Star Wars Rebels: “Shroud of Darkness” Review
An episode focused on the past, in hopes to find answers to the present, this was a key episode in the overarching story that Season 2 has been slowly building to. It had everything from reveals, to epic lightsaber duels. This was an episode that I had been waiting for since the trailer released in January.
It begins with Ezra and Kanan running from the Inquisitors yet again. The realization that, as Jedi’s, the two have been unknowingly drawing the Inquisitors to the rest of the Rebels created a great sense of tension. To know that they were the reason that the group was always in so much danger was a huge step forward in Kanan’s maturity as a character as well as his path to becoming a full Jedi.
This dilemma is what pulls Ashoka Tano into the fold as Kanan desperately is searching for guidance. Ezra and Ashoka spend some time reflecting on her past in the Clone Wars as Ashoka struggles to come to terms with Anakin’s apparent death. It was a pretty interesting nod to hear her mention that she met with Anakin shortly before he left to rescue the Chancellor, alluding to the beginning of Revenge of the Sith. The wording of this scene is very intriguing though because it is clear that they do not know who committed the Jedi Purge at this time [although they have their theories] and the way she says Chancellor makes it sound that they are not aware of Emperor Palpatine either, which I find odd. This scene makes her revelation later in the episode that much more powerful. Being confronted by her fears in the form of Anakin’s Ghost, she finally makes the realization that he is Darth Vader. It was tragic to watch Ashoka struggle with the belief that because she left Anakin and the Jedi, that Anakin turned to the darkness. She does receive a warming wave from an apparition of Yoda towards the end of the episode which clearly gave her some hope and which brought a satisfying end to her emotional journey this episode.
Thats right, Yoda was also in this episode! Convinced Yoda would have the answers Kanan sought, the three force users traveled to the Jedi Temple on Lothal where they each meditated, revealing a bit more about themselves and their own personal journeys. Kanan was met by a Jedi Temple Guard that questioned his role in Ezra’s life, claiming that Ezra was already falling to the dark side. This led to an awesome, albeit short, lightsaber fight with Kanan wielding two lightsabers at once. Kanan’s own revelation came when he relinquished that he won’t always be able to protect Ezra but he can only show he the right path. Not only was Kanan finally rewarded with Jedi Knighthood [a very satisfying moment], but the Temple Guard who did the fighting and knighting was revealed to be the Grand Inquisitor himself! I appreciate the knowledge that he was another Jedi Knight that fell to the temptation of the dark side proved just how powerful the Sith had become after the fall of the Jedi.
Ezra’s vision on the other hand, allowed him to meet Yoda. As always, Yoda was indeed very cryptic in his given answers as he tried to work out Ezra’s own motivations for his path forward. As their conversation ended, Yoda gave Ezra the word of Malachor [Force Awakens!], it was clear that he was disappointed in the young padawan’s push towards violence. Ezra was not looking for another route, to fight was the only way he saw moving forward. It fits with his character but was also surprising that he was not open to hearing another path.
We are left at the end with Vader and the Inquisitors discovering the temple and Team Ghost making their way to the planet, Malachor. Definitely a strong episode as it referenced things from past series such as Clone Wars and even the prequel films, and began to reveal more of where the series itself was heading. Only time will unveil where Ezra stands at the end of this season.
Will Ezra fight his own demons and remain on the side of good, or will his own darkness bring him over to the Sith?