'Star Wars Rebels' Review/Recap: "Empire Day"

P.T. Philben ‘17 / Emertainment Monthly Staff Writer

“Empire Day” begins with the opening celebration of the 15th anniversary of the founding of the galactic empire (the last senate scene in Revenge of the Sith).  The rebel crew led by Kanan (Freddie Prinze Jr.) is getting ready to sabotage the main event; a parade going through the city square on young Ezra’s (Taylor Gray) home planet of Lothal. The sabotage is more or less what you would expect from a small rebel group against a large empire. They plan to blow up one of the Empire’s new special TIE fighters on display, displaying propaganda at the events, etc. As a result, the episode initially seems predictable. This however quickly transitions into something more interesting when Ezra declares that he does not wish to participate.
Ezra’s lack of interest in sticking it to the Empire is unusual enough given that he would defy and abuse authority for kicks before he was even aligned to a particular cause. On this day he seems somewhere between apathetic and downright depressed despite the fact that this should be the day that a young rebel should be most excited about some politically defiant hijinks. The rest of the crew engages the sabotage which leads secondary antagonist Agent Kallus (David Oyelowo) to chase down the crew. Kanan and Sabine (Tiya Sircar) retreat with Ezra, who leads them to his childhood home where he once lived with his parents. This is contrary to what Ezra told the rest of the group, namely that he had been an orphan his whole life. Apparently his parents had participated in what was essentially an anti-imperial podcast, which probably has something to do with their absence.

Upon arriving in the abandon home Ezra discovers his old family friend, Rodian Tseebo. Tseebo has been implanted with an imperial device that essentially makes him an organic computer. A computer with some vital information on it that the rebellion can use and the Empire is searching for to see it destroyed. One last big discovery is made before they leave with Tseebo; Ezra’s emotional reaction to Empire day is the result of Empire day being his birthday. This is interesting enough by itself but it becomes more interesting when you do the math; Ezra was born on the same day as the Empire was founded. These revelations of the Empires relation and impact on Ezra’s life adds complexity to his character and forces the viewer to reevaluate his motives because his backstory reveals that he is not as simple as the street-rat archetype that was initially presented. It also implies that there may be more to the darker aspects of his behavior than him simply being rambunctious.
Everything that has happened snowballs into an attempt to get Tseebo out of the city and the Inquisitor (Jason Isaacs) and his minions attempting to stop them. This show has always had fantastic chase scenes (which almost becomes a fault given how much they exploit this talent) and this is perhaps the best one yet. Its intense, has high stakes for both parties, its action packed, gets personal for many of the characters and ends with a twist…. and a cliffhanger. This is the first time that this show has left a conflict that began in this episode unresolved by the end. It does it exactly right in that you will be frustrated by the curiosity of what happens in the next episode, “Gathering Forces”.

With several intriguing reevaluations and a cutoff in the middle of the action (and one of the reevaluations is cut off midway for good measure), this episode leaves you plenty of reason to come back. It provides the foundation for what can cumulate to a great two parter (or more?) and stands on its own as arguably the most intriguing and downright intense episode yet. The humor wasn’t as good as usual but that is the biggest complaint to be found. Gives you enough to be satisfying and leaves you wanting more. “Empire Day” sets the standard for what the show has to offer. There is however still a glass sealing to be broken. This is all good news for fans of the larger saga.
Overall Episode Rating: A