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Continuity & Analysis

Star Wars: Rebels - Fighter Flight (2014) [S1E4]
A simple supply run for hard-to-find meiloorun fruit takes a dangerous turn,
as Zeb and Ezra draw the attention of Imperials...and steal a TIE fighter.
Star Wars: Rebels - Rise of the Old Masters (2014) [S1E5]
Kanan continues to train Ezra in the ways of the Force, but both become frustrated
with each other and their new roles. Meanwhile, an underground transmission
reveals that a Jedi Master, long thought dead, is alive and in Imperial custody.
Star Wars: Rebels - Breaking Ranks (2014) [S1E6]
Looking to uncover an Imperial decoder, Ezra goes undercover
as a cadet at the Lothal Imperial Academy.




CONTINUITY
These three standalone episodes are about Ezra's early development using the Force.
The planet Stygeon Prime is seen for the first time. Two worlds are seen in these episodes:


- Kothal is a large town located relatively near to Lothal City. It has a marketplace where local produce is offered for sale and
imported products are made available to the local population. The town is built on a rolling grassland.


- Lieutenant Yogar Lyste is shown here fulfilling his duty as the Supply Master for the Army garrison on Lothal. He is in Kothal purchasing
provisions. It seems Kothal is a convenient place for procuring some part of their food supplies, both local produce and imported.
His Imperial operating number is LSM-03. He first appeared in the pilot episode, and is seen again in three future episodes.

- The K79-S80 Reconnaissance Troop Transport (RTT) is an armored personnel carrier and assault craft used by the Imperial Army. It is
an armed repulsorcraft which can also be used to deploy troops in combat situations or to transport captives. This is the first
appearance of one in SW material. It was created as a licensed SW toy by Kenner in 1978 sold as 'Imperial Troop Transporter'.
Subsequently, they appeared in the original SW comics and a variety of legendary material.

- Valen Rudor is seen for the first time, or the second time if one counts the web-released shorts which preceded this series. He is
presumably a Major, or at least a Captain, in the Imperial Starfighter Corps, and is an Imperial ace, what is called a Flight Baron.
Despite the Empire's low tolerance for failure, Rudor has now been seen twice in a relatively short span of time, and both times
he goes from having the upper hand to being easily defeated and losing Imperial property, yet seems to be in great standing with
his superiors when he is next seen. He gives orders to a stormtrooper "Commander", which could be an officer of any rank
from Sergeant all the way up to General, however this is one of a number of factors which suggests his actual rank is Major.

- As mentioned in the SW films, ships in this galaxy have locator beacons, which can be used to allow their allies to find them. These
presumably use hyperspace communication, as they are seen to work from many starsystems away. In the case of the TIE fighter's
beacon, it probably cannot be turned off like in other ships, as its purpose is to allow the Imperial military to track it.


How did the Sumars get out of their shackles so quickly after escaping the Imperial transport? Their wrists were all
seen to be in locking binders, which they were still wearing when they leapt from the vehicle, and when they were
running away and being fired at by the Imperial soldiers. They are seen again only minutes later, watching the action
from a distance, and seem to have freed themselves, while in the middle of an untouched grassland with nothing in
sight. They had just been in custody, so if they have anything on them capable of cutting through the arm binders
they would likely have tried escaping before, and also the Empire's security procedures are terrible.


- Zeb says, "I really thought this Jedi stuff would be more interesting. No wonder the old religion died." Zeb knows of Jedi, and even
something of their recent history, and probably not only because he knows a Jedi personally. At the same time, their teachings
and practices are mysterious to him, and he seems to hold some reverence for their imagined wisdom. This is why it is a bit
disappointing for him that Ezra's lessons aren't particularly profound, and don't involve amazing feats using the Force.
Main Article: Awareness of the Jedi and the Sith

- Chopper loves to laugh, enjoys physical comedy, an appreciates situational irony. He also comes off as a jerk at times, as he takes
some pleasure in calculating others' misfortune as comical. This is typical of certain droid types, most especially astromechs.
R2 and other mechanic droids seem to have a firm grasp of humor in social situations, which may in part be related to their
programming as logic based technicians. Social interactions and real world situations are often illogical, and laughter is
a sentient, logical being's response to things that seem to be illogical or absurd in the universe.
Main Article: Droid Intelligence

