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Not the best episode either. Why are B-Wings around so early, yet not seen again until Return of the Jedi? I liked it better when Admiral Ackbar was the designer 
I'm sensing a disturbance in the Force... as if 50 million Blu-rays were suddenly "fixed" by George Lucas, to add B-Wings into a bunch of scenes in ANH and ESB. Just like he always imagined them way back in 1973.
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I just finished watching both seasons (as the third hasn't begun yet). I entered with trepedation, since the computer animation was like that of a mid 1990's video game, with only slight improvements, and the pilot wasn't that well written.
However, I'm glad I stuck with it. While it certainly has it's flaws, and I intend to list as many as I can recall further down this post, I had fun watching this and don't regret it. That's a night and day difference compared to the prequels, where if I could turn back time and save myself from viewing those, I would.
I'm surprised at the effort that went into some of the writing and plotting. They could have obviously just made it our heros re-acting to situations as they arise, but instead there were cause and effect actions, with consequences. And I was surprised at the two or three moments that I saw that obviously indicate one or more writers have read a little about history. And the in-jokes to the in-verse were fun and nice, including how useless the stormtrooper suites are to laser strikes. Further more I liked how the bad guys, including stormtroopers, weren't quite as inept or bad aimers as they were in the original trilogy -- it made thigns harder for the good guys. I felt they often gave some real effort into little things here and there they wrote and tried to make all the main characters and guest characters have some kind of recognizable personality. And super karate monkey death points for having at least three of the original trilogy actors repraise their characters' voices.
There are some genuine good laughs to be had here. And the way they play with they SW universe, is sometimes interesting.
Like I said above, the show does have it's problems. Some characters don't seem to really develop that much, considering what has happened to them over the course or the two seasons thus far. Some of the getaways are just too easy. The reliance on the robot they call Chopper, to always just plug into a system and magically fix their ills, is a little too much. The young lead feels like another one of those young leads thrust upon us to appeal to the youth, and his constant whiney self-angst gets annoying (when you're in battle or being chaseds, you don't stop to piss and moan about how hard life has been on you, young Emowan). Some of the characters and the ship's design, all feel like online fan-wankery -- the stuff of teenage fan fiction writers. The cheap computer animation as mentioned by me and elsewhere in the thread, even featuring some of those "lifeless" eyes and characters that sort of stand there and wobble (but not as bad). Even though the characters are each different than the other, I have to say most of them rely on old character traits from movies and television series of decades passed (with a little too many, as few as they are, nods to "Firefly" -- we get it already. We Browncoats that is). And finally, some of the cheesy youngster elements, thankfully mainly found in Chopper and two characters who clash.
As for the scoring, it's a mixed bag. Sure it was nice hearing all the old themes again, but not much is done with them. And I'm guessing the budget wasn't there to always use an orchestra, because some of the synth orchestra used is cheap sounding, especially the strings in the end credits. some of the music just meanders around. There was even one instance where it was cartoonish, in a bad way, and played up using Jedi powers with a theremin (that should be taught in How Not to Score Star Wars 101).
However, there is enough good material to make a strong one, maybe even two disc set, incuding the test flight of the B-wing. I'd certainly be interested. It's not a top priority mind you, but still.
I think Disney has something good here, I just wish they'd care for it more. Put a bigger budget into the music, drop some of the cheese, improve that computer animation, make sure the writers have plans the the series doesn't just fizzle into crap later on (hell, I'd be all for it ending naturally), and don't allow too many cooks in the kitchen.
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Star Wars: Clone Wars had the same problems (poor animation, learning curve w/ stories that work, etc) and turned out to be something special by the end. The creative staff of both (Dave Filoni especially) gives me confidence that they won't drop the ball.
What television shows have better 3D animation?
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I'm not saying comparatively to anybody. TV animation is just hampered by budget and time. Clone Wars' animation improved greatly as time went on and they advanced their technology, remodeled characters, and built up their library.
