It was a solid episode overall, but a bit of filler. The only thing I struggled with was Rex's speech to Ezra at the end. Even if you accept that no one ever puts two and two together regarding the Clone War, its still heavy handed a dripping with cheese. I'd much rather have seen some genuine concern about the implications of Ezra's point than the weird leap of logic that convincing a droid to fight against the Empire somehow equates to ending the entire conflict.

It was a solid episode overall, but a bit of filler. The only thing I struggled with was Rex's speech to Ezra at the end. Even if you accept that no one ever puts two and two together regarding the Clone War, its still heavy handed a dripping with cheese. I'd much rather have seen some genuine concern about the implications of Ezra's point than the weird leap of logic that convincing a droid to fight against the Empire somehow equates to ending the entire conflict.

Yeah, that final speech from Rex did come off a bit cheesy. Especially for him. Though I think he meant it more as a symbolic end of the Clone Wars with him and General Kalani coming to a mutual understanding.

I liked the episode, but I think they missed an opportunity. One of the most heartbreaking moment for me in season 2 was when Ezra came back and had to look at Rex (whoom I had forgotten after how emotional the end of the season was). The looks that they exchanged, facial expressions and the lack of words is actually what got to me.

Considering how close Rex and Ahsoka were (he saw her grow up after all), I would actually appretiate Rex losing some of his cool and show some more grief / anger.

I was listening to Thrawn's theme and came up with an idea of how to end the season that mirrors the end of the Thrawn trilogy.

The rebel fleet has grown throughout the season but is surrounded by Thrawn and the seventh fleet. This would be the largest battle of the series so far and the Empire is winning and there's an Interdictor so no possible escape through hyperspace. They're for all extents cornered, ships are getting destroyed left and right. This is Thrawn's moment of glory and we see him watching the battle from the bridge of his Star Destroyer. The music swells as he revels in his ultimate victory but then he is betrayed midway through and dies slowly incapable of leading the battle further. Because of this the rebels manage to cripple the interdictor and escape as a dying Thrawn watches.

The Empire technically wins because they devastate the rebels but the rebels survive to fight another day. Thrawn is taken out of the picture and he gets an incredible death having not lost a battle.

I was listening to Thrawn's theme and came up with an idea of how to end the season that mirrors the end of the Thrawn trilogy.

The rebel fleet has grown throughout the season but is surrounded by Thrawn and the seventh fleet. This would be the largest battle of the series so far and the Empire is winning and there's an Interdictor so no possible escape through hyperspace. They're for all extents cornered, ships are getting destroyed left and right. This is Thrawn's moment of glory and we see him watching the battle from the bridge of his Star Destroyer. The music swells as he revels in his ultimate victory but then he is betrayed midway through and dies slowly incapable of leading the battle further. Because of this the rebels manage to cripple the interdictor and escape as a dying Thrawn watches.

The Empire technically wins because they devastate the rebels but the rebels survive to fight another day. Thrawn is taken out of the picture and he gets an incredible death having not lost a battle.

I would be fine with this.

I still prefer he live though; for, sentimental reasons.

I was listening to Thrawn's theme and came up with an idea of how to end the season that mirrors the end of the Thrawn trilogy.

The rebel fleet has grown throughout the season but is surrounded by Thrawn and the seventh fleet. This would be the largest battle of the series so far and the Empire is winning and there's an Interdictor so no possible escape through hyperspace. They're for all extents cornered, ships are getting destroyed left and right. This is Thrawn's moment of glory and we see him watching the battle from the bridge of his Star Destroyer. The music swells as he revels in his ultimate victory but then he is betrayed midway through and dies slowly incapable of leading the battle further. Because of this the rebels manage to cripple the interdictor and escape as a dying Thrawn watches.

The Empire technically wins because they devastate the rebels but the rebels survive to fight another day. Thrawn is taken out of the picture and he gets an incredible death having not lost a battle.

If I had to put money on someone who's going to betray Thrawn at a critical moment (thus saving the Rebellion from being wiped out), I would put it on Agent Kallus.

Wonder if they'll finally reveal that her momma is Rook Kast.

All of the McQuarrie throwbacks have been becomming a bit much, but I like how they worked in the Imperial Supercommando aspect of Mandalorians. (The original design of what eventually became Boba Fett was intended to be an imperial supercommando.)

I'm liking the direction the GCW Mandalorians are taking.

I think I actually prefer the Filoni Mandalore to the old canon one.

Wonder if they'll finally reveal that her momma is Rook Kast.

All of the McQuarrie throwbacks have been becoming a bit much, but I like how they worked in the Imperial Supercommando aspect of Mandalorians. (The original design of what eventually became Boba Fett was intended to be an imperial supercommando.)

