Photo Credit: Lucasfilm
The Star Wars Rebels series finale is filled with all sorts of Easter eggs and goodies; binding the Star Wars galaxy and pop culture together.
Dave Filoni had a tough assignment when given the reigns as Supervising Director for Star Wars Rebels over four years ago. Unlike Star Wars: The Clone Wars before it, Filoni and the amazing writers at Lucasfilm started from ground zero — with brand new characters.
It’s relatively easy to generate interest in a show with powerhouse names such as Obi-Wan Kenobi, Anakin Skywalker, and many other familiar names from a galaxy far, far away. At the time, the introduction of Ahsoka Tano was not met with open arms, with the Star Wars fanbase shunning her, for the most part — where it took years for her to be accepted into the community as a legit character, finally.
In a “world” where the familiar’s accepted, and change is often met with resistance, writers of entirely new characters have a tall task. Once again, Filoni proves why he’s the best in the business and displays once again that he gets Star Wars. He understands the vision of George Lucas while knowing what how to pull strings from a galaxy far far away, being a real fan himself.
This is some of the crew that worked on #StarWarsRebels over the years. We wanted to thank you for all the support you have given us the last four seasons. Remember my friends, the Force will be with you, always. Now let us begin, again. pic.twitter.com/QQ6auXFavb
— Dave Filoni (@dave_filoni) March 6, 2018
Naturally, as a Star Wars fan himself, Filoni loves to place Easter into his content — gifts and payoffs for the fans who’ve consumed every bit of Star Wars canon, or even Legends before it.
Here are the Star Wars Rebels series finale Easter eggs we’ve found thus far. Let’s just say that Dave Filoni and the Lucasfilm story group pay close attention to detail — giving us hardcore fans some extra nifty gifties in the process. Enjoy!
There’s always a bit of truth in Legends.
Even with the newly implemented Star Wars canon, the legacy of the Expanded Universe (now Legends) lives on within the newer content — showing that the writing crew of Rebels love many of the classic stories that we will do.
The Star Wars Rebels finale is no exception, with many Legends nods peppered throughout the final moments of the show. Did you catch any of these little nuggets?
Star Wars Legends Easter eggs
The Dreadnaught Cruisers from the original Thrawn trilogy make an appearance — the very ones the Grand Admiral uses in his blockade on Lothal.
Photo Credit: Lucasfilm
To me, they’re royalty
The Imperial Guards, who fight Ezra, attire reminiscent of the ones they used during their training period in Star Wars legends.
Photo Credit: Lucasfilm
A Legends duo reunited?
Hera and Kanan’s son, Jacen, is no doubt a nod to Jacen Solo — Han Solo and Princess Leia’s from Star Wars Legends. In this other timeline, Jacen Solo and Ben Skywalker are related, so, will we see them reunite, of sorts, as Ben Solo and Jacen Syndulla training at the Jedi Temple under Luke Skywalker?
Gilad Pellaeon
An Imperial Naval officer in Star Wars Legends, Pellaeon was a significant player in the Battle of Endor — where he later perished on the world of Fondor. However, within the Star Wars canon, he meets the Maker much earlier, when a school of space whales destroys his command ship. In Rebels, Pellaeon has a brief comms conversation with Grand Admiral Thrawn, right before the purgill (space whales) arrive.
Photo Credit: Lucasfilm
It’s encouraging to know that those involved in making new Star Wars stories are aware of those Legends arcs from times past. But, for the love of “the Maker” could we get (Darth) Revan implemented into the canon? Would that be too much to ask?
References to the Prequels and Original trilogy
The final Star Wars Rebels episodes also pay tribute to the live-action films, which is something the writers did from day one of the show’s inception. The most prominent homage is seen in the episode A World Between Worlds, with every single movie and TV show referenced in the most creative way possible. Filoni and company weren’t done connected Rebels to the films themselves.
Sheev Palpatine, a humble servant
Emperor Palpatine’s appearance to Ezra in the final episode is a look from his time as Supreme Chancellor. Instead of appearing menacing and evil, he went back to his playbook from when he seduced Anakin Skywalker — a more subtle approach.
Photo Credit: Lucasfilm
Ezra was wise to his schemes, resisting the advances of the “Devil” something that Anakin could not do himself two decades ago. Once the Emperor realizes his plots will not work on the young Jedi, transforms back into his sinister self.
