Clever recycling of themes in ‘Star Wars Rebels’

“REBELS” heroes (from left) Hera, Kanan, Ezra, Zeb and Sabine

Continuously and infinitely expanding, the “Star Wars” saga now adds to its rich sci-fi-fantasy mythology “Star Wars Rebels,” an animated series that follows the visual style of the successful “Clone Wars” show, which ran for a couple of seasons.

Set a few years before “Episode IV: A New Hope,” the series introduces a small band of heroes: the secret Jedi Kanan, the exceptional pilot Hera, the strong brute Zeb, the imaginative artist Sabine, the obnoxious droid Chopper, and the 15-year-old troublemaker Ezra.

Ezra provides the perspective of the newbie; we are introduced to this Empire-ruled world and his new “family” of renegades through him. He joins the band soon after being drawn to Kanan during one of the group’s sabotage missions. Kanan is revealed to be a long-hidden Jedi, whose order was exterminated by Emperor Palpatine’s forces 15 years prior. Ezra, meanwhile, exhibits mind powers and the potential to be a Jedi, so Kanan offers to teach him the ways of The Force.

As Padawan (or apprentice), Ezra learns that it’s not easy to be a Jedi Knight, as he has much hate for the Empire, which continues its tyrannical rule over his home planet, among other inhabited worlds. And Kanan, who was a child when most of the 10,000 Jedi peacekeepers were killed, is discovering that he has much to learn, as well.

“Star Wars Rebels” is smartly written and quickly paced; the first 13-episode season isn’t enough to focus on all its main characters equally, but it does develop a few of them impressively.

There are intriguing new villains: Agent Kallus is a ruthless Imperial officer, while the Inquisitor is a dark lord of the Sith order. There are fantastic lightsaber duels between Kanan and the Inquisitor that rival some of the fights in the films. The latter is actually frightening during their initial battle; voiced by Jason Isaacs, the Inquisitor looks like a cross between Nosferatu and a high-ranking military official, armed with a dreaded, double-bladed lightsaber.

The dynamics are nothing original: There’s the shifting odd couple-love/hate bond between some members, there’s an oft-rough mentor-mentee rapport and so on. But it’s actually bearable, since the new characters are rife with potential.

There’s clever recycling—Sabine’s look takes an old, established design and makes it her own, and Chopper is a familiar-looking but a more expressive robot than R2-D2, in many ways—to name a few. And speaking of Artoo, the old droid and a few other characters from the films and the “Clone Wars” series appear in some episodes.

The Rebels also impart selflessness and unity against the Empire’s despotic reign, themes that made the original trilogy universal and resonant on a deeper level. The show has begun to reflect that, and tell the untold stories during that era.

Season Two promises the inclusion of Darth Vader (voiced by James Earl Jones anew). It will provide more layers and encounters that the movies didn’t have space for, The Force willing.

(“Star Wars Rebels” airs Fridays, 10 p.m. on Disney.)

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