- The Imperial Holonet News is the official news broadcast of the Empire, and is likely the only legally allowed news broadcast as this
stage of the Empire. It is a propaganda arm of the state, and selectively reports the news, misrepresents events to suit the official
narrative of the establishment, and spreads lies. In this broadcast, the Empire announced regarding Ezra and Zeb's rescue of
the Sumars that a "stolen TIE fighter was later used to attack a transport full of innocent workers", a completely accurate
statement which leaves out the fact that the workers were imprisoned to be used as forced laborers after the Empire stole
their farmland. With their monopoly on media, it is not usually necessary to lie, when the actions of those resisting
the government can be easily painted as criminality and terrorism. The broadcaster heard is Alton Kastle, who is the regular
newsreader for the IHN on Lothal. News and entertainment shows are seen to be broadcast over hyperspace in the Republic
and Imperial eras, their version of television and radio shows.
Main Article: Hyperspace Communication

- Jedi Master Luminara Unduli was last seen on Kashyyyk 14 years earlier in Episode III, shortly before she was killed during Order 66.
Her death at the time can be seen in an unfinished animation which was not used in that film. Kanan says, "there's always been
rumors she survived the Clone Wars", which as we learn was mostly the result of an intentional leak of false information by the Empire
in the hopes of luring Jedi or others who might rescue her. The Grand Inquisitor says, "her bones continue to serve the Empire, luring
the last Jedi to their ends", and indeed we see that her remains still give an echo of her presence in the Force. It is clear the Empire
went to great lengths to maintain this ruse, as the troopers thinks she is in the cell, but "don't have the clearance" to see her.

- The Base Delta Zero maneuver is the military designation for a tactic in which ground positions are destroyed by orbital bombardment.
This was utilized by the Republic during the Clone Wars to breach or neutralize underground military targets which would have
required excessive numbers of Republic casualties to capture with a ground based assault. The Imperial military uses this maneuver
with far less discretion, and will even bombard civilian areas where enemy forces are or may be present. As seems to be the case in
the news article broadcast in this episode, the Empire will resort to such tactics if a planet is sufficiently well-defended.

- Stygeon Prime is an inhospitable planet located in the Nuiri Sector, in the Trans-Hydian region of the Outer Rim, near to the Salin Corridor,
an important Outer Rim hyperspace route. It has two moons, likely named Stygeon 2 and Stygeon 3. Stygeon Prime is rocky and cold,
but has an active water cycle and large native animal life, including the flying Tibidee. As there appears to be no plant life to form
the basis of a food chain, it seems likely that this planet was not always so dramatically cold. Stygeon Prime's harsh weather and
remote location made this world an ideal site for the Spire, a maximum security prison.


- The Spire is a high-security prison which was under Separatist control during the Clone Wars and is now in the hands of the Empire.
This is its first appearance in canon, and later indirectly referenced as where Maul was kept in for most of a year after his capture
by Sidious in The Clone Wars 'The Lawless' (S5E16). It is described as "impregnable", is blast proof and ray-shielded, and
is protected by anti-ship weapons, TIE fighters, and short and long range scanners, as well as an "army of troopers and guard
posts on all the walls." The prison is most formidable because it is even harder to get out of than it is to break in to begin with.


Why aren't probe droids on patrol outside the Spire? They are machines and don't need sleep. If they get worn down or
affected by the weather, they can be replaced or rotated in shifts. It is an easy additional security measure which would
prevent any sneak attack. Of course, as this is intended to be a trap, it is important for the intruders to think that they
have successfully entered undetected. Perhaps probe droids would have ordinarily been part of the security routine.


