#rebelsweek2024

STAR WARS REBELS APPRECIATION WEEK: Day #1 - Favorite Character

Kanan Jarrus, Jedi Knight

You were right. I was a coward. But now I know there's something stronger than fear. Far stronger. The Force. Let me show you how strong it is.

Star Wars Rebels Appreciation Week: Day 1 - Favorite Character(s)

Wanted to draw these guys for Inktober / the show’s 10 year anniversary! (Posting this a late but it’s the thought that counts haha)

star wars rebels appreciation week: day 2 — favorite episode/arc

*whispers*

star wars rebels appreciation week: day # 1 - Favorite Character

"Do not mistake my pleasant demeanor for weakness."

Even though it was Minister Hydan who said that line about himself, I often think that it's the perfect description for Ezra.

Ezra Bridger - the boy who was orphaned and lived on his own from ages 7-14 - was a survivor whose grief and anger never completely hardened the caring, compassionate boy he was at heart. He was such a beautifully whole and multilayered character.

He was a punk kid who stole weapons from the Empire AND the Spectres the first time we met him. Then we saw him sass a Lasat twice his size and his captors and then later a few Sith Lords and his commanding officers and his Master and basically anyone within earshot.

He infiltrated Imperial operations and high security star destroyers and got captured on purpose just so he could escape. He met and fought and trained with Force users, Mandalorians, Clones, zealots, pirates, smugglers, royalty, bounty hunters, pilots, government officials, rebellion leaders, and Imperial defectors. He was described as a very average pilot, yet he volunteered to fly through and blow up a nebula. He defied orders whenever he needed or wanted to and stole more than one TIE. He’s got snark and sorrynotsorry and sketchy salutes, and he’s a lying liar who lies.

What weird Force-i-ness did he not see? He communicated with animals. Melded his mind to Maul - twice! Opened a Sith holocron and used it. Malachor. Lothal temple. Bendu. Zeb and the star cluster. Dathomir and the spirits of Nightsisters. Took over a guy’s mind. Faced off against Inquisitors and Vader. Loth cats and Loth wolves and planet portals. Kanan’s eyes. Dume. World. Between. Worlds.

Ezra Bridger, whose life goal when he was a teenager was to eject the Empire from his entire planet and succeeded, rejected Sidious and yeeted Thrawn and the whole seventh fleet into another galaxy.

He is the anti-Anakin.

His parents died. He watched his master die on multiple occasions. Felt the guilt of Malachor. Rescued infants from Force hunters who were also hunting for him. Witnessed the Duchess weapon’s destruction, Tarkintown on fire, the massacre at Concord Dawn, and the orbital bombardment of his own home town.

And underneath the bold, driven, courageous, yet lighthearted exterior, Ezra's compassion ran deep, almost to a fault. True to his name and his Jedi calling and much like The Negotiator who inspired his character, he built bridges between people, cultivating the same love and loyalty that was shown to him in return.

And boy did it. I remember watching the premiere sitting on the floor, loving every second of it. I especially felt connected to Ezra, who, at that point, was the Star Wars protagonist that I was the closest to in age. Next thing I knew, three and a half years had gone by and the Rebels finale ended up being one of the most emotionally distressing episodes of television that I had ever viewed. At first I didn't like the epilogue funnily enough, but soon came to realize that it was perfect.

This show means a lot to me. It was never the most popular in the fandom, honestly it felt like a good chunk of TCW fans just wish it didn't exist, still bitter about Clone War's cancellation and blaming Rebels for it. The show was chided as childish and silly (this is a Star Wars show we're talking about btw), the animation was cheaper than the later few seasons of Clone Wars, the lower rating meant that it couldn't get away with the same level of violence as Clone Wars and the only things about it that were universally praised were the elements and characters that related to Clone Wars. It felt like Rebels, like many of its own characters, just couldn't escape the shadow of The Clone Wars. But those of us who watched and kept up with it, grew to love its characters, its art, its music and its story--we knew that Rebels was special in its own way. I honestly believe now that Rebels surpasses The Clone Wars in many regards and it's been exceedingly vindicating to see Rebels increase in popularity and become well-respected by the community at large.

Rebels still one of the only pieces of media to really make me engage with fandom at a deeper level, for better or worse. I definitely wouldn't have made this tumblr account last year if it weren't for me rewatching the show with my family and getting back into the swing of things. And I probably wouldn't have found the courage to try and get into art earlier this year if it weren't for that either. So...I owe this show a lot and I got more to say but...I don't think I'll ever find the words that could properly convey what this show means to me.

Happy 10th anniversary Star Wars Rebels, I'm thankful for the decade we've had together. I wish I had more to show my appreciation, but for now I suppose this study/redraw of some concept art I did for art class will do.

Shoutouts to Rebels Recon, y'all were an indelible part of the experience that more of the newer fans need to check out.

Star Wars Rebels Appreciation Week: Day #1 - Favorite Character