New Star Wars: Rebels episodes to include Yoda, Leia, tie-ins to The Force Awakens, and even Darth Maul!

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Have you been watching Rebels? many fans don't feel compelled to watch it because of its lighter tone compared to The clone Wars. Nonetheless, it has an interesting overall plot and nice cameos and references to the movies and the previous TV series. The beginning of the second season brought back Darth Vader (he had appeared before, but only as a hologram). This made a powerful connection between the TV show and the original trilogy. But now it seems that Dave Filioni's team is bringing us a half season full of important cameos, connections and more Jedi/Sith lore. Continue after the break to watch the video and a full analysis of it.

​The teaser seems amazing right? Star Wars Rebels is supposed to last only 4 seasons, so it is understandable that the producer would want to start bringing in the big guns now, rather than later. This will help to keep fans engaged and to keep the plot moving towards a satisfying resolution (unlike what happened with The Clone Wars). Let's analyze the many surprises in the video:

#1 Familiar characters from The Clone Wars and the movies
Princess Leia Organa comes with reinforcements from her father. Cham Syndulla, Hera's brother and Ryloth's freedom fighter finally makes an appearance. And Ezra seems to have a trippy conversation with master Yoda. It doesn't appear that he goes to Dagobah, but rather, connects to Yoda through the Force.

#2 It seems that some characters won't leave the galaxy alone
In the video we can see a hooded figure talking to Ezra telling him to call him "Old master."  It is more than clear that this hooded character is Darth Maul. I hope we get a good explanation of what happened to him after the comic that continued his arc from the Clone Wars TV show.

#3 The Rebels go back to the Jedi temple
Or maybe they find a new one. It was said earlier that Ahsoka found her armor in an old Jedi temple. Maybe she takes them there. Is it here where Ezra is able to connect with Yoda? Has Ahsoka been in contact with the ancient master? What other secrets does the temple hold? I hope we get some answers soon. It seems that the Empire has found the temple too.

#4 They also find a Sith Temple
At the beginning of the video we can hear Ahsoka saying "to defeat your enemy, you have to understand them." What better way to understand them that to go to their house, or in this instance, their temple.  Ezra felt the call of the dark side in a previous episode this season. Is it wise to take him to a Sith temple?

#5 Ezra finds a Sith Holocrone 
Once inside the temple, Ezra finds a stone vault. Ahsoka tries to stop him from touching it, but it is too late. The vault opens and reveals a Sith holocron. What better way to get to know the Sith than their own source of information. Will this knowledge tempt Ezra? Will Darth Vader come to retrieve it?

#6 He also finds a familiar (to us at least) lightsaber model
We know That Kylo Ren's lightsaber model is based on an ancient design. Ren didn't do a great job building his. It actually looks very homemade.  That's because he didn't have an instruction manual on how to build it. He didn't have the guidance a Jedi would have had. That shows in the picture below. The crossguard lightsaber with a green blade is actually very well built. It is elegant and less industrial looking. Will he keep it? I definitely would!

#7 Kanan runs into some Jedi Temple guards
Remember those guys from the Barriss Offee arc that escorted Ahsoka to her trial and later tried to stop Barriss and Anakin from fighting at the temple (first picture below)? They are back. It seems that they either survived the purge (order 66) or this specific group has been hiding all this time, maybe in a temple that Kanan and the rebels find using the map shown below (could this be a map to the Jedi temples, the same map Leia is looking for in The Force Awakens?). However they find the map, the most important piece of information comes from the mouth of one of the guards. They know the dark side is calling to Ezra, and it seems they don't like it. It also looks like Kanan doesn't like what they have to say, or maybe their plans for his friends.

#8 The inquisitors seem to be busier than ever
We have now 3 inquisitors after our friends, and Darth Vader has taken a more active role commanding them. We can also see the inquisitors confronting the temple guards. Do they have a change of heart and decide to help Kanan? Or do the Inquisitors find the temple and they are forced to defend their home?

 9# Ahsoka tells Ezra about Anakin
This is actually great! We get to see Anakin in Rebels. Or at least his hologram. Ahsoka is telling Ezra about her former master. Does this mean that she is going to reveal who he is? 

#10 Yes, she knows the truth about Darth Vader
Even further, they communicate through the force. Anakin blames her for what happened to him. We know that Anakin's excuse to turn to the dark side is his desire to save Padme from dying during childbirth. He has lost too much: his mother, Ahsoka, and Padme. But, is this actually true? Could Ahsoka staying with the Jedi order have saved him from becoming Vader? Well, no. He said it himself in Revenge of the Sith: he is not the Jedi he is supposed to be, he wants more, and he shouldn't. Blaming Ahsoka is just another Sith tactic to break her will, weaken her and lure her to the dark side. It is sad to see how she even sheds a tear for him.

#11 Ezra and Ahsoka take on Darth Vader
This is what we all have been waiting for: Master Vs. apprentice. In Vader's words, when facing Kenobi for the last time, "the circle is now complete." What will be Ahsokas final fate? Will she meet her demise this season? Will Vader try to tempt her with the dark side? Will he kill her to get rid of the last remaining parts of Anakin in him?