- In order to keep her remains only partially necrotized, Luminara's body is kept in a stasis field. This is done so that her body will still
project her unique signature in the Force for Jedi to sense. According to supplementary material, stasis fields are localized
time dilation machines, which slows or nearly stop the passage of time for objects within the field relative to the flow of time
for everything else in 'regular' spacetime. In this case, time is moving so slowly within her sarcophagus that decades or even
centuries could pass in 'normal' time before her body's cells fully decayed. Supplementary material also suggests that this is
the super-advanced technology which allows faster than light travel inside and outside of hyperspace without experiencing
the time-dilating effects of relativity. This is a clever and ultimately necessary explanation for how that technology works in
side the context of these fictional stories, however this ability to create localized fields which are out of sync with the 'regular'
passage of time does open up an entire world of technological possibilities which probably make this too powerful of an ability
for this civilization to have, although not certainly. This technology only makes sense if a number of conditions are imposed,
most importantly this must be highly durable and easy to power, but must also be limited in the size of the object it can
encompass in its field. Since the entire Death Star must have had a stasis field in order to travel through hyperspace, it starts
to raise continuity issues involving possible applications of this technology which would likely ruin most SW stories already told.
Main Article: Hyperspace Travel

- Master Depa Billaba, who was first seen in Episode I as a member of the Jedi High Council, is indicated to have been Kanan's Jedi
instructor. Billaba apparently emphasized the use of 'form 3' in close quarter fighting with a lightsaber. Also known as soresu,
or the 'resilience form', form 3 is a defensive form, developed to counter the rise of blaster technology, but which is also
useful against melee weapons. Form 3 is designed to deflect blaster bolts, and uses moving predictive meditation to take on
complex battle situations defensively. This almost entirely defensive form makes the lightsaber a versatile shield against most
weapons. Kanan apparently still favors this form "to a ridiculous degree" according to the Grand Inquisitor. Kanan questions
the Inquisitor's origins after hearing his knowledge, and while his history later revealed could be the source of this knowledge,
as he points out, "the temple records are quite complete" and all of its knowledge is now under Sidious' control.

- The spinning lightsabers used by the Inquisitors are interesting but ultimately not much more useful in combat than a regular lightsaber.
According to disney-Lucasfilm, they contain repulsors which allow them to be used as projectiles when their blades are spinning.
This can also be used to fly, as seen in later episodes, which like their ability to be effectively thrown is one of the few tactical
advantages. Otherwise, their spinning is apparently meant to be intimidating, since as was seen with Grievous, this is really only
useful as a shield. They also have the ability to use two blades or one blade at a time, like other double-sided lightsabers, which
gives them some added versatility against multiple attackers, and is both an advantage and a disadvantage in a duel.



Why does shooting a door control with a blaster sometimes make a door open and other times make it close? Similarly,
why does shooting a locked door's control panel sometimes cause the door to open? This series is all over the place
on this subject. In Episode IV, when Luke blasts the control panel it is in hopes of short circuiting the door controls
to prevent it from being opened. It simultaneously prevents the bridge from being extended over an exposed shaft.
In both instances, shooting the controls prevented the systems from working. In this instance, Zeb shoots the door
controls, and the doors conveniently close, as if the shot had triggered the command to close, or some kind of
fail safe mechanism, since this is a prison. Even if this were the case, it is not consistent with earlier or future material.



Why are the TIE fighters just sitting there doing nothing? They were mentioned as one of the security features, and even
though there must have been a ship to bring the Jedi to this planet, and undoubtedly this ship will return to aid in his
escape, there is no air patrol, fighter screen, or even a single TIE manned and ready for take off. Lucasfilm under disney
seems to prefer to show the Imperial military as incompetent, not only failing to utilize their advanced technology and
capabilities properly, but also to lack any sort of combat readiness. Their soldiers are targets, who either stand around
apparently spending their time in the military in a state of unreadiness, or who reactively attack in obvious clumps in
order for them to be easily defeated by weaker opposition. In true, Lucas SW material, the Empire is deadly, effective,
and doesn't bide its time and conserve its resources, instead it constantly and relentlessly presses its advantages. This
made them scary, and made defeating them feel like a victory. Constantly showing rag-tag groups of operatives easily
defeating the Empire's feared stormtroopers rapidly takes the threat out of the story and detracts from its impact.