You can never have too much Ralph.

By the way, the jetpack guys are all wearing black gaiters. For regular people gaiters are worn like over-boots to protect your lower leg from bushes, thorns, swipes, etc. when hiking or riding horseback. For jetpack people I think it keeps your calves from burning off when they cross the jet plume. And since they're black, they don't look sooty when they've been used!

I love the little details.

(Edit.)

I'm liking the direction the GCW Mandalorians are taking.

I think I actually prefer the Filoni Mandalore to the old canon one.

I like that we're blending elements from Legends into more classical ideals, without getting quite so far as to hit Traviss plateau of mando superiority wankery. It keeps elements from the Legends while still putting a fresh spin on it, but if you're a fan of previous Mandalorian concepts you have something to grab on to that isn't "Pacifist movement which is weirdly out of character for how Mandalorians were treated previously" and "clearly bad guys". Much like colors of armor, Mandalorians and their close cultural relatives come in many flavors.

Wonder if they'll finally reveal that her momma is Rook Kast.

All of the McQuarrie throwbacks have been becomming a bit much, but I like how they worked in the Imperial Supercommando aspect of Mandalorians. (The original design of what eventually became Boba Fett was intended to be an imperial supercommando.

Is the Kast name still a thing in the new canon? I've always assumed Sabine's parents are Bo Katan and Pre Viszla.

I like most of the McQuarrie re-uses here - it adds to the overall charm of the show for me - but I'm actually not sure about the Mandos. The look is just kind of...flat. Maybe that's intentionally so, so that Sabine's armor pops out that much more?

Wonder if they'll finally reveal that her momma is Rook Kast.

All of the McQuarrie throwbacks have been becomming a bit much, but I like how they worked in the Imperial Supercommando aspect of Mandalorians. (The original design of what eventually became Boba Fett was intended to be an imperial supercommando.

Is the Kast name still a thing in the new canon? I've always assumed Sabine's parents are Bo Katan and Pre Viszla.

I like most of the McQuarrie re-uses here - it adds to the overall charm of the show for me - but I'm actually not sure about the Mandos. The look is just kind of...flat. Maybe that's intentionally so, so that Sabine's armor pops out that much more?

They are Imperial Mandos.

Wonder if they'll finally reveal that her momma is Rook Kast.

All of the McQuarrie throwbacks have been becomming a bit much, but I like how they worked in the Imperial Supercommando aspect of Mandalorians. (The original design of what eventually became Boba Fett was intended to be an imperial supercommando.

Is the Kast name still a thing in the new canon? I've always assumed Sabine's parents are Bo Katan and Pre Viszla.

I've always assumed this too. Filloni said her parents were in the room when Darth Maul took over. Vizla and Bo Katan were both there, and where the only characters we know from that scene. And Sabine is about the right age(assuming Bo Katan was already pregnant, but not yet showing)

Vizsla had blond hair and blue eyes and Bo-Katan red hair and green eyes, Sabine is a brown-eyed brunette, not to mention an Asian, I think genetics don't support your theory

Aaaand her last name is Wren, clearly not a fake name as it was recognized by other mandos (I'm Clan Wren, House Vizsla). And when she introduced herself she was called a part of the Death Watch and a traitor, to which she replied "My mother was, I'm not ", why would she say " my mother was " and not mention her father, if he was the leader of the Death Watch?

Vizsla had blond hair and blue eyes and Bo-Katan red hair and green eyes, Sabine is a brown-eyed brunette, not to mention an Asian, I think genetics don't support your theory

Aaaand her last name is Wren, clearly not a fake name as it was recognized by other mandos (I'm Clan Wren, House Vizsla). And when she introduced herself she was called a part of the Death Watch and a traitor, to which she replied "My mother was, I'm not ", why would she say " my mother was " and not mention her father, if he was the leader of the Death Watch?

Maybe she didn't know who her father was.(him being a deceased and ousted dictator) and I'm not really sure we really know any of their actual hair colors(Sabine's especially) so that point is out. And I don't really think she's Asian. Besides, she's not Asian because Asians live on earth and she is from Mandalore.

"Our-galaxy" genetics don't apply to "Star Wars-galaxy" genetics, anyway.

AKA., "The Midi-Chlorians Did It"

Wonder if they'll finally reveal that her momma is Rook Kast.

All of the McQuarrie throwbacks have been becomming a bit much, but I like how they worked in the Imperial Supercommando aspect of Mandalorians. (The original design of what eventually became Boba Fett was intended to be an imperial supercommando.

Is the Kast name still a thing in the new canon? I've always assumed Sabine's parents are Bo Katan and Pre Viszla.

