Prior Episodes | 7975 (2 BBY) | Next Episodes
Continuity & Analysis

Star Wars: Rebels - An Inside Man (2016) [S3E10]
Kanan and Ezra infiltrate an Imperial factory on Lothal, making shocking discoveries,
while Grand Admiral Thrawn continues his plans to crush the growing rebellion.
Star Wars: Rebels - Visions and Voices (2016) [S3E11]
Maul returns, looking to finally unlock the secrets that he and Ezra desire.




CONTINUITY
These two standalone episodes are both developments to ongoing storyarcs. Three worlds are seen in these episodes:

These episodes take place in the second quarter of 7975 (2 BBY). Ezra has now been Kanan's apprentice for at least two and a half years.

- "190" is a high speed in whatever speed metric is in use in the Empire at this time. It is uncertain what the distance metric is, however the time
metric is possibly 'intervals' or 'hours' which are both smaller parts of one 'rotation' or 'day'. This would give a speed calculation of some
distance unit per interval or per hour, of which 190 is a high speed for a ground vehicle. Whatever the ratio is, this speed scale is similar
to that of miles per hour on Earth, although certainly not precisely equivalent.

- The Imperial factory manufactures an assortment of common Imperial military technology which is ordinarily produced by several different
companies. TIE fighters are a product of Sienar Systems, the walkers are of Kuat Drive Yards, and the speeder bikes are Aratech Repulsor
Company. This is an indication of the level of nationalization of these companies and their integration into a single military-industrial
program under direct military authority. These companies were at the forefront of the nationalization of industry, having become
state-affiliated from the early days of the Empire, and with much of their remaining independence gradually reduced over the next
decade and a half. The nationalization program Empire-wide has increased speed exponentially, and in this time period is beginning
to swallow all remnants of the free economy still surviving, as seen on Lothal and in other SW material. The existence of Imperial
factories producing various companies' equipment suggests the integration of these megacorporations is more or less complete.
Main Article: Darth Sidious and The Plan


- As a Grand Admiral, Thrawn is part of the general staff of Imperial military High Command. This was assumed based on his authority and
the other components of the rank structure, but is stated in this episode explicitly. This places him on the top-level of the military rank
structure. The military is subordinate to the military government, but both work within a united hierarchy. As a result, officers like
Thrawn are subordinate to a Grand Moff like Governor Tarkin, but are technically superior to a Moff like Governor Pryce. The military
government and the military usually have different purviews, so Pryce does not report to Thrawn and they are essentially colleagues,
but in terms of the absolute chain of authority under the Emperor, Thrawn is the superior officer. As with every one of Moff Pryce's
appearances, her rank insignia is incorrect and is a continuity error since the Moff insignia was established in Lucas canon.
Main Article: Ranks and Rank Insignia


Why does the Empire have absolutely no security in the area around the factory? They had three destroyers looming
over the city the night before, and the episode took the time to show that troops were everywhere in the capital and
that forces were actively searching for the small rebel group led by Ryder Azadi. Despite this, armed rebel forces in
speeders can drive right up to an entrance to an Imperial factory with a secret project within. Once the rebels escaping
the factory make their exit, they need only drive away fast from the pursuing Imperial forces to make their escape.
This is yet another example of the Empire's security procedures being so terrible that it detracts from the realism, or
at least from the idea that the Empire is a formidable force to be feared. Thrawn is supposed to be a master tactician.


- Thrawn's secret project is the production of the TIE Defender, officially the TIE/d Multi-Role Starfighter, a Sienar Systems design. These
are a superior craft to the regular TIE/ln fighters, including heavy blasters, shield generator, and hyperdrive unit. They are rated as
'multi-role' since they function as a line fighter, an interceptor, and as a fighter-bomber, making them a dynamic threat.

