In one of the old WEG books there's an Alliance special forces "slang glossary", and their "operator-speak" term for a lightsaber was "UCT".

Universal Cutting Tool.

In Rebels itself, we see a lightsaber glance off of a character's personal armor more than once.

We saw that in The Clone Wars too.

Cortosis has been canonized by the Rebels prequel novel.

Still gets me though. I know the justification is cortosis weave, but still. Up to that point all we had seen was the sword lob off Ponda Baba and a Wampa's arm.

I blame the EU trying to develop this idea that lightsabers can cut through anything, and now its gone maximum stupid.

I mean sure, I guess I'm fine with it.

More importantly, there's a couple of swings just before Vader takes one to the shoulder where the saber hits - and doesn't slice through - the guard rails. So either those are the most badass handrails in the entire universe orrrrrr. . . lightsabers don't always cut through things.

Total tangent, but....

.. speaking of handrails, anyone notice the complete LACK of handrails in scene where the Han Solo & Kylo Ryn face off? I mean, they are only walking over a metal plank crossing a bottomless pit to the center of the planet. Who in the world approved that design?! OCEA would have a field day! Even the Emperor knew better and had handrails next to his bottomless pits in his thrown room.

Totally reminds me of this:

Anyway.... back on subject.

Still gets me though. I know the justification is cortosis weave, but still. Up to that point all we had seen was the sword lob off Ponda Baba and a Wampa's arm.

I blame the EU trying to develop this idea that lightsabers can cut through anything, and now its gone maximum stupid.

I mean sure, I guess I'm fine with it.

More importantly, there's a couple of swings just before Vader takes one to the shoulder where the saber hits - and doesn't slice through - the guard rails. So either those are the most badass handrails in the entire universe orrrrrr. . . lightsabers don't always cut through things.

We see them cut through flesh quite easily, and take a good deal of effort to cut through metal.

Given that they seem to involve some quasi-magnetic handwaving in how they work, and probably cut through intense heat, this makes sense -- metal can conduct the heat away from the point of contact, has a much higher melting point (water boils long before most metal melts, obviously) and probably would disrupt the "magnetic" field. Thus, we see a ton of sparks and hot spots on metal, but it takes effort to cut through it.

I actually didn't mind how the walkers were handled, I liked how they slid and separated.

But I do have a rant: can Disney PLEASE give these guys a bigger budget??!!! All the action is very constrained, and you can tell that it's a space issue...they just don't have the budget to render a larger scene. I'm actually impressed by how well they have been able to use the economy of the space they're allowed, you can tell they are really working hard to frame each shot so that it's a discrete piece of action when in fact in 3D space things are happening right next to each other. But that's the point: you can tell.

Rebels is good, but if you go back and watch a TCW episode (especially season 5 or 6), the amount of space available for the action is incredible. Just up the budget a bit, pllllleeeeeaaaaassssseee?

I actually didn't mind how the walkers were handled, I liked how they slid and separated.

But I do have a rant: can Disney PLEASE give these guys a bigger budget??!!! All the action is very constrained, and you can tell that it's a space issue...they just don't have the budget to render a larger scene. I'm actually impressed by how well they have been able to use the economy of the space they're allowed, you can tell they are really working hard to frame each shot so that it's a discrete piece of action when in fact in 3D space things are happening right next to each other. But that's the point: you can tell.

Rebels is good, but if you go back and watch a TCW episode (especially season 5 or 6), the amount of space available for the action is incredible. Just up the budget a bit, pllllleeeeeaaaaassssseee?

Agreed, and it's not like Disney lacks money. And it's not like Star Wars isn't an important franchise to them, considering how much they paid to get the rights. The team is making miracles with what little money they have, and the visuals aren't everything of course, but it's clearly hindered by its limited budget, especially when you compare it to TCW.

Rebels is good, but if you go back and watch a TCW episode (especially season 5 or 6), the amount of space available for the action is incredible. Just up the budget a bit, pllllleeeeeaaaaassssseee?

"I have too much time and money!"

- no television producer ever.

I actually didn't mind how the walkers were handled, I liked how they slid and separated.