- The Imperial Academy on Lothal is the local branch of the Empire's officer training system. This is almost certainly the same system
of academies discussed by Luke's family in Episode IV and by Luke and Biggs in deleted scenes from that film. This is possibly
the same as the Academy which Jann and Coby wish to attend in Droids 'Coby and the Starhunters' (E9). The program
Ezra has joined seems to be similar to the one Coby was to attend, as it is a program for youth. Jann specifically mentioned
he was being admitted as a 'senior cadet', suggesting applicants are usually younger, however it isn't certain if they were
attending an Imperial military academy or something similar to a merchant fleet academy. The program Ezra is in is apparently
just a limited program, as Commandant Aresko tells the cadets, "you entered this facility as children. And in a few short weeks,
you will leave as soldiers. By the time you complete your training, you will be prepared to serve your Emperor." Like any
military school, the Imperial academy focuses on testing strength and resolve, however the political and moral values of
the Empire are also instilled here. Aresko tells the cadets, "there is no friendship in war. The only thing that matters is victory.
Victory at any cost." These are not typical values of militaries, which usually emphasizes camaraderie, teamwork, and
unity. The Empire's Sith philosophies teach selfishness, that the strong should survive and the weak perish, and that soldiers
must either win or sacrifice themselves, seeking only victory or death in the name of the Emperor.


- The Imperial Academy tests are also used as a way to locate latent Force-sensitive children for the Imperial Inquisition to take into
custody. Prospective cadets are tested in courses like the 'Well', which are designed to be easier to master for those who can use
the predictive abilities enabled by connecting to the Force. Those who meet the "special criteria" are tested by the Inquisitor
and taken into Imperial custody, as happened to Dhara, who is Cadet Zare Leonis' sister.

- Ezra tells Zare, "Don't worry. I've been training to be a Jedi", who replies, "Yeah, right. Who isn't?" While Ezra is in fact serious, this is meant
to indicate something equivalent to young kids wanting to be a ninja, as something mytho-historical which isn't really around anymore,
but which one nonetheless actually could become, even though it is highly unlikely.
Main Article: Awareness of the Jedi and the Sith

- Sabine's transmission to the Ghost in orbit is cut off when the ship enters hyperspace. It is not clear why this is, but Hera states that
"we're out of range." As transmissions are seen being received while in flight in hyperspace in other material, this implies that since
Sabine originated the call from a transmitter whose range only encompasses the starsystem, or near proximity to the planet she is on,
it is no longer capable of reaching them. There is no prior evidence in SW material to contradict this assumption, as all planetary
transmissions to other planets at least involve some sort of stationary communications system, presumably linked to a more powerful
transmission station somewhere on the same planet, or an independent antenna assembly like those located on spacecraft.
Main Article: Hyperspace Communication

- Kanan and Hera are going after an Imperial kyber crystal shipment, presumably shipping one or several of the large kyber crystals mined
by the Empire for the secret Death Star project. This collection process had begun by early 7958 (19 BBY) in the last year of the Clone
Wars, which was to be explored in the four-episode "Crystal Crisis" storyline of The Clone Wars, which were written and created
episodes whose animation was never finished and were to have been episodes 14 through 17 of season 6. The collection of these
huge crystals, as well as those of any size, is further explored in 'In the Name of the Rebellion' (S4E3-4) and in Rogue One.

- The AT-DP walker, or All-Terrain Defense Platform, was first seen in the pilot episode, but features prominently for the first time here.
It is based on original concept art from Joe Johnston for Episode V, developed alongside the AT-ST which did appear in that
film. The AT-DP's main weapon is the Maad-38 heavy laser canon, which is designed to puncture armored plating.


- As first discussed in Episode IV, calculating a safe jump into hyperspace requires enough time that a ship being pursued is vulnerable
to attack before it can safely execute an escape. Escort ships protecting a ship with more valuable cargo are used to buy time for it to
complete its calculations and make the jump. This seems to take much of a minute in most material.
Main Article: Hyperspace Travel

- The unidentified Lieutenant of the Imperial Navy who is in charge of the transports carrying the kyber crystal is not named in supplementary
material, and is simply called "Commander" by the credits. As is the case in all SW material, an officer in command of anything, including
in this case a few ships and a mission, can be referred to as 'Commander' regardless of their actual rank. This officer could also have been
referred to as 'Captain', since any officer in command of a ship is considered the Captain regardless of their actual rank.
Main Article: Ranks and Rank Insignia

- The destruction of the large kyber crystal releases an incredible amount of energy, which vaporizes ships and other material in the vicinity.
This is also seen in 'In the Name of the Rebellion' (S4E3-4), and much more dramatically in Episode IV and Episode VI.
As seen in those films, when a Death Star's main reactor explodes it fractures the huge collection of charged kyber crystals in
the main weapon, almost completely vaporizing the station and leaving little to nothing behind.