There are a few shows that I think acquit themselves very well with a TV CGI animation budget, and I think the reason is because they're highly stylized. Something like Nickelodeon's current Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, where all of the models are purposely cartoonish, worked better day one than a lot of other shows (which strive for more realism).
Turtles is pretty good. But Nickelodeon's CG in general is pretty terrible.
Does anyone know when the rest of season 2 of Rebels starts? I'm still adoring this show.
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I finished getting caught up on the new episodes of hte season. Only three mroe left befroe it finishes.
Yes, I'd have to say that this point we're probably approach two CD's worth of strong material worthy of a release. I wonder why it hasn't happened thus far.
A preview of the next episode:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DCEKl6VrDAE
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That next episode, "The Mystery of Chopper Base", turned out to be good action fun. It's sort of a "Starship Troopers" meets Star Wars combo, with a planet of attacking alien creatures.
There was some terrific action music in some scenss, full of brass.
The final two episodes of the season are a two-parter. The two Jedi leads go hunting the Inquisitors. From clips and one piece of news, it looks like a third Inquisitor will show up and Darth Maul. They barely survive their scrapes with two Inquisitors. I look forward to some dramatic music and action peices.
EDIT:
Thankfully, the CGI has improved. It started improving mid season one, as I recall, and has only gotten better. The teenage angst stuff that was so annoying from the young Jedi, has all but vanished. Thank goodness.
As pointed out in this thread:
http://www.filmscoremonthly.com/board/posts.cfm?threadID=114461&forumID=1&archive=0
A Volume 1 and Volume 2 of score are coming.
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A strong score for the season two finale (well, mostly). I won't say much since the episodei s pretty much nothing but stuff that would be spoilers, so I'll comment on the score best I can.
The episode opener with a brass fanfare that crosses into woodwinds that tell the story along with the dialogue.
The dark sounds and breif strings as the old chared battle ground.
The action music with the chase of an Inquisitor.
The swirling and frantic strings with the attack on the fleeing Inquisitor. Breifly it felt like I was listening to a SW movie score.
The first battle with Maul with hints of the "Duel of the Fates" cue. This happens again in another big duel battle.
And a big closing cue with movie-quality scoring and chorus behind it that morphs kind of into a power anthem with uncertainty in a montage as the episode closes.
"I don't fear you."
Vader: "Then you will die braver than most..."
(It's no secret, based on images released and news stories, that Maul and Vader are on it, so it's strictly speaking not a spoiler I brought them up)
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"I don't fear you."
Vader: "Then you will die braver than most..."
Best Vader quote ever.
Not being a big Clone Wars fan (good show though) I didn't realize that the big finale sequence is based on an established CW theme.
It was so so good.
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Did anyone catch Key's Theme from E.T. in this week's Rebels?
Outstanding episode, btw.
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Did anyone catch Key's Theme from E.T. in this week's Rebels?
Outstanding episode, btw.
That's what it was! I heard it, knew it was Williams and yet not Star Wars-related, but I could not place it... such a funny choice for Kiner to quote that motif, all of that he could've chosen.
I think I also read that there will be two soundtrack albums released digitally soon for the show, one for each season.
Season 1 is available on Amazon and iTunes.
It took me a minute to identify ET because it's actually kind of close to The Emperor's theme. (It's The Emperor crossed with Superman.)
I think it fit like gangbusters.
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I think I also read that there will be two soundtrack albums released digitally soon for the show, one for each season.
Season 1 was released on Amazon/iTunes (maybe elsewhere?) on 9/16
Season 2 will be released on 9/30 (this Friday)
Just listened to S1, it's great.
Wow. I can't stop listening to this. The Star Wars themes are there, sure. But I'm really loving how Ezra's theme is given room to breathe here. And the Inquisitor's theme is fab. I guess I'll have to plunk down the cold hard for season two this week.
He does a better job with Leia's theme than Williams did in The Force Awakens! (Stop. I loved The Force Awakens.)
Good STUFF!
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Anyone know if Season Three is coming out? Soon?
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