Photo Credit: Lucasfilm
Former Clonetrooper Rex’s fate is officially revealed
Rex’s uniform in the season finale is the same as the Rebel Commandos who aided Han Solo and Princess Leia in disabling the Death Star II shield generator on Endor, shown in Return of the Jedi. Sabine’s narration at the end of the finale confirms that Rex indeed fought in the Battle of Endor, establishing that he is no doubt is the same man as Nik Sant.
Photo Credit: Lucasfilm
Another nod to Return of the Jedi
The shield generator protecting the Imperial sphere on Lothal is the same model used on Endor during the final act of Return of the Jedi.
Ahsoka “The White” embraces her inner Gandolph the White.
Ahsoka Tano is a boss, enough said. Anakin Skywalker/Vader are my two favorite characters, but his (former) apprentice is quickly moving up my that very list. Even though Ahsoka’s time on screen is small, her presence is substantial, with her creator Dave Filoni taking advantage of every opportunity to make Ahsoka even more bad ass as the Star Wars timeline goes on.
The Ahsoka “the white” look at the end of Star Wars Rebels no doubt inspired by Gandalf the White in J.R.R Tolkien’s Lord of the Rings trilogy. Rebels also shadows Lord of the Rings more than just with Ahoska, but more on that later.
Photo Credit Lucasfilm, IMGFlip
Ahsoka’s sweet ride at the end of Star Wars Rebels
After the time jump after the events of the Battle of Endor, we meet Sabine who is protecting Ezra’s homeworld of Lothal. A spaceship then makes its way on-world, one that you might recognize from The Clone Wars era.
Ahsoka is indeed piloting a T-6 Jedi Shuttle, the same model used by Jedi Master Syfo-Dyas (among other Jedi) during the “Old” Republic. Before the Dark times. Before the Empire.
Photo Credit: Lucasfilm
Ahsoka lives! We cannot wait for Dave Filoni (who else?) to tell more of her stories. Not only after the Battle of Endor but during her time after the Ahsoka novel, as well. Lucasfilm would be wise to have her encounter Luke Skywalker at some point and time. Full circle, indeed!
Ashley Eckstein wasn’t kidding when she told us that we would, in fact, see Ahsoka Tano again!
Nods to Star Wars Rebels itself
The Star Wars Rebels series finale also drew back to some of its earlier episodes, proving that the so-called “filler” episodes even had vital importance.
Clone, clones, and more clones.
Wolffe and Gregor now reside in the AT-AT, which they stole from the Empire in the episode Relics of the Old Republic. How touching was Gregor’s final moments when he dies with his former Commander Rex comforting him?
Photo Credit: Lucasfilm
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Honoring the Maker, George Lucas
Zeb mentions he’s in corridor GL-44 before the rebels reach the shield generator on Lothal. Ironically, George Lucas was born in 1944. Also, a Wilhelm Scream is heard at the 38:14 mark of the final Rebels episode — which George Lucas implemented into all of his Star Wars films.
Hera and Han Solo display similar piloting skills
In the latest (teaser) trailer for Solo: A Star Wars Story, Han Solo performs a barrel roll maneuver, which Hera does during the Battle of Lothal. We also learn that Han Solo and Hera have indeed met, displayed in the animated-short Forces of Destiny.
It’s my favorite episode of the series to this point, so I highly recommend you watching it — and the entire series for that matter.
Photo Credit: Lucasfilm
The voice of Chopper revealed!
The voice of Chopper’s revealed as Dave Filoni himself. He tells a funny story of why he ended up voicing the iconic droid, in the Rebels panel following the series finale. You should check it out!
During the Epilogue of the final Star Wars Rebels episode, Sabine now has a Purrgil (space whale) painted on her pauldron, replacing the owl design honoring Ahsoka before Ezra’s sacrifice.
Photo Credit: Lucasfilm
Jacen Syndulla displays an image of a Loth-wolf on his left shoulder, showing that Kanan lives on through his son’s legacy.
Gimli and Legolas
Much like Gimli and Legolas in Lord of the Rings, Zeb and Kallus represent the unique friendship from Tolkien’s universe. The only non-dwarf allowed to reside in Elf homestead was Gimli, just like Kallus on Zeb’s homeworld of Lira San. It’s also a touching moment that Zeb’s people displayed a lesson in forgives, after Kallus nearly aided in eliminated their species from the galaxy.
Next: 50 Most Memorable Moments from Rebels
I’m sure there are more Star Wars Easter eggs that we missed, so let us know if you caught any others — in our comments below and on social media. Even though the show is over, Disney XD has all of the episodes for free (for now).