Star Wars Rebels Season 4: Emperor Palpatine returns
Emperor Palpatine returns in the latest Star Wars Rebels Season 4 episodes.
I am the Senate! Do it! Okay, now that I’ve got that out of my system; the Emperor is back, in the latest episode of Star Wars Rebels. Sam Witwer was an excellent fill in during the Star Wars Rebels Season 2 premiere, but it’s good to have the King, excuse me, Emperor back — Ian McDiarmid himself.
As always, (Sheev) Palpatine/Darth Sidious brings a specific flavor of villainy and evil, with McDiarmid delivering the goods as he still does. Our first taste of the Emperor is an audio transmission with one who appeared to be from the same inner circle as Darth Vader’s attendant Vaneé, from Rogue One.
“We must discover the secrets of the temple. Even now our enemies move against us.”
As always, Emperor Palpatine is in tune with the Force and what’s going on within the galaxy. He even shows a bit of (grudgingly) respect for the fallen Jedi Knight, Kanan Jarrus.
"The Mortis guards. There has been a great disturbance in the Force. The death of Kanan Jarrus has altered the fate of Lothal."
Emperor Palpatine is also aware of the Father, Son, and Daughter of the Mortis arc (from The Clone Wars) and seeks to enter into that spiritual realm, as Ezra does. Things are about to get weird in Rebels Season 4, and that’s a good thing. George Lucas, I’m sure, is proud of his Padawan Dave Filoni for embracing the creative aspect of the Force. As always, Star Wars fans have more questions than answers, but that’s okay!
Ezra Bridger uses to Force to enter into this unknown spiritual realm and encounters who else, “the Senate” himself. The young Bridger hears voices of Obi-Wan, Qui-Gon Jinn, Yoda, and his Master Kanan. Lines from previous Star Wars films and Rebels episodes are heard echoing through Ezra’s mind as he enters into the Lothal Jedi temple. If we missed any, feel free to let us know!
"Yoda: “Truly wonderful the mind of a child is.”"
Photo Credit: Lucasfilm
"Obi-Wan: What place is this?"
Photo Credit: Lucasfilm
"A cognizance which the Force of the entire Universe flows."
Photo Credit: Lucasfilm
"Luminious being are we."
Photo Credit: Lucasfilm
"Train yourself to let go of all you’re afraid to lose."
Photo Credit: Lucasfilm
"What you need, you already have. But, you’re throwing it all away."
Photo Credit: Lucasfilm
"I won’t let him lose his way, not like I have."
Photo Credit: Lucasfilm
"“The Force is what gives a Jedi his power. It’s an energy field created by all living things. It surrounds us and penetrates us. It binds the galaxy together.”"
I’m sure there’s a few I missed, but those are some amazing Star Wars moments. And, the last voice and presence he encounters is the voice and image of the Emperor Palpatine. Thanks to the help of a friend long gone, Ezra escapes the Emperor’s grasp. For now.
Photo Credit: Lucasfilm
"Ezra Bridger and Ahsoka Tano, mine at last!"
More on Ahsoka Tano in our next article.
Next: Solo wins the Falcon playing Sabacc, but what exactly is it?
Star Wars Rebels concludes next week on Disney XD, with two brand new episodes — including an hour-long finale. The end is near. And we have our answer on the whole Ahsoka lives debate, so stay tuned for more on that answer.