But I do have a rant: can Disney PLEASE give these guys a bigger budget??!!! All the action is very constrained, and you can tell that it's a space issue...they just don't have the budget to render a larger scene. I'm actually impressed by how well they have been able to use the economy of the space they're allowed, you can tell they are really working hard to frame each shot so that it's a discrete piece of action when in fact in 3D space things are happening right next to each other. But that's the point: you can tell.

Rebels is good, but if you go back and watch a TCW episode (especially season 5 or 6), the amount of space available for the action is incredible. Just up the budget a bit, pllllleeeeeaaaaassssseee?

Agree wholeheartedly, but I don't think that's ever going to happen. Remember, TCW's budget was coming straight from Uncle george's wallet. I've talked to a few people in the know, and George specifically wanted to make a huge splash early in Season 2 of The Clone Wars and really expand what Filoni and crew were doing in terms of scale and detail. The 5th episode of that season, "Landing on Point Rain" when the Republic returns to Geonosis was the beginning of that experiment. That episode alone cost north of $3 million dollars in terms of just development of software and new models... Disney simply isn't going to spend that kind of money.

Season 3 of TCW in particular was a huge evolution of the show in terms of lighting... just look at the season ending two parter featuring Ahsoka and Chewbacca "Padawan Lost" & "Wookiee Hunt." By the time of Seasons 5 & 6 the show was firing on all cylinders; the sheer scope of the show was simply breathtaking, but even then there were still times there wasn't quite enough money in the budget to do everything. For example, for years Filoni had wanted to show the Jedi in their classic Jedi robes... that didn't happen in the show until Season 5 simply due to the expense of creating more new models, and developing the software to make the robes fold and flow naturally.

Now, apparently on Rebels they will be unveiling a new character model for Ezra making him look less cartoony, and later this season a couple of the other regulars might get new models by the end of the season. Unfortunately, from what I've heard the budget for next season is going to be even tighter than it's been in the past, so I'm really not sure the series will ever be given a chance to achieve the level of detail of the environments of TCW, or even the fluidity of the character models.

I mean this level of detail in terms of lighting and atmosphere, plus the sheer scale of the action is CRAZY for a kids show.

I mean this level of detail in terms of lighting and atmosphere, plus the sheer scale of the action is CRAZY for a kids show.

That scene was breathtaking, AND heartbreaking. I can't believe how good and beautiful that show was in the end.

That scene was breathtaking, AND heartbreaking. I can't believe how good and beautiful that show was in the end.

Glad I'm not the only one. I actually get a lump in my throat watching it.

Much as I hate to say it, I think Gallandro's got the right of it.

Most animated TV shows tend not to have very large budgets no matter how successful or popular the property is, and frequently have network execs that are looking to trim the budget if not cancel the show outright for whatever reasons they have, usually related to the associated toys and merch not selling within the "target" demographic of small children. This happened with Justice League, Young Justice, and the rebooted Masters of the Universe and Thundercats series, all of which were quite popular with adult audiences, but were deemed failures by their parent network because the associated toylines weren't selling, with both Young Justice and Thundercats getting hit especially hard by this, and ending on a serious cliff-hanger that's never going to be resolved; heck Thundercats largely ended with the bad guys winning because of the show being canned.

DisneyXD seems to be better about this, or at least not as bad as Cartoon Network (the cancellation of the popular Spectacular Spider-Man was due to circumstances beyond the network's control), but that doesn't mean their simply going to fork over huge sums of cash to what is a show that targets a younger audience, especially if said show doesn't have the merch sales to justify the added expense of up'ing the show's budget. And if the merch isn't doing so hot, that's a justification for the network to slash the budget, as they don't want to waste money on a show that's not making a viable return on the investment.

Clearly, no one told the creative staff on Young Justice that they were making a show for small children.

That scene was breathtaking, AND heartbreaking. I can't believe how good and beautiful that show was in the end.

Glad I'm not the only one. I actually get a lump in my throat watching it.

