On Saturday at the Fan Expo Canada, Lucasfilm released the second and final trailer leading up to the release of the fourth and final season of "Star Wars Rebels." As sad as it is to see this beloved show go, the good thing is, that it's doing so on its own terms rather than being forced off the air because of low ratings or the company being bought out, such as happened with "The Clone Wars" several years ago. In this way, the show is able to come to its own natural conclusion and fans get the closure they deserve. By ending on their own terms, this show has the time it needs to wrap up everyone's story line, even if it's not in the happy way fans would like.
The trailer
Ever since the trailer dropped at exactly ten yesterday morning, fans have been going crazy trying to analyze what every little piece could mean to the overall story of this final season. Just a few of the things the fans hit on the were, 1) x-wings finally making their debut in this show, 2) Kanera finally at has some attention and 3) the possibility of Kanan dying.
Ever since "Rebels" debuted way back in 2014, fans have been all but begging then show runner and now executive producer, Dave Filoni to include x-wings in the show. They are one of the most recognizable ships in the "Star Wars' universe after all. Without the grace and speed of these ships, Luke would likely not have been able to make the shot and destroy the Death Star in "A New Hope".
No matter how much the fans begged and pleaded, he did not give in. When asked, his reason for excluding them was because when they did make their debut, he wanted it to really mean something, not put in simply for the fans. When it comes to "Star Wars," most major people, aliens, and objects have a bigger symbolic meaning.
With the series winding to its epic conclusion, Dave Filoni knew it was finally the time to give the fans what they wanted - the x-wings.
Something else the fans have wanted ever since the beginning of this show is evidence of Kanan and Hera romantically linked together. As long as it's done right, who doesn't enjoy a good love story?
Two people who trust each other so implicitly that they never have to worry what the other thinks of them - it's a classic that should never die. From the novel "A New Dawn" all the way through the story, there have been hints of it but never anything solid that would prove or disprove them as a real couple. Finally, in this latest trailer, fans see that something might be happening in that direction when Kanan asks Hera "So, I guess you never really thought about us." Obviously, only once this season premieres and the episodes head toward the ultimate series finale, will fans know for sure.
Time will only tell about another thing buzzing through fans' minds. Due to the somber tone of the trailer and the fact that so much of it was focused on Kanan, they cannot help but legitimately fear for his life.
"Star Wars" does have a history of killing off mentors, after all. First was Obi-Wan "Ben" Kenobi in "A New Hope" followed by Yoda in "Return of the Jedi" and most recently Han Solo in "The Force Awakens." Need we even bring up Qui-Gon Jinn in "The Phantom Menace?" If events continue in the way they are, it should not be much of a surprise for fans when this happens. Sad and heartbreaking sure, but not surprising. This is especially so when one considers Dave Filoni's penchant for killing off fan-favorite characters. Add this to the fact that it's the final season and you have a better chance of Luke going to the dark side after everything he's been through. Oh, wait, that just might happen!
Conclusion
Overall, this trailer was a huge success that left fans in a difficult position. On the one hand, they want more, but on the other, they don't want the show to end. Despite its random breaks throughout each of its three seasons thus far, they could not help but keep coming back. For an animated "kids' show" that airs on Disney XD, that is saying something. To all fans out there reading this, here's to the future and the epic conclusion to this amazing show!
