In the penultimate Star Wars Rebels episodes, “Wolves and A Door” and “A World Between Worlds”, Dave Filoni shows us, once and for all, that he is the Jedi Master by which all subsequent creators will be weighed. These two episodes may be the most mind-blowing, jaw-dropping episodes of Star Wars animation ever created. Things are never going to be the same in this galaxy, or in Star Wars storytelling, after these two episodes ….

MAJOR SPOILERS BELOW! I HIGHLY SUGGEST YOU WAIT FOR THIS REVEAL IN THE EPISODE!!

Ezra and the Loth-wolves

Ezra’s connection with nature has been evolving for as long as the show has been in production. Here, everything starts to fall into place. What I really like about the scenes with Ezra and the loth-wolves is the manner in which he interacts with them. It is as natural to him as anything he has ever done and is a testament to how we can build upon past experiences in order to prepare us for the next step.

It is also a metaphor for Ezra’s growth. He has tamed the darkness within and rises above, literally and figuratively. Plus, his companions follow him without reservation; riding the loth-wolves is unknown turf and may be a bit disconcerting, but they all follow Ezra. He is their guide into the unknown.

Sabine and Problem Solving

While sneaking into the Jedi Temple on Lothal, the Ghost crew must decipher the riddle of the hieroglyphics found on the stone tablet. It sounds a bit like Indiana Jones (equal parts Raiders of the Lost Ark and Kingdom of the Crystal Skull) and showcases the gifts Sabine brings to the table. She’s not just a warrior who is good with explosives. She’s also highly intelligent and an expert problem solver. It’s another impressive moment in her character development as she interprets the Mortis imagery while trying to appear to placate her Imperial captors.

Emperor Palpatine

Ian McDiarmid returns to voice the sinister Sheev Palpatine, and wow, that guy does not miss a beat! His every word is a terrible manifestation of evil and brings yet another level of terror to the diabolical Sith Lord. He dabbles in some dark magic (similar to Season Six of Star Wars: The Clone Wars) and gives some legitimate scares to both the audience, Ezra, and … someone else we will discuss later. Plus, hearing McDiarmid say the names of some of our favorite Star Wars animated characters is about as awesome as it gets.

The Convor Heard Around the World

How do I write about this without giving away possibly the biggest shock in the history of Star Wars since “I am your father!”? It’s practically impossible. What I will say is that Dave Filoni has gone from George Lucas’ apprentice to a Jedi Master of the highest caliber, and this episode is the metaphorical exclamation point to prove it. What an incredible moment in the history of fictionalized storytelling! Not only does it take your breath away, but was not telegraphed at all.

Ahsoka Tano is alive!

What did you think of “Wolves and A Door” and “A World Between Worlds”? Let me know in the comments below!