to one place: Tatooine.
This is where I get nervous. It looks like Rebels is finally going to introduce Obi-wan Kenobi into the story. We’ve already seen a few canon characters make their way into Rebels. But with the exception on Maul and Hando, none of these characters have really been major players in the story. What will a Rebels look like with old Ben and what role will he play?
Maybe when the Ghost crew show up on Tatooine, old Ben will share a long look a Sabine and recognize her for what she is (whispers: his long-lost daughter).
I think it’s convenient that this is the last episode we get before the Rogue One premiere. I have a sneaking suspicion that Obi-wan Kenobi is going to play a bigger part to this story than many have believed. It’s speculated that Rogue One will end minutes before the beginning of Episode 4. And since Leia was on her way to get Obi-wan when she was captured, I don’t think I am too far off the mark.
A New Mandalore
Speaking of Sabine. At the end of the episode, Sabine goes back into the cave and notices something odd that is just off screen. She reaches down and picks up the Dark Saber. For my Fett Fans out there, you’ll know that the Dark Saber belonged to the Mandalore, leader of the Mandalorian people. Many people have speculated that Sabine would eventually unite the warring race and end up leading them, either against the Empire or simply against all outside forces.
If the theory about Sabine being the illegitimate daughter of Satine and Obi-wan, then by birth she would have the right to the Mandalorian throne. It would also make her a likely candidate to possess the force.
The next Star Wars Rebels won’t air until January 7th, well after the release of Rogue One. It’s my thoughts that we are going to get information in the film that will directly connect with the first episode of the second half of the season. Until then, you can catch reruns of Rebels on Disney XD or buy them on Amazon.
Did you like this Visions and Voices? Leave a comment with your opinion in the comment section below.
Share this:
By Thaddaeus Brodrick • TV • • Tags: Dark saber, review, S3 E11, Star wars rebels, Tatooine