- Hera mentions that they "still have some preparation to do before we strike the Empire's factory on Lothal", an operation first mentioned
in the prior episode. As this episode takes place in the second quarter of the year, or at most the middle of the year, this operation will
not take place for 4 to 6 months. It seems likely that one or more serious factors will delay this operation, since Hera is in the process
of ordering a "recon trip" to establish the Empire's current disposition over Lothal. The Rebel reconnaissance intends to "study
the Empire's orbital defenses", including "destroyer positions, TIE patrol routes," and "transport schedules." Hera suggests the team
will "slip into the system", suggesting the Rebels know how to avoid hyperspace tracking and avoid immediate detection by Lothal's
orbital monitoring. Due to the limitations of scanners in SW, this is a sensible plan, but one that no doubt could still lead to detection.
Main Article: Scanners, Sensors, and Cloaking Devices

- Maul's ability to telepathically communicate is powerful. Based on other examples, it seems likely that he is already in the starsystem or at least
nearby, which would make sense considering he is soon seen on the planet's surface. Maul was likely able to locate Atollon due to his
connection to Ezra in the Force, in particular from their holocron joining. Telepathic Force powers are more pronounced in proximity.

- Maul was last seen 3 or 4 months earlier in 'The Holocrons of Fate' (S3E3). Despite his interest in learning the answers to his questions,
it certainly would have taken some time for Maul to locate Ezra in the galaxy using the Force. Maul's Mandalorian Kom'rk-class
transport is the Gauntlet, first seen in that episode. This is a ship Maul acquired when he temporarily ruled Mandalore as
leader of Death Watch, 17 years earlier. Non-canon material calls this ship the Nightbrother.

- Maul has taken up residence in the part of the Fortress of the Nightsisters where their altar was kept. The Witches connection to the Force
is further explained, indicating that they used "some aspect" of the Force, "but it was their connection to this planet that made them
strong. This has been seen in prior material to be primarily through the spirit ichor, which appears as a green mist energy. As seen in
The Clone Wars, the alter was "the focus of their ancient power", and still functions to keep their disembodied energy bound to this
site. Since taking up residence there at least 8 years earlier, as seen in Solo, possibly longer, Maul has studied their ways and spells,
and has learned how to use some of their magick. He has set up an altar of his own there, containing objects which show that Maul is
predictably fixed on the past time of his greatest power, and on the revenge he took against Obi-Wan by killing his love, Satine Kryze.



Maul still has the Darksaber, but how exactly is this the case? It was last seen when Maul dueled with Darth Sidious on
Mandalore, 17 years earlier at the beginning of 7958 (19 BBY). At the time, they were in the external grounds around
the palace in Sundari, and Maul was last seen dropping the Darksaber after losing to Sidious and being zapped with
Force lightning. He was subsequently imprisoned in the Spire on Stygeon Prime, only to be freed by Death Watch
and returning to his former position as secret leader. It seems unlikely that Sidious took it with him, kept it stored at
the Spire, and Maul had the time and ability to locate it, so this suggests that the Death Watch recovered it and then
gave it back to him after he was freed. This is what supplementary material has suggested, which is not improbable,
but does suggest that Death Watch members were fairly pious about their touted Mandalorian religious traditions.
They were certainly fully aware there was an opportunity to abandon Maul and for another to claim the Darksaber.


- Maul wants to find Obi-Wan, and Ezra wants to learn how to destroy the Sith, but it turns out they are actually looking for the same thing,
which according to the Force is Tatooine. The revelation of a world with twin suns gives his location away to Maul, who first
encountered Obi-Wan on Tatooine, during the events which began their long history with each other. He remarks that,"it ends
where it began, a desert planet with twin suns", which is "of course" how it had to be, since the Force is the one who sets out
destinies, and to follow them often leads one back to where they started. This is also a reference to the fact that the creators of
SW material play the role of the Whills, and true Lucas-style material follows the mythological storytelling theories of Joseph
Campbell. As such, Lucas began and ended both the original trilogy and the six SW episode story on Tatooine, as part of the hero's
journey. Maul first located Obi-Wan there, and was supposed to have been killed by Obi-Wan shortly after. This will now be
inverted, as Maul will last locate Obi-Wan there, and will be actually killed by Obi-Wan shortly after. The vision of a world with
two suns does not narrow the search down nearly enough to help the Jedi, but Ezra has been shown by the Force that Obi-Wan
is the key to defeating the Sith. This must be a reference to his mission to protect Luke, the child of the Chosen One, although
Ezra does not know that part of it. He only knows that he asked destroy the Sith, and the Force showed him Obi-Wan.

- Maul offers Ezra the "opportunity to embrace your destiny, as my apprentice", hoping he will abandon his friends. The Sith dismiss
friends as a weakness and unimportant, and caring only for themselves, they are ever ready to discard allies. At the same time,
there is a great wisdom to what Maul is suggesting when he says "Forget the past! Forget your memories! Forget your
attachments." Living in the moment is the path to greater enlightenment, and for a Force wielder, connection to the Force.
The Jedi teach against attachments in part for this reason. The inability of any person to ignore their egos, which are formed
from their memories and sense of identity and direction, makes oneness with the moment and a stronger connection to
the reality of the world more difficult. Likewise, every person's attachments and obligations prevent them taking new directions
or seizing new opportunities for growth. Maul not only wants a new apprentice to increase his power, but also wants a new
family, a new brother. There is no true friendship for a Sith beyond an apprentice, and Maul had previously had the chance
to have an apprentice who was his brother, Savage. They both shared the same goals and had endured the same history of
exploitation by the Sith. Maul was probably happiest then, and probably wants that again with someone he identifies with.
As a true Sith, no matter how much he might like Ezra, Maul ultimately cared primarily about exploiting Ezra's powers.

ANALYSIS
The Imperial military presence on Lothal has continued to increase, as has the severity of their military and security operations. This is
certainly in part due to Lothal's importance as a sector capital and the site of an important Imperial military factory system, as well as
in response to the limited but worrisome rebel activity of the Lothal resistance, led by Lothal's former Governor, Ryder Azadi. It is also
likely that by this point in 7975 (2 BBY), a great many Imperial worlds had a similar military presence to enforce the rapidly accelerating
programs of nationalization, suppression of the remaining private economy, and the marshaling of the disenfranchised workforce into
state labor programs. Imperial programs had brought increased poverty, and a repressive police state had brought widespread
dissatisfaction. As the Empire had no intention of redressing these issues, its only course of action was to enforce these policies by
means of full-scale occupations of their own planets, martial law or its near equivalent, and forced labor for those who have not
already been driven into the Imperial workforce by poverty. In the case of Lothal, the needs of military production pushed the Empire
to recruit less-motivated workers from the local population in order to meet their quotas. These policies have the notable drawback
of placing disaffected citizens in a vital position within the Empire's production apparatus, ultimately making the Empire reliant upon
them. This was also the case in this time with the Imperial military, which was increasingly bolstering its troop numbers with conscripted
citizens. This provides anti-Imperial forces with the opportunity to plant spies, saboteurs, and agents within the Imperial military and
its production facilities. The actions of Ryder's infiltrators were unfortunately too pronounced and brazen not to be detected. Imperial
production on Lothal has become strategically significant to the point that Rebel cells are planing a joint strike against their facilities.

Maul is now "the last survivor" of the Nightsisters Clan, which was devastated by the Clone Wars. Maul's Nighbrother's clan lived apart
from the Nightsisters but was beholden unto them. Maul was taken by the Nightsisters from an early age, and was turned over to
Sidious by them to be trained as a Sith. Since his return to Dathomir, he has also studied their ways, and may be the last to know
some of their secrets. Due to their unnatural powers, it was unclear if they were totally destroyed. Mother Talzin escaped Grievous'
devastating attack, and was seen off world a year later, during events where her sinister schemes were thwarted by Mace Windu.
It appeared at that time that Talzin had died, or disintegrated, or something similar, however given her ill-defined abilities, this did
not necessarily mean she was gone. It had previously been seen that the spirits of long-dead Nightsisters were still bound to
the strange energy of Dathomir, and could be called forth by using unnatural powers offered by their magick. It is seen here that
the spirits of the Nightsisters continue to exist in the mundane realm due to the power of their magick altar, which anchors them
to their former fortress. The suggestion by these spirits that they "need flesh" to rebuild their clan suggests that Talzin is in fact gone,
and yet there is still a chance they could return. The destruction of their altar means this will not happen, and the Nightsisters Clan
is now truly extinct, or will be when Maul dies. There are almost certainly other clans of Witches still living somewhere on Dathomir.


FURTHER ANALYSIS
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