I like most of the McQuarrie re-uses here - it adds to the overall charm of the show for me - but I'm actually not sure about the Mandos. The look is just kind of...flat. Maybe that's intentionally so, so that Sabine's armor pops out that much more?

Rook Kast is canon . She was one of Maul's higher ups when he was running things on Mandalore. She was in the Son of Dathomir comics.

Look familiar?

Also note the markings on Rook Kast's helmet.

Who else have we seen with those Owl Eye things on her helmet... hmm hmm hmm

Although it's confirmed that Bo Katan is returning this season so maybe it'll just be her.

For some reason I really want another Kast around...

Vizsla had blond hair and blue eyes and Bo-Katan red hair and green eyes, Sabine is a brown-eyed brunette, not to mention an Asian, I think genetics don't support your theory

Aaaand her last name is Wren, clearly not a fake name as it was recognized by other mandos (I'm Clan Wren, House Vizsla). And when she introduced herself she was called a part of the Death Watch and a traitor, to which she replied "My mother was, I'm not ", why would she say " my mother was " and not mention her father, if he was the leader of the Death Watch?

Maybe she didn't know who her father was.(him being a deceased and ousted dictator) and I'm not really sure we really know any of their actual hair colors(Sabine's especially) so that point is out. And I don't really think she's Asian. Besides, she's not Asian because Asians live on earth and she is from Mandalore.

Asian features are Asian features, doesn't matter how they are called in the SW Galaxy. Sabine being Asian was confirmed multiple times by the creators and the voice actress.

Even if we assume that the dark hair colour form the Wedge episode is not her natural, her eyes don't change and they are brown. Brown eye colour is carried by a dominant allele while both blue and green are carried by recessive ones. It's impossible for parents with features determined by recessive alleles to have a child with features determined by dominant ones.

There is also her name, not fake, not Vizsla and not Kryze.

It looks like the history of the Mandalorians goes a bit like this:

• Around 1000ish the Mandalorians are the marauding menace they were in Legends KotOR. They war with the Republic and the Jedi, sacking Coruscant at some point.
• The Republic eventually defeats them and Mandalore gets turned into a desert in the process. This crippling defeat and the near total destruction of the Mandalorians puts an end to their campaigns of conquest, although they remain a warrior people.
• By about 40 - 30 BBY Mandalore is in a state of cultural crisis: a movement called the New Mandalorians has risen which advocates non-violence (as seen in Rebels combat is a way of resolving disputes amongst Mandalorians and this presumably causes a lot of unnecessary injury and death.) There are also hardline factions that call for a full return of the old way of conquest where Mandalore is feared and takes whatever it wants by force.
• When Satine Kryze becomes the ruler of Mandalore she sympathises heavily with the New Mandalorians. Fearing the death of their culture the traditionalist factions attempt to remove her by force, starting the Mandalorian Civil War. Given their hostility to Death Watch the Protectors presumably are on the establishment side in this war.
• This civil war is so brutal it depopulates Mandalore and turns Satine, the New Mandalorians and the surviving populace full-blown pacifist. Those who refuse to embrace pacifism are sent into exile (presumably this is when the Protectors leave for Concord Dawn).
• The traditionalist faction survives as the Death Watch, led by Pre Vizla. He realises to take Mandalore he must win over the hearts and minds of the Mandalorian people as the New Mandalorians did: he must expose their military weakness and contrast it to the military strength of the old ways.
• Vizla's first attempt as shown in TCW is to aid the CIS in order to provoke a Republic invasion of Mandalore: he can then use the military occupation and historical hostility to the Republic to win the people over. His plans are thwarted by the Jedi.
• Vizla later finds Maul and the two form an alliance to take Mandalore and share power. Mandalore is pacifist and neutral: neither the Republic nor the CIS will aid it unless it takes a side in the Clone Wars, something Satine will never do. Maul is therefore able to ransack the capital, Sundari, with the military forces of the various crime syndicates he's gained influence over. Pre Vizla then "intervenes", defeats the syndicates, declares himself Manda'lor and double crosses Maul. The Death Watch becomes the ruling faction of Manda'lor with the support of the populace.
• Maul kills Vizla in single combat and declares himself Manda'lor. This causes a rift in the Death Watch: most recognise Maul's legitimacy (he killed Manda'lor and is therefore the strongest warrior in their eyes) but a significant number reject him as a non-Mandalorian outsider. The Death Watch splits into the Maul-loyal Supercommandos and the Vizla-loyal Nite Owls and Mandalore is once again in a state of civil war. Obi-Wan Kenobi is captured attempting to rescue Satine but escapes with the aid of the Nite Owls: they're willing to risk a Republic invasion to stop Maul.
• This time the state of Mandalore does trigger a Republic invasion: the Siege of Mandalore is one of the thus far untold stories and would have been the finale of TCW. It ends with Maul's defeat, Order 66, Rex and Ahsoka going into hiding and an Imperial occupation of Mandalore.

