REVIEW: Star Wars Rebels "An Inside Man"
It's a miracle. Star Wars Rebels had a good episode. In fact, it was really good. Yes, after three straight weeks of either mediocre or just straight up bad episodes, Rebels got back on the right track this week. This episode brought Kanan, Chopper, and Ezra back to Lothal, and you know what, if that's what it takes to make a good episode, that's fine by me.
So the three Rebels returned to Lothal to try and see if they can help Ryder Azadi, the former Lothal governor, to destroy the main Imperial factory on Lothal. Ok, that's more like it. That's proper motivation. That is something the Rebellion should try to do...not go on a treasure hunt. Azadi says that some of the workers have sabotaged most of the vehicles so that they blow up or fall apart when they are used. Again, this is something that should be done. Anyway, Kanan, Chopper, and Ezra go undercover in the factory to see if they can find any information on a rumored prototype fighter the Imperials are working on.
This is when it's revealed that Agent Kallus, Governor Price and Grand Admiral Thrawn have come to the factory to investigate. Ok, so how was Thrawn this time? He was much better than his last couple appearances. For one thing, like I mentioned the show should do more of, he acted pretty ruthless. He actually got one of the undercover workers named Sumar, to test a speeder bike he sabotaged. He then caused the speeder to explode, killing him instantly. Again, that's more like it. This is the Thrawn that fans want to see. In many times this episode, he acts smart, cunning, and aware of the Rebels' actions and appears at times to be one step ahead. This is the Thrawn that I want to see going forward, don't hold back anymore, go full on out.
However, when all hope for the Rebels seems lost, who helps them but Fulcrum, aka, Agent Kallus. Yes, in a revelation that many people, including myself saw coming, Kallus is the Imperial spy, the new "Inside Man" the new Fulcrum. I'll admit, the reveal didn't have as big of a punch as I would have liked, but it still makes sense and it opens up a whole new opportunity to develop and create new stories for Kallus. I do like the direction they are going with the character and after Kanan and Ezra tell Hera what happened, Zeb even comments and says he may have "recruited" him.
Thanks to Kallus, the trio is able to escape in a walker, however, Thrawn catches onto the ruse and orders two AT-AT walkers to attack their walker. This turns into a pretty entertaining action sequence as essentially Ezra and Kanan have to play chicken with the giant walkers. Eventually, the three escape being literally crushed by the AT-ATs and are able to escape via Azadi. Granted, I think Thrawn may have let them escape again, but I'm not entirely sure.
In the end, the Rebellion is rightfully cautious to trust Kallus while Thrawn already believes the Rebels have a spy working for them and is already planning on using that to the Empire's advantage. He speaks very keenly to Kallus so my theory is that he either knows it's him or is suspicious of him. Either way, it will be interesting to see where both Thrawn and Kallus go from here.
So yeah, color me impressed. I really don't have any major complaints this week. Rebels delivered a pretty entertaining and interesting episode that set some of the seeds for future storylines later in the season as the prototype fighters the Empire are working on is a fighter that has shields on them, making them a massive threat to Rebel fighters. Thrawn was actually a threat and intimidating, the stakes were raised and had a sense of danger, and most importantly, there wasn't any annoying characters or situations at all. It's almost of if this episode was about a group of Rebels trying to take down a massive Imperial force like it should be, GASP!
