Star Wars Rebels - The Siege of Lothal [TV Review]

Since Star Wars Celebration Anaheim back in April I've been looking forward to the summer mini movie for season two of Star Wars Rebels and at long last, it is here.
So lets talk about it.

Now that's how you make an entrance. Vader does drama.

I had been waiting so long for the episode, mini movie, that I was worried I was going to be dissapointed by my own high expectations.

4.5 out of 5 stars

I was not. In fact I think they might have actually jammed a little too much Star Wars into The Seige of Lothal. We could have used a bit more time to breathe. A bit more time to take it all in.

Saber Duels, Force Throws, star fighter combat, intrigue...

It is fast paced. So here come the
Spoilers! I hope you have watched the mini movie already.

We open with the Ghost attacking an Imperial squadron of Gozanti Transports. However this time they are not alone, two A-Wings from Phoenix Squadron are assisting.

Yes. A-Wings.

Force Sensing, conflicting emotions, betrayal, scheming,
political manipulation... it was a packed episode.

I went and did some digging on Wookiepedia and in a few other source books. The A-Wing was retconned. It was originally developed ABY (After the Battle of Yavin), but now it has been moved 5 years BBY (Before the Battle of Yavin). Of course the primary starfighters of the rebellion were the older Z-95s and Y-Wings left over from the Clone Wars, so I hope we'll be seeing some of them. (Y-Wings accounted for the greatest number of Rebel ships lost in the conflict, in large part because they were so numerous.) X-Wings only entered the Rebel fleet one year BBY.

You remember how to use the force, don't you? Just close your eyes and grab a Togruta.

 Wow did I digress.

Still, starfighters are a big sticking point for Star Wars nerds. Considering we're likely to see a prototype B-Wing before the end of this season, it seems important to discuss. I can see several retcons occurring.

So is that a modified Corellian CR-90 Corvette?
It seems a bit bigger than the typical Blockade Runner.

Okay. So Vader has come to Lothal to deal with the Rebels personally, since there is a Jedi amongst them. Vader's presence causes Minister Tua to fear for her life. She contacts the Rebellion in order to defect from the Empire. The Rebels agree after she offers up some useful information. However this was all in Lord Vader's plans. He has set everything in motion. There is no way that Minister Tua will ever leave Lothal alive... and the crew of the Ghost is going to take the fall for her death. Vader has mastered political murder for gain from the Emperor, or so it appears.

Minister Tua talks to Ezra asking for the Rebel's help.

After the failed rescue of Minister Tua, and the ensuing gunfight at the docking bay, the crew of the Ghost is stuck on Lothal. The space port is locked down and any ship leaving the surface will be shot down. Star Destroyers patrol the skies over the Capital City. The news is blaming the death of Minister Tua on the crew of the Ghost.

Desperate times call for desparate measures. The crew of the Ghost decide that the best plan is to steal and Imperial Shuttle as the Imperial fleet yards are the low on troopers since they are all searching for the Rebels. This too appears to have been in Lord Vader's plan for he lay in wait. Even toppling tons of Imperial Scout Walker onto the Sith Lord cannot kill him. The crew of the Ghost flee, Sabine getting shot in the process by her own reflected blaster bolts.

The crew contacts their least favorite smuggler, Lando Calrissian for help to get off planet. It is here that they meet the racist sounding droid that works for Lando. Seriously, who the hell thought that was the right voice to use? That was just awful. Stupidly awful.  

Tie Advanced X-1 Starfighters. The empire should have
built more. They are bad-ass in the hands of a Sith Lord.

The crew of the Ghost escapes off world. However this too was in Vader's plan. He tracks them to the Rebel Fleet and attacks using a single Tie Advanced X-1. It does not matter, he has plot cannons and rips through the sheilds on the Rebel command ship. He downs A-Wings with one shot. Only the Ghost with it's plot armor can withstand the power of Vader's plot cannons. Ahsoka is on board the ghost, and together with Kanan they use the force to seek the Tie Advanced's pilot. As soon as they make contact Ahsoka screams and collapses. The hate was too great. She says she has no idea who the pilot was, but you can see it in her eyes... she knows. She knows who Vader is.

And he knows that Skywalker's Apprentice lives.
And he informs the Emperor. 

And now the waiting begins... how long until the real season begins? I can't wait to see Rex, and the other Clone Troopers, Hando, and who knows who else will appear? In Clone Wars we had so many guests of the week, I suppose it could happen again, but this time with characters like Han or Chewie or General Dodana, Mon Motha. Who knows.  

 Prior Star Wars Rebels's reviews.

- First Star Wars Rebels Review.
- Fires Across the Galaxy Review.