How to we get to where we are now?

As of the Siege Mandalore is ruled by Maul's Supercommandos with the Nite Owls being an insurgent force. With Maul's defeat by the Republic I'd wager the Supercommandos swore loyalty to the Empire (hence Imperial Supercommandos). The Empire as an expansionist dictatorship follows their ways (roughly), it defeated Maul and they've no issue swearing loyalty to an outsider that defeats their leader. This is heavily supported by the fact that the Imperial Supercommando leader, Gar Saxon, used to be one of Maul's Supercommandos.

The Nite Owls presumably become the "loyalists" mentioned by Gar Saxon in the trailer above: like the Protectors they believe that only Mandalorians can rule the Mandalorians although they're still probably mostly Death Watch in ideology. While Fenn Rau does serve the Empire initially he does it to keep the Empire out of Protectorate space: he joins the Rebels when his capture makes that no longer a possibility.

Although it's confirmed that Bo Katan is returning this season so maybe it'll just be her.

For some reason I really want another Kast around...

To the contrary, I think the signs bar one point to Rook Kast. The helmet signs on her helmet in Son of Dathomir (created after Rebels was put into production) that match Sabine's combined with her physical appearance suggests to me that Rook Kast is her mother.

Considering that Rook Kast is a Maul Supercommando (which become the Imperial Supercommandos ¹ ) that makes things interesting.

There is one piece of evidence pointing to Bo-Katan as Sabine's mother: the owl on her pauldron. Bo-Katan is the leader of the Nite Owls, the Death Watch faction that rejected Maul and presumably rejects the Empire as the rulers of Mandalore. It could simply mean that Sabine has connections of the "loyalist" insurgents though.

^{1: If you want some evidence for that beyond the name match, the Supercommandos were the Death Watch faction willing to accept Maul, an outsider as their leader. The Empire defeats Maul at the end of the Clone Wars. They remodeled their armour after Maul and the Imperial Supercommandos remodel theirs after the Empire's trooper aesthetic. Rook Kast's fellow Maul Supercommando in Son of Dathomir is Gar Saxon. The leader of the Imperial Supercommando group in Rebels's name? Saxon.}

Although it's confirmed that Bo Katan is returning this season so maybe it'll just be her.

For some reason I really want another Kast around...

To the contrary, I think the signs bar one point to Rook Kast. The helmet signs on her helmet in Son of Dathomir (created after Rebels was put into production) that match Sabine's combined with her physical appearance suggests to me that Rook Kast is her mother.

Considering that Rook Kast is a Maul Supercommando (which become the Imperial Supercommandos ¹ ) that makes things interesting.

There is one piece of evidence pointing to Bo-Katan as Sabine's mother: the owl on her pauldron. Bo-Katan is the leader of the Nite Owls, the Death Watch faction that rejected Maul and presumably rejects the Empire as the rulers of Mandalore. It could simply mean that Sabine has connections of the "loyalist" insurgents though.

^{1: If you want some evidence for that beyond the name match, the Supercommandos were the Death Watch faction willing to accept Maul, an outsider as their leader. The Empire defeats Maul at the end of the Clone Wars. They remodeled their armour after Maul and the Imperial Supercommandos remodel theirs after the Empire's trooper aesthetic. Rook Kast's fellow Maul Supercommando in Son of Dathomir is Gar Saxon. The leader of the Imperial Supercommando group in Rebels's name? Saxon.}

The owl has no connection to the Nite Owls.

Wonder if they'll finally reveal that her momma is Rook Kast.

All of the McQuarrie throwbacks have been becomming a bit much, but I like how they worked in the Imperial Supercommando aspect of Mandalorians. (The original design of what eventually became Boba Fett was intended to be an imperial supercommando.

Is the Kast name still a thing in the new canon? I've always assumed Sabine's parents are Bo Katan and Pre Viszla.

I like most of the McQuarrie re-uses here - it adds to the overall charm of the show for me - but I'm actually not sure about the Mandos. The look is just kind of...flat. Maybe that's intentionally so, so that Sabine's armor pops out that much more?

Rook Kast is canon . She was one of Maul's higher ups when he was running things on Mandalore. She was in the Son of Dathomir comics.

Look familiar?

Interesting - I hadn't read that one, but seems to fit the currently available evidence. With it being published so close to the "cut-off" between Dark Horse and Marvel comics, I wasn't sure if it still counted or not. I should track that down next con I go to...