Everyone remembers the role played by Ahsoka Tano, Grand Admiral Thrawn, Obi-Wan Kenobi, Darth Vader, and Darth Maul in making Star Wars Rebels an epic series. However, there’s more to the show than these well-known legacy characters.
Not only doesn’t Rebels introduce a group of new characters, led by Ezra Bridger, but it features several underrated characters who keep us hooked throughout the four seasons of the series. These characters hold our interest in the absence of new characters like Ezra Bridger and legacy characters such as Obi-Wan and Darth Vader.
Here’s a look at 5 of the most underrated characters from Star Wars Rebels.
1. Bendu
Bendu is a Force-sensitive being who belongs to an unknown species and represents the center of the Force. He resided on the planet of Atollon and possessed infinite knowledge and wisdom about the Force. Bendu had a unique method of helping Kanan see the truth, but he refused to take sides unless he was compelled to do it. Bendu helps Kanan come to terms with losing his eyesight and becomes a source of wisdom for Kanan and Ezra. When Thrawn attacked Bendu’s planet, Atollon, Bendu predicted Thrawn’s eventual defeat at the hands of Ezra Bridger. Bendu is a magical and mystical creature who’s one of the best new characters in Rebels.
2. Agent Kallus
We love characters who start on the enemy’s side and end up completely changed. Agent Alexsandr Kallus begins as a typical Imperial who works for the ISB, but during the series, he begins to change his views on the Empire thanks to the influence of Garazeb “Zeb” Orrelios. By the end of the show, Kallus joins the Rebellion and helps the Ghost Crew on missions against the Empire. While it’s difficult for Kallus to earn his Rebel friends’ trust, he’s able to do it eventually and proves to be a brave, loyal, and tactically brilliant rebel and hero.
3. Hera Syndulla
Even though Hera Syndulla is one of the main characters of Star Wars Rebels, she’s somewhat underrated. Others, such as Kanan and Ezra, usually get most of the credit. However, it’s Hera’s insane piloting skills, leadership, warmth, and ability to keep everyone together that make the Ghost Crew feel more like a family than a group of rebels. As a child who grew up during the Clone Wars, Hera understood the price of war from the beginning. Her main objective was to attain peace for the ones she loved, which she continued to fight for even after the fall of the Empire. She is also the first person to fly a B-wing and brought the ship into the Rebel fleet.
4. The Grand Inquisitor
Some people may know the Grand Inquisitor from Obi-Wan Kenobi, but he’s been around since Rebels. As a former Jedi Temple Guard, he knew the ins and outs of the Jedi Order like the back of his hand. He was hand-picked by Darth Sidious to be Grand Inquisitor and served Darth Vader until his death in Rebels. The Inquisitor is a cold and calculating character who ends up giving the Ghost Crew, especially Kanan and Ezra, a really tough time. Even his death scene is a memorable one, as he chooses to die over having to be confronted by Darth Vader.
5. Hondo Ohnaka
Hondo Ohnaka is like the Star Wars version of Jack Sparrow. Hondo is a pirate who’s been around since The Clone Wars, and his role continues in Rebels, where he’s much older. Hondo became a smuggler during the Rebellion, and he and Ezra Bridger crossed paths multiple times in Rebels, making for an odd and funny duo. Though Hondo is business-minded, self-serving, and usually puts his interests over his friends, he doesn’t wish anyone harm and even helps Ezra during the liberation of Lothal.
Star Wars Rebels is streaming on Disney+.