Just how callous is Kallus?
By Eric Goldman
Warning: Full spoilers for the episode below.
First off, how about the fact that this episode began with a notable tie-in to the Death Star, and presumably, laid the groundwork for Rogue One’s “steal the Death Star plans” storyline?! Who knows if we’ll see more of this on Rebels or not, but having the Ghost crew sent to Geonosis to investigate the Empire building a huge, mystery project is certainly exciting. They arrived too late, of course, but will we see more of them trying to figure out what was being built there, or will we just assume they handed in their report and others will continue the hunt, leading into Rogue One? Either way, a very cool bit of connective tissue.
As for the bulk of the episode, it was terrific, making use of a classic scenario that will quickly always make some,ties myself included, think of the sci-fi film Enemy Mine. Of course, there were stories before and since (including Battlestar Galactica and Star Trek: The Next Generation) that have done the “two enemies are marooned together” storyline, and there’s a reason for that – it’s a fascinating scenario.
It was a bit amusing to see Zeb be the one to star in this episode, just two weeks after he finally got a starring role. But again, I’m glad to see Rebels making better use of its entire ensemble and it was vital it be Zeb in this scenario, given Kallus’ role in the Lasan massacre that has so shaped Zeb.
Star Wars Rebels: “The Honorable Ones” Images
Star Wars Rebels: “The Honorable Ones” Images
Star Wars Rebels: “The Honorable Ones” Images
Star Wars Rebels: “The Honorable Ones” Images
Star Wars Rebels: “The Honorable Ones” Images
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Star Wars Rebels: “The Honorable Ones” Images
Star Wars Rebels: “The Honorable Ones” Images
Star Wars Rebels: “The Honorable Ones” Images
Star Wars Rebels: “The Honorable Ones” Images
And what an episode for Kallus! It’s been cool having David Oyelowo voice the character, sure, but up until now he’s been pretty much a one-note, albeit fun, villain. But here the acclaimed actor really got to give a much more nuanced, layered performance and, not shockingly, nailed it, as Kallus gave Zeb (and the audience) some insight into his point of view as one of the Empire’s agents. By the end of the episode, it seemed maybe his encounter with Zeb – and Zeb actually letting him go – had really effected him and it would be fascinating if Kallus became The Clone Wars version of Asajj Ventress – the villain who becomes a much more complicated figure as time goes on.
Steve Blum and Oyelowo were excellent showing the initial hateful interactions between Zeb and Kallus turn to reluctantly working together to survive (fighting those dino-type creatures included) to ultimately beginning to see each other’s side of things in a very different way than imaginable. From Kallus sharing the story of how he ended up with a Lasat weapon to Zeb giving Kallus his name for the first time (even though Kallus already knew it), this was an emotional, involving episode of Rebels.
There was a lot to love about this episode. The hints at larger parts of the Star Wars universe, including the ties to the Death Star’s construction and the mystery of all the Geonosians being killed (perhaps the Emperor getting rid of them because they knew too much about the Death Star?) were fascinating. And it was all anchored by a powerful story of a Rebel and an Imperial forced to work together to survive and beginning to see the humanity (Lasanity?) the other held by the end.