The mid-season 2 Rebels trailer actually had me tear up for that one shot of Ahsoka and Vader. I'm so invested in her story, I care so much for this character, and a huge part of my love for Ahsoka is how perfect her character development was. She feels like a daughter to me, I actually feel pride for that fictional character, because I not only saw her grow from a young girl to a mature adult, but also from an eager but confrontational padawan to a skilled and wise jedi. Usually, and especially in those shows, character development happens almost instantly, if it happens at all, while here they took the time to let it happen naturally (and Ahsoka's story is not an exception in that show, Anakin's slow descent into the Dark Side comes to mind).

TL;DR - I'm a huge Ahsoka fanboy and I don't care because she's amazing and TCW and Rebels are great.

In Rebels case their merchadising isn't selling huge. Right now Disney XD is in "expand the base of the network" mode, and so far, over the last two years both Marvel's shows and Rebels have been attracting much larger than normal ratings for the network. However that's not really that impressive when you look at raw data. Previously a "hit" show on XD might bring in 250-300k viewers, right now Rebels is averaging about 500k viewers and episode, which pales in comparison to the viewers TCW was bringing in, but to be fair TCW was on a network that was available in roughly 86% of US homes. XD is only available to about 68% of homes as many providers will not pay the extra money to carry the additional Disney programming package which has the network.

On the bright side, Rebels does pull in solid ratings during re-runs on Disney Channel. I've long been an advocate of just moving the show to Disney Channel, but Disney is obviously trying to improve XD's visability with the Star Wars brand. However, on the downside that means Rebels, despite being part of an enormously successful brand, is going to be held to the same budgetary constraints other shows on XD are held to.

Yancy

Not sure if this has been mentioned, but I think the one called "Old Master" in the season two trailer is Darth Maul.

Apologies if someone has already pointed this out.

That scene was breathtaking, AND heartbreaking. I can't believe how good and beautiful that show was in the end.

Glad I'm not the only one. I actually get a lump in my throat watching it.

The mid-season 2 Rebels trailer actually had me tear up for that one shot of Ahsoka and Vader. I'm so invested in her story, I care so much for this character, and a huge part of my love for Ahsoka is how perfect her character development was. She feels like a daughter to me, I actually feel pride for that fictional character, because I not only saw her grow from a young girl to a mature adult, but also from an eager but confrontational padawan to a skilled and wise jedi. Usually, and especially in those shows, character development happens almost instantly, if it happens at all, while here they took the time to let it happen naturally (and Ahsoka's story is not an exception in that show, Anakin's slow descent into the Dark Side comes to mind).

TL;DR - I'm a huge Ahsoka fanboy and I don't care because she's amazing and TCW and Rebels are great.

I'm really hoping they don't kill her off "for the drama".

However that's not really that impressive when you look at raw data. Previously a "hit" show on XD might bring in 250-300k viewers, right now Rebels is averaging about 500k viewers and episode, which pales in comparison to the viewers TCW was bringing in, but to be fair TCW was on a network that was available in roughly 86% of US homes. XD is only available to about 68% of homes as many providers will not pay the extra money to carry the additional Disney programming package which has the network.

I've started to wonder how relevant these channels are anymore. I watch it on iTunes a few days after XD shows it...how many other people would prefer to watch on their own schedule and avoid ads?

However that's not really that impressive when you look at raw data. Previously a "hit" show on XD might bring in 250-300k viewers, right now Rebels is averaging about 500k viewers and episode, which pales in comparison to the viewers TCW was bringing in, but to be fair TCW was on a network that was available in roughly 86% of US homes. XD is only available to about 68% of homes as many providers will not pay the extra money to carry the additional Disney programming package which has the network.

I've started to wonder how relevant these channels are anymore. I watch it on iTunes a few days after XD shows it...how many other people would prefer to watch on their own schedule and avoid ads?

I DVR a lot of things at this point -- I'm often at work or asleep when things I want to see are on.

Likewise. I cut the cable a few years ago (gone hulu, Netflix & Prime). Never looked back.

I have wondered how networks can tell if a show is a hit on those type of services.

Likewise. I cut the cable a few years ago (gone hulu, Netflix & Prime). Never looked back.

