Major Rogue One connections in the latest Star Wars Rebels

Star Wars Rebels is inching oh so close to the events of Rogue One and A New Hope…

The latest two-part episode of Star Wars Rebels featured the return of Clone Wars veteran, and Rebel extremist Saw Gerrera. His first appearance in Rebels saw the return to Geonosis, with the paranoid leader searching for clues on the Empire’s super-weapon.

Now Gerrera is declaring open war against Imperial forces, feeling the Alliance should join him in that front-line struggle. In the process, he directly called out the leader of the Alliance, Mon Mothma, for not taking the Empire as seriously as he does.

"Saw: If you continue to allow this war to be fought on the Empire’s terms, not yours, you are going to lose. Mothma: I will not be lectured on Military strategy by a man has proven himself a criminal. Saw: The Empire considers both of us criminals, at least I act like one. Mothma: You target civilians, kill those who surrender, break every rule of engagement. If we degrade ourselves to the Empire’s level, what will we become?"

Saw then mocks Mothma’s spirit and passion, saying that she needs to lead her people by example with that very fire. Talk about chills.

The talents of Forest Whitaker are on full display here, adding, even more, depth for the Clone Wars veteran, who has suffered much loss over the years, which included the death of his sister Steela.

Rogue One should have utilized Saw more, but I’m glad that he is popping up in canon material to make up for that loss. The film references Saw and the Alliance’s broken relationship, which you can see deteriorating right before our very eyes here.

We visit the surface Yavin IV for the first time in Rebels, where we get nods to time’s “past” from A New Hope and Rogue One. All of them feels in full effect.