Five Things We Want In Star Wars Rebels Season Three

Elaine Tveit

The Star Wars Rebels season three panel at Star Wars Celebration Europe is happening this weekend, and we’ve got a list of five must-have reveals.

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Lest we get caught up in the excitement of the new Rogue One trailer premiering on Friday and forget all about the rest of Star Wars Celebration Europe, we’re turning our sights to the Star Wars Rebels panel happening Saturday, July 16th.

The panel, hosted by the series’ director, Dave Filoni, with special voice actor guests Tiya Sircar (Sabine Wren) and Sam Witwer (Darth Maul, Emperor Palpatine), will debut two brand new episodes from the upcoming third season of the show, as well as new artwork and hopefully some fun spoilers about what we can expect after last season’s dramatic conclusion.

We have our own list of things we’d like to see come out of the panel and ultimately the new season. Here’s number one of five:

Next: 1. Darth Maul Back Again

Darth Maul Back Again

Maul made a surprise cameo in the finale of Star Wars Rebels season two, and hints from Taylor Gray, voice of Ezra Bridger and the Jedi Padawan Maul wants as his new apprentice, suggest he’ll return in season three. With the former Sith Lord on the loose, there’s no telling what trouble he’ll cook up. He may try to take on Darth Vader or the Emperor (though the last time he tried going up against the latter, things didn’t work out in his favor), or he may try to find his old enemy: Obi Wan Kenobi.

Regardless, we’re pretty sure he’s not done with Ezra or the rest of the Ghost crew. But after failing to get Ezra to turn to the dark side once, what wily tricks will he employ to ensure success a second time? With Maul still in the picture, Ezra’s path to becoming a true Jedi will be long and treacherous, indeed.

Next: 2. Obi Wan Kenobi

2. The Return of Obi Wan Kenobi

Maul’s appearance on Star Wars Rebels is the perfect opportunity to reintroduce Obi Wan Kenobi onto the small screen. He’s Maul’s oldest and biggest enemy, and if Rebels is to see the end of Maul at last, it only seems right to let Obi Wan make it happen.

“We will each be challenged…. But we must persevere and in time a new hope will emerge” – Obi Wan Kenobi

But there are other good reasons for the Jedi Master to make a cameo on the show. The rebels have just lost a powerful leader in Ahsoka Tano, and Kanan and Ezra especially may feel the need for a strong spiritual warrior to guide them once again. We all know Obi Wan doesn’t fill that void, unless he leaves Tatooine temporarily during his exile. But he could be an important source of hope, if he tells the rebels he’s guarding the future savior of the galaxy.

And, getting back to Maul, Obi Wan could also rid the rebels of a very dangerous enemy. On the other hand, he might teach Ezra an important lesson about resisting revenge.

Next: 3. Grand Admiral Thrawn

3. Grand Admiral Thrawn

“But it was so artistically done” – Grand Admiral Thrawn

I feel like this idea has been beat over the head till it’s dead, but I can’t keep myself from hoping for it, particularly after Dave Filoni’s coy hints at the introduction of a Legends character to Star Wars Rebels. Grand Admiral Thrawn is perhaps the most popular Legends character (second only, perhaps, to Mara Jade), and is also the perfect candidate for canonicity in the Star Wars Rebels storyline. First, he’s a commanding personality who doesn’t need interaction with any of the main Star Wars film characters to be impressive. His history in the Expanded Universe shows him to be a brilliant strategist and perfect for tangling with the elusive and clever rebels. Finally, he’s a scary enough figure to be intimidating but likeable in the same villainous vein as Palpatine or Tarkin.

Thrawn’s translation into the new canon doesn’t even have to be a direct reproduction of the original in Timothy Zahn’s Heir to the Empire book trilogy. As long as he’s brilliant, blue, and says, “But it was so artistically done,” he’ll be the Thrawn I know and love.

Next: 4. New Main Character Designs

4. New Main Character Designs

More from Star Wars Rebels

After two seasons and an array of injuries and losses felt by all parties, it’s time for a makeover for the main characters. Rumors of Sabine and Ezra getting new looks have already circulated. A new outfit and hair color makes sense for Sabine, who had two different looks across the first two seasons of the series. As for Ezra, in the finale of season two he lost his special stun-ray/lightsaber hilt combination. In addition, Kanan was blinded by the tip of Maul’s lightsaber,so at the very least, Ezra will get a new weapon and Kanan will be wearing a new bandage or mask.

While you’re at it with Sabine, Ezra, and Kanan, why not give Hera and Zeb new looks? Hera could probably use a flight suit which better reflects a uniformity within Phoenix Squadron, a growing rebel cell the Ghost crew flies with. Zeb, meanwhile, might upgrade his armor to better equip himself for more frayed and frenzied battles with the Empire.

The war with the Empire is coming, and after the shell-shocked season two finale, all the main Star Wars Rebels heroes had better fortify themselves emotionally, mentally, and physically.

Next: 5. New Places, Creatures, & Lore

5. New Places, Creatures, & Lore

Season two of Star Wars Rebels introduced us to fantastic new sights, sounds, and ideas, like space whales who can jump hyperspace and swirling colonies of black holes. There was also new lore to be discovered, like the Sith Temple on Moraband and a cross hilt lightsaber once used by a long-dead Jedi Knight.

One thing Star Wars Rebels has been expert at is working in little hints of awesome concepts and powers at play behind the petty backdrop of galactic civil wars with their crude spaceships and blasters. There is beauty, danger, good, evil, waiting to be explored. Season three of Star Wars Rebels has a chance to take us to places and introduce us to beings we’ve never dreamed of.

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Star Wars Celebration Europe begins Friday, July 15th, with the Star Wars Rebels panel taking place Saturday, July 16th at 16:00 London time (9:00 pm EST in the United States; via Star Wars Celebration). Keep checking Dork Side so you don’t miss any of the breaking news!

Elaine Tveit

Hello, there! My name is Elaine, and as you can probably tell by my presence on Dork Side, I am a big fan of Star Wars. You will probably find me talking about anything and everything in that galaxy far, far away that sparks my interest, from the films to the literature to the music, and beyond. In addition to being co-editor of Dork Side of the Force, you can also find me at Culturess.com, where I am a contributor.