Page 55 - Star Wars Insider #182

THRAWN: A VILLAIN’S PURPOSE

Grand Admiral Thrawn was the primary thorn in the side
of the fledgling rebellion during Seasons Three and Four of
Star Wars Rebels, with the Chiss mastermind playing an

integral part in Ezra Bridger’s Hero’s Journey. Insider explores
how the character became the catalyst that propelled the series
to its dramatic conclusion.

W ORDS: TR I C IA B ARR

y the time Celebration Europe rolled the Grand Admiral paint a
around in 2016, the Star Wars Rebels clear picture of who he is: “To “If Vader
Season Two finale “Twilight of the defeat an enemy you must fi rst controlled

Apprentice” had taken the Ghost know them, not simply their
Bