Star Wars Rebels and Ezrabine
Since I'm an amateur writer making an uneducated guess, I'd like to discuss relationships in the Star Wars universe. It's probably one of the touchiest subjects in this community, right after the debate over which trilogy was better (prequel or sequel), whether Jar Jar Binks was necessary, or if the politics are actually garbage.
To be more specific, I want to delve into the relationship between Ezra and Sabine from Star Wars Rebels. You might know them as Ezrabine or Sabezra. They're one of the hottest topics in pairings, right up there with Rey and Ben/Kylo. While the latter pair is something I deeply disapprove of, I'm neutrally conflicted about Sabezra.
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Before I dissect the relationship itself, I'd like to touch on three points that people often criticize or discuss. Please bear with me; I'm a bit sleep-deprived.
Ages:
Quoting from Quora: "Han's official year of birth is 'ca. 32 BBY,' which means he's anywhere from ten to thirteen years older than Leia." This suggests that the most iconic couple in Star Wars had a notably significant age gap. "PadmƩ was born in 46 BBY (Before the Battle of Yavin), and Anakin's miraculous Force-created birth came in 41 BBY, so PadmƩ is five years older than him." Yet another iconic couple, with a substantial age difference. Hera and Kanan are yet another example, with Hera being four years older.
Headcanons:
I understand that people want Sabine to be a lesbian, and I can empathize with that desire. As a queer Star Wars fan myself, I comprehend the need for characters with similar journeys and identities. However, while having headcanons, it's crucial to remember that they are personal interpretations. They don't become canon for everyone just because you envision them that way. You're free to explore your own headcanons, and if others agree, that's even better. But ultimately, headcanon remains just thatāheadcanon.
For instance, my personal headcanon includes Ahsoka being aroace, or at the very least, completely asexual bisexual. And I believe Luke Skywalker isn't straight at all. I mean, have you seen the boots he wore for his own execution?Ā Come on!
Relationships in Star Wars:
When we examine relationships in the Star Wars universe, we discover a wide array. These range from parent-child relationships, sibling bonds, adopted families, found families, to romantic love in various forms, ages, and situations.Ā Tragedy often follows these relationships:
Ashoka and Anakin: Master and Padawan, Brother and Sister, Tragedy.
Obi-Wan and Satine: Jedi and Senator, Lovers, Tragedy.
Padme and Anakin: Senator and Jedi, Tragedy.
Kanan and Hera: Jedi and Rebel, Tragedy.
Yoda and Dooku: Master and Padawan, Tragedy.
This list goes on endlessly, and it's filled with sorrow.
Most of the significant Star Wars relationships are fraught with tragedy.
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The relationship within the Ghost crew can be described as follows: "The crew of the Ghost in Star Wars Rebels has always been a family. They aren't related by blood, and they didn't come from the same homeworlds, but they are bound together by a common cause, respect, trust, and love." This is how Amy Richau described them in an article onĀ StarWars.com.
From what I've gathered, the found family dynamic within the Ghost crew evolves with each member.Ā
Take Kanan, for example. While Hera is his girlfriend and wife, Chopper is a quirky, psychopathic pet, and Sabine is like a surrogate daughter, Kanan's relationship with Ezra is that of a Padawan and Master to the highest degree. A master plays a role akin to that of a father but maintains the mentorship for training and respect, which involves clear emotions but also a deeper line.
Hera takes on the role of a self-proclaimed mom, offering kindness in the harsh times of rebellion. Zeb is mostly like the older brother who spotted you as a newbie at school and decided to lend a helping hand, providing support and having your back.
What I'm trying to convey is that while the Ghost crew is undoubtedly a family under any circumstances, the relationship between Ezra and Sabine doesn't fit the sibling mold, especially not from Season 3 onward. There's a reason I believe Ezra still has feelings for Sabine, at least until the Ahsoka Episode 4 standpoint.Ā
From Season 3 onward, we witness Ezra's transformation. He matures, learns, and fully embraces his role as a future Jedi. He's no longer the kid the crew rescued on that planet, nor does he try to flirt with Sabine like some awkward neighbor kid. He's become an integral part of their close-knit community.
He and Sabine are equals, and he's no longer the young person Sabine takes under her wing in an older sisterly manner. They fight as rebels together, as comrades in the same community. Perhaps they sense a familial bond through the crew, but no dialogue from either of them implies a sibling relationship. They haven't been written with sibling energy, unlike the dynamic between Ahsoka and Anakin or Leia and Luke in the 6th movie.
In Season 3, there are moments that could have established them as siblings to emphasize the family connection. Take, for instance, when Ezra meets Sabine's family during the Mandalorian arc, and he talks to Sabine's brother for the first time. Instead of introducing himself as Sabine's brother, it comes off more like a boy meeting his Gfs family.
There might be counterarguments, as in Season 4's beginning when Ezra and the other Mandalorians rescue Sabine's father. Ezra doesn't claim to be family; he implies that he isnāt in a romantic relationship with Sabine. However, the fact that Ezra never alludes to a sibling relationship is intriguing. The end of Rebels, where it's just between Ezra and Sabine, further adds complexity to the situation, with how he decides to confide in him and him only.
There may have been something in the works discussed in the directing room, but then why is there a sudden shift to a sibling relationship in Ahsoka? It's hard to believe that after not allowing Ezra to introduce himself as Sabine's brother, they now suddenly introduce that element again. There are some theories out there that could explain why Sabine scoffs instead of reacting fondly when he says he's her brother.Ā It's all quite frustrating.
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While there's undoubtedly a sense of familial connection within the Ghost crew, the relationship between Sabine and Ezra has taken on a different dimension. It doesn't necessarily have to be romantic, as there are moments missing for that kind of build-up. Some scenes, the way they're animated, shot, or the dialogue they share, indicate a different dynamic.Ā
But there's also no clear groundwork for a sibling relationship, and considering Star Wars' storytelling and penchant for twists, it wouldn't be surprising if it turned out to be a setup.
The divide within the fandom over the years has also made it challenging to establish this relationship. And keeping it ambiguous didn't help as we know how fandoms like to rip each other apart.
But in the end, it's a story. Let's stay calm, take a deep breath, and see how it unfolds. Let's keep the discussions civil and respect each other's viewpoints as we argue like pros!
