Week 4: Season 1, Episodes 10-12

Path of the Jedi is one of my favorite episodes in the show and probably my favorite of season 1. I like Kanan throughout this episode, it feels like he finally reconnects with the Jedi. Even Yoda says he was hidden from his sight until now. I also liked how he knew about the temple before Ezra and it makes having a temple on Lothal believable due to the Holocron records, oh and it’s cool he mentioned the Imperials obviously know of it as well.

The whole master and apprentice test seems kind of gruesome for Jedi, if the apprentice fails there’s no way out and the master just dies... I guess it’s a more extreme kind of test that requires a higher bond or something. The stuff with the Inquisitor chasing Ezra was cool, it almost reminds me of Yodas tests in the Lost Missions. But now onto the Yoda cameo, I’m not entirely sure how he communes over long distances like that while alive but his presence doesn’t really feel out of place to me. Remember force communication has been a thing since ESB, Luke and Vader did it at the end...

The lightsaber at the end is sort of weird, tbh I don’t mind the variance in design THAT much, the support handle thing is actually somewhat of a decent alteration, makes it a lot less likely it should fall out of your hand (it’s not too much of a stretch from a lightsaber like Dooku meant to have a different grip). I just don’t like how Ezras saber shoots stuff :/

Anyways I’m going to say 9/10, I really think this episode is quite enjoyable and Ezras progression seems reasonable, I made this comparison but I feel like Anakin was probably similar just a bit more of a natural.

Idiot's Array is fun. I think they did Lando pretty well. Wish he had a cape though as Solo shows he always wears capes but obviously this came before that movie. The puffer pig was actually kinda funny lol.. But yeah like they started changing things up and being more creative with the plots and I liked that.

Vision of Hope is also great. It's just good to see some meaningful stuff happening for once. The senator being a traitor twist was good. I also really like Lothal's environment and I enjoyed seeing it as much as we did in season 1. But yeah overall better writing and less cringe and that makes me happy lol

Vision of Hope is another good episode, honestly I’m not sure I really contemplated the idea that the senator was a traitor the first time I watched. Yeah it’s obvious as the episode progresses but they established him since the earliest episodes and we’re building up for the season just to tell this story. I think I thought he was maybe a connection to a larger rebellion, especially after the Bail cameo in episode 3.

I do think the Empire seems a bit weak here, they keep underestimating the Rebels and Kallus has made the same mistake a couple times now, although to be fair I guess they were hoping the senator would have been more useful. I like that the empire employs that tactic though to catch Rebels and his explanation of insurgents was a good one, that the empire keeps tabs but doesn’t always arrest.

Ezras development with the force continues to feel rather fluid and he learns a bit each episode, I’m glad it’s not taking any huge leaps but I’m pretty sure it doesn’t until he gets his model change in season 3, guess it’s similar to Ahsoka in that sense.

Anyways I’m going to say 8/10, this episode has no major flaws for me. It’s weird to rate each episode so highly but I honestly think everything is enjoyable and the characters are getting better, dialogue is getting less cringe. Hera actually felt really good in this one, probably her best episode yet. I believe the actual story of the show isn’t that bad, but the writing and stuff can throw it off at times.

I really like Path of the Jedi. It masterfully incorporates the mystic side of Star Wars in a way that builds upon previous examples of it in the canon. Ezra is also very tolerable in this episode, but I think that's because we see him develop a lot as a character. What makes this episode even better for me though is that it's a personal journey for Ezra and Kanan. Yoda's inclusion works well in this regard.

The visions Ezra has are really exciting and make the Grand Inquisitor even more threatening. Even though most of S1 has been tame, there were some pretty intense moments in this episode. Things move along at a good pace without becoming rushed.

The final scene of the episode feels a little out of place, but it doesn't detract from my enjoyment. I'll give it 8.5/10, it's one of my favorites in S1.

I'm not a huge fan of Vision of Hope. The idea is interesting, but the stakes seem fake. I think this results from a mix of the twist being fairly obvious and the Empire's incompetency with catching the rebels. I appreciate how a character from the premiere who seemed like an ally really isn't, but I didn't love the execution of the concept.

Seeing Zare Leonis again adds some nice continuity, although Ezra's decision to reveal his true identity makes him seem so naive. Of the Ghost crew in this one, Hera is the standout for me. I like the relationship this episode builds between her and Ezra.

I don't think this is a bad episode by any measure, but it could've been better. 6/10.

Think I’ll catch up on Saturday.

Bruh Lando's hitting on a teenager

Idiot's Array was okay. I'll admit I was expecting a bit more. Lando was good here. I think they used him appropriately. Honestly though the story felt like a step back, like something we'd seen in the first few episodes. Now I'm not expecting every episode to knock it out of the park and be full of really epic Star Wars moments, but this episode felt pretty half baked after the last few. I thought the villain looked like he hadn't finished rendering lol, kinda like Gha Nackt. It all just felt a bit too silly throughout and ultimately pointless. Not the worst, but after the last few entries I'd hoped they'd make better use of Lando. 6.5/10

I think it’s just establishing the characters that made the first half really bad. Clone wars had a huge advantage in that sense with Anakin, Kenobi, Yoda, Dooku, Grievous, etc

Eh Vision of Hope wasn't that good. I guess I expected we'd get something similar to Empire Day but it was a let down. The senator clearly had something fishy going on with him, but again I understand why Exra wouldn't see that. But Hera did and honestly this was a good episode for her. But I don't know, most of it just fell kinda flat for me and it's hard to say exactly what's wrong. Like so much of it is built around the traitor twist (Filoni's favorite twist) that not much else stands out. And the ending was a bit off. I felt like Ezra and Hera were gonna have some good talk but Hera basically just says "have hope" and then the credits roll. Idk. Anyway, 5.5/10.