I have wondered how networks can tell if a show is a hit on those type of services.

They get viewer numbers from the various streaming companies. Even better for them is those numbers are accurate rather than guesstimates based on Nielson Ratings System which has boxes in a few thousand houses that are used as a "representative sample" for the whole US.

That scene was breathtaking, AND heartbreaking. I can't believe how good and beautiful that show was in the end.

Glad I'm not the only one. I actually get a lump in my throat watching it.

The mid-season 2 Rebels trailer actually had me tear up for that one shot of Ahsoka and Vader. I'm so invested in her story, I care so much for this character, and a huge part of my love for Ahsoka is how perfect her character development was. She feels like a daughter to me, I actually feel pride for that fictional character, because I not only saw her grow from a young girl to a mature adult, but also from an eager but confrontational padawan to a skilled and wise jedi. Usually, and especially in those shows, character development happens almost instantly, if it happens at all, while here they took the time to let it happen naturally (and Ahsoka's story is not an exception in that show, Anakin's slow descent into the Dark Side comes to mind).

TL;DR - I'm a huge Ahsoka fanboy and I don't care because she's amazing and TCW and Rebels are great.

I'm really hoping they don't kill her off "for the drama".

Oh she's most assuredly going down. The master turned Sith Lord murdering his old padawan in a dramatic duel (with a last "Farewell, Snips") is too much of a great drama opportunity to pass up. Especially now in Rebels that she's only a secondary character (in contrast with TCW in which she was part of the main cast), she's expendable and yet well loved by the viewers: she's the perfect choice to convey tones of despair and threat (especially after her duel with the Inquisitors), without loosing one of the main cast.

Not that I want her to die, mind you. I want her to live happily ever after, and I'm most definitely gonna cry like a huge baby if she does die, but she's just ripe for a tragic death and Filoni knows it.

Okay, that Mandolorian Death Blossom that their fighters can do is kind of keen. Is that new? And what the hell happened to Concorde Dawn? That's a serious chunk of planet missing!

Also - that Clone Stormtrooper from last week with Spike's voice? His DNA sample must have come from this Mando clan, since Random Background Mando also had Spike's voice.

(:

That scene was breathtaking, AND heartbreaking. I can't believe how good and beautiful that show was in the end.

Glad I'm not the only one. I actually get a lump in my throat watching it.

The mid-season 2 Rebels trailer actually had me tear up for that one shot of Ahsoka and Vader. I'm so invested in her story, I care so much for this character, and a huge part of my love for Ahsoka is how perfect her character development was. She feels like a daughter to me, I actually feel pride for that fictional character, because I not only saw her grow from a young girl to a mature adult, but also from an eager but confrontational padawan to a skilled and wise jedi. Usually, and especially in those shows, character development happens almost instantly, if it happens at all, while here they took the time to let it happen naturally (and Ahsoka's story is not an exception in that show, Anakin's slow descent into the Dark Side comes to mind).

TL;DR - I'm a huge Ahsoka fanboy and I don't care because she's amazing and TCW and Rebels are great.

I'm really hoping they don't kill her off "for the drama".

Oh she's most assuredly going down. The master turned Sith Lord murdering his old padawan in a dramatic duel (with a last "Farewell, Snips") is too much of a great drama opportunity to pass up. Especially now in Rebels that she's only a secondary character (in contrast with TCW in which she was part of the main cast), she's expendable and yet well loved by the viewers: she's the perfect choice to convey tones of despair and threat (especially after her duel with the Inquisitors), without loosing one of the main cast.

Not that I want her to die, mind you. I want her to live happily ever after, and I'm most definitely gonna cry like a huge baby if she does die, but she's just ripe for a tragic death and Filoni knows it.

That's exactly the sort of "drama" that makes me stop watching something. Nothing but a predictable, contrived attempt at manipulatimg the viewer / reader.

In Rebels case their merchadising isn't selling huge.

I'm not surprised. The ships are cool, but there's something about those Gumby bodies that is a bit of a turn off. Not to mention the obvious repetition of background character models. A budget issue again...if you invest the wrong amount you create a negative feedback loop...