The highly anticipated episode of Star Wars Rebels, Twin Suns, has been released.
The long-awaited face off between Maul and Kenobi!
So let’s talk about what happened, and what it means for the future of the show.
I don’t think I should have to say this, but spoilers are incoming.
This was a very self-contained episode.
Ezra gets a message from the holocrons that he interprets to mean he needs to help Obi-Wan
Kenobi face Maul.
So he and Chopper disobey Hera’s orders and head to Tatooine.
It turns out that was all a trick by Maul to get Ezra to find Kenobi for him, which
I thought was an elegant way to involve someone from the main cast.
Because that’s really what all that business was about.
Ezra learns a little lesson about family, but come on, Ezra’s inclusion was just a
way to connect things even a little bit to the Ghost Crew.
The real story here is about Maul and Obi-Wan.
So let’s just get right to the meat of the episode and talk about their final duel.
A rivalry that’s lasted over thirty years has finally come to an end.
I love that Kenobi refers to their relationship as an old wound, which is a reference to the
Star Wars Visionaries comic where they faced off.
The build up to the fight was good.
I like that Obi-Wan was perfectly willing to talk things out until Maul realized he
was there to protect someone.
Then his eyes harden and he knows Maul can’t walk away.
He switches from his normal fighting stance to Qui-Gon’s, which was a nice touch.
Then Maul tries to kill him with the same move he used on Qui-Gon, and it’s all over.
I was on a roller coaster of emotions.
At first I was disappointed the fight was so short after so much buildup and anticipation,
but I think it was the right way to go.
We don’t need to see these almost sixty year old guys flipping around for ten minutes.
I love that Obi-Wan just shut Maul down so quickly.
Maul dying in his arms was a nice way to see the character go.
I like the pity Obi-Wan took on his nemesis, and the comfort he provided.
If I went back in time to when Episode I came out and told my twelve year old self, “Hey,
that red and black devil looking bad guy?
You’re gonna feel really sorry for him in about twenty years,” I would have been so
shocked.
First and foremost because I would have a lot of questions about how he survived being
cut in half, but also because I never would have imagined the character they introduced
in the Phantom Menace would ever have this amount of depth.
I was annoyed when they first brought him back in The Clone Wars, but I’ve gotta say,
I’m sad to see him go.
Going into this episode I was hopeful that Maul wasn’t there to fight Obi-Wan at all.
I’ve said over and over that I think him going after Kenobi is misguided.
He got his revenge when he killed Satine.
If there’s one person he should be mad at, it’s Palpatine.
As he said in the season two finale, the Sith took everything from him.
Used him.
Cast him aside.
Killed his brother.
Killed his mother.
I think his final words, asking about the Chosen One, and hoping that he will be avenged
means his anger was not directed at Obi-Wan, but still the Sith.
So why did he come to fight?
I think there are a few reasons.
He hasn’t been mentally right since the Clone Wars, and he seemed straight up crazy
in the start of this episode.
In his madness he could just be fixated on misguided revenge.
It could also be that he thinks he has no hope fighting Sidious.
If he feels the need to take his anger out on someone, he probably thinks he’d be more
successful fighting Obi-Wan.
But part of me thinks Maul was just ready to die.
Maybe he felt like going out against someone he has always considered an enemy, but someone
that would still treat him with dignity.
As fast as their final duel was, I think it’s a moment in Star Wars I will remember for
a long time.
Sam Witwer and Stephen Stanton really nailed it.
Stanton in particular was fantastic as Kenobi.
I don’t want Obi-Wan to be a major part of Rebels or anything, but on the other hand
I’d love to see the character again.
Actually, I want Rex to know his old friend is alive.
Which reminds me I love that Bail Organa confirmed Obi-Wan’s death even to the Rebellion.
Keeping him and Luke safe like a bro.
Although I guess Rogue One confirms he at least told Mon Mothma the truth.
Speaking of Luke, we got to see him, and it was just the right amount.
When they started this storyline headed towards Tatooine at the start of this season, I was
afraid they would overdo it.
I’m very pleased they didn’t.
Actually this entire plot had potential to devolve into pure fanservice.
But I would say it was not only handled well, but the final moments especially were handled
with meaning and depth I wasn’t expecting.
As much as I enjoyed the final act, I think the episode as a whole was held back by the
need to include Ezra.
Knowing that this was Maul’s final episode, I wish we got more time with him.
I want to know more about what was going on in his head and let him answer some of those
questions I have about his motivations.
Show him playing detective a bit, and have him track down Obi-Wan another way.
Maybe it would have been too jarring to not even see the Ghost Crew, and I do think it’s
important for Ezra to have closure, but the lesson he learned about home and family is
one I feel like he’s learned already, and it’s not like it was some huge revelation.
That said, there were still things to like in Ezra’s story.
I liked that Hera had a legitimate tactical reason for not wanting him to go.
He knows Lothal better than anyone, and they need him for their upcoming attack.
The scene where he and Chopper almost split up is very similar to Threepio and Artoo on
Tatooine.
When Chopper ran out of power, even though I was certain he would be fine, Ezra’s grief
and regret at thinking he caused his friend to basically die was moving.
Also, a little easter egg, the power cell Obi-Wan uses to recharge Chopper is the same
one seen charging Artoo in The Empire Strikes Back.
Their scene together was nice, and I enjoyed the fact that nobody actually called Obi-Wan
by his name, considering that’s a name he hasn’t heard in a long time.
I think that’s all I have to say about this episode.
It was a great sendoff for Maul, I just wish we got to spend a little more time saying
goodbye to the character throughout the rest of the episode.
I’ll be back next Sunday to do the final Rebels review of the season!
If you want to see my other Rebels reviews, you can watch this playlist here.
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As always, thanks for watching and may the Force be with you!