TV Show Review:
Star Wars Rebels Series Finale
Starring the voices of Taylor Gray, Freddie Prinze Jr., Vanessa Marshall, Tiya Sircar, Steve Blum, Dee Bradley Baker, David Oyelowo and Dave Filoni
Created by Simon Kinberg, Carrie Beck and Dave Filoni (Based on characters created by George Lucas)
Rated TV-Y7-FV
My Rating: *****/5
In 2014, “Star Wars Rebels” began airing on Disney XD as part of Disney’s cross-media project to form a new expanded universe for the “Star Wars” saga after their purchase of Lucasfilm in 2012. After four years and 75 episodes, the series came to its end earlier this month. Much like the films it spun off from, “Star Wars Rebels” has delivered a stellar sci-fi story and provided a great end to its run.
The series took place between the events of the films “Revenge of the Sith” and “A New Hope,” and told an overarching story showing a brave group of heroes fighting against the Galactic Empire; helping the Rebel Alliance get the spark it needed to spread like fire across the galaxy.
The final episodes of the series aired on March 5; it showed a young man named Ezra Bridger (voice of Taylor Gray) trying to master his teachings of the Force from his mentor Kanan Jarrus (voice of Freddie Prinze Jr.) to retake his homeworld of Lothal from the grasp of the Empire. Standing in their way is Grand Admiral Thrawn (voice of Lars Mikkelsen), who forces the tight-knit group of heroes into a final showdown in a conclusion that’s among the best “Star Wars” material that’s ever been produced.
While this isn’t the first time the “Star Wars” saga has delved into animated spin offs to bridge the gaps between the events of the film series; it’s one that captures the same nostalgic wonder of the original trilogy and provides new material that has a spark that easily makes the best conclusion to a Disney animated series since the finale to the acclaimed series “Gravity Falls.”
Following two animated TV series centered around the Clone Wars in 2003 and 2008, this series proved to be a fantastic animated take on the early days of the Galactic Civil War. Not only does it wrap up the storylines that had been in place from the beginning of the show, the ending scenes tease a new series for the near future; telling of events between the events of “Return of the Jedi” and “The Force Awakens.”
Over the past four years, “Star Wars Rebels” proved to be every bit as worthwhile for Disney as the new films in the saga they produced; and the finale ends the series on a high note. Filled with great voice acting, beautiful animation and a story that both respected and expanded the lore of the saga; it’s one of the best animated series this decade has had to offer. Whatever lies ahead for the next animated adaptation in the “Star Wars” saga, it’s clear this series has plenty of material to make a good model to follow. “Remember, the Force will be with you… always.”