ANALYSIS
The process of imperialization of the galactic economy has slowly but steadily transformed the galaxy's bloated capitalist system into a fascist
one, where corporations are either arms of the state or run by members of the ruling political party. Labor is mandatory and often involuntary,
and since the state is essentially the sole employer, everyone essentially becomes a state laborer, or a slave, or serf, or indentured servant,
depending on how one looks at it and on each worker's specific situation. At this point in the Empire, this process is reaching its maturity in
much of the Core, while remote areas and more independent owners are beginning to feel the pressure to adapt to the new system. The Empire
does offer to purchase the farm from the Sumars and while the respectability of the offer is not discussed, it can be assumed the amount offered
was insufficient to cover the value of the farm, let alone their personal investment in it as a home and business. The Empire does not inform
these people that this is an offer that can't be refused, and that refusal to cooperate will result in the withdrawal of the proposal and the Empire
taking possession anyways. This is intentional, as it reveals who cares more about their independent livelihood than money or doing what is
asked of them by the Empire. This is a great source of new 'offenders' to be used as forced laborers in an Imperial work program, and thus
the two goals of the Empire are furthered: full ownership and control of the means of production, and direct authority over the workers.

Gall Trayvis is described as "the only member of the Imperial Senate with the courage to speak out publicly against the Empire." The fact that
he is able to operate so successfully without capture is later revealed to be the result of his being an agent provocateur and ISB asset, however
the character he is playing does reveal something about the state of the galaxy at the end of 7972 (5 BBY). Firstly, the fact that the Empire is
employing this method at all shows that they have reached the second stage of concern about organized Rebel activity, the first being a stage
where the Empire would have preferred not to spread messages with subversive content. This means that there is already enough talk and
messaging going on about the oppression to the Empire that adding one more voice who is only mildly discontent will not make a serious
impact on the public consciousness. The fact that he is a Senator-in-exile does make his voice potentially more authoritative, however this is
exactly why he is perfect for this role. His transmission about Luminara indicates that the Imperial Senate still holds enough political clout
that the Emperor may feel constrained by political necessity to at times allow less-desirable motions in the Senate. Matters such as this,
had it been a real issue rather than a trap, are basically trivial concerns to the Emperor's plans and are therefore the kind of issue he would
be unlikely to override the Senate about. This allows the pretense of some remnant of democracy, which helps to maintain the stability of
Imperial rule, even at this later juncture in its development. The trap is a very effective one, since as Kanan points out, the stakes are very
high, as Luminara returning to aid in the fight against the Empire would be of immeasurable value to the Jedi and their allies in this time.

Kyber crystals focus energy and amplify its intensity, and are naturally attuned to the Force. Small kyber crystals used in Jedi lightsabers, and
sources of these rare crystals historically guarded by the Jedi. With the Jedi largely removed from the galaxy, Sidious and his Empire can now
gain access to these precious repositories of kyber crystals, particularly from the secret Jedi planet Ilum where the abundance of crystals is
unmatched, and the crust contains crystals of unequaled size. The possibilities for laser weapons that this new abundance of crystals offers
is significant, however Sidious intends to use these crystals for the Death Star, a Sith superweapon which is essentially a giant lightsaber
capable of projecting a blade-like bolt which can obliterate a planet. This supply chain must be clandestine, and not only because of possible
Jedi interference like that of Kanan, but because of the value of the crystals and their intended use. Discovery of this activity by the Senate
would raise too many questions about the secret project they were being used for, and even limited knowledge in the galaxy regarding this
activity could draw the attention of pirates, rouge elements, and even brazen technology companies, hoping to gain the valuable crystals.
The Death Star weapon will require crystals of all sizes, but large crystals like the one destroyed here are both vital and difficult to obtain.


FURTHER ANALYSIS
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