Season Two, Episode 13 — “Legends of the Lasat”
© Copyright & TM 2016 Lucasfilm Ltd.
By Jason Gibner. Last week’s episode of Rebels successfully injected some real life into Sabine, so it’s only right that this week places its focus on that giant Chewbacca-but-not-Chewbacca guy — that’s right, it’s Garazeb “Zeb” Orrelios’ turn in the spotlight.
The sad problem with Star Wars Rebels giving us these character-of-the-week focused episodes is if you have a hard time caring about any one of these members of the Ghost, no matter how Star Wars Awesome the episode is, chances are you still won’t care by the time the episode is done at all. In last week’s “Protector of Concord Dawn”, the show used the layered and rich history of Mandalorian culture that was established in Clone Wars to help build up a backstory and motivation for Sabine. Now with “Legends of the Lasat”, Rebels touches on the more mystical side of the Force (which The Force Awakens recently brought back to it’s mysterious and spiritual glory) and its connection to the Lasat people, all in an effort to give Zeb just a little more meaning.
It’s all well and good to help establish your main characters (though I feel like these are the kinds of episodes we should have seen in Rebels Season One), and while the Sabine stuff worked, I’m not sure how all this “cool mystic Force stuff” connects to Zeb’s sudden inner peace, say nothing of his cultural awakening. (I don’t about you, but I thought Zeb might have been the least spiritual person on the Ghost crew, besides Chopper). This is an episode with a lot of pretty alright and neato moments, but the thin connections between these moments are decidedly unconvincing.
WHAT WORKED: This is a crazy, great-looking episode. From the bright purples and orange hues in the hallway laser blast shootout to the strange swirling space anomaly that lies before our crew, this is an episode that proves the show has vastly improved in terms of its visuals. With the story, as soon as Chava The Wise mentions the Ashla and “the prophecy”, the episode gravitates towards that Star Wars “chosen ones” sweet spot, that greatest hits religion and vague mysticism that has had fans moonwalking and high fiving for almost 40 years now.
WHAT DIDN’T: While new characters (like the old mystic, Chava the Wise) shine, it’s our returning supporting characters that end up floundering here. While I really dig Clone Wars favorite Hondo, apart from a few good lines, he feels massively out of place in the episode.
I have no problem with Zeb finding his people and his people having some sort of prophecy about him leading them to their home and all that, but the way “Lasat” wraps up with Ezra and Zeb’s awkward “you know, I don’t have a family either” moment did not play out well. At all.
And Agent Kallus. Can anyone tell me why Tarkin hasn’t ordered Darth Vader to personally kill this guy yet? The guy has turned into the worst type of “I’ll get you next time!” cartoon villain, or worse, just a really bad Imperial officer. (Seems he just can’t capture that Rebel cell he keeps bumping into over and over again.)
The music. I can see (and have already read on Twitter) a lot of fans gushing on the Philip Glass-inspired music as the Ghost enters the anomaly, but I found it nothing but pretentious, out of place, odd in a bad way, and rather distracting. Sure, it’s like nothing we’ve heard before on Rebels, but I wish maybe it could have been used in a scene that had the actual emotion to back up music like that. Sorry not sorry.
BEST LINE(s):
Hondo: “Wait, does this mean I am not getting my finder’s fee?” Ezra: “You never were.” Hondo : “Perfect answer. I am so proud of you right now.”
“You prophecy types always pull something like this.” – Zeb.
“It is through your Force, our Ashla that the prophecy comes. It is written and it is spoken.” – Chava The Wise.
BEST MOMENT: Hands down, it’s when Zeb finally decides to stop being a grump and extends his bo-rifle to join in on the Ashla church party on the Ghost. Maybe it’s that Force Awakens glow we find ourselves still basking in — what with all this talk of secret maps and spiritual homeworlds — but the moment really resonates here.
EPISODE’S MVP: Going out on a limb here and saying it’s Chava the Wise. When I first saw the preview for this episode, I rolled my eyes at the thought of seeing “Zeb’s grandma” but turns out she was the breath of life this episode needed. Again, maybe it’s because we are all still fresh from going googly eyed a couple months ago at another little old alien lady talking about the Force. Maybe, maybe not. But I’ll still put a hand on the Bible and tell you: Chava was great.
© Copyright & TM 2016 Lucasfilm Ltd.
HOLOCRON READINGS:
– Chava talking about Ashla and Kanan, saying that the Force has many names, is very true. In George Lucas’ original story treatment for Star Wars, the light and dark sides of the Force were called the Ashla and Bogan. Those names have been used in countless EU stories, but this episode is the first time it has gone legit.
– Where’s the Chopper backstory episode?
– Looking for some real talk Force spirituality in animated Star Wars? Seek out the Season Six Clone Wars episode, “Voices”. It’ll make you walk with a limp long after you watch it.
– Anyone else get a Wrath of Khan vibe from the black hole vortex cluster nebula cloud? Reminded me of the classic Mutara Nebula quite a bit. And maybe a little of the under-appreciated Disney sci-fi classic, The Black Hole.
6 out of 10
Next: “The Call”, soon.
Before: “The Protector of Concord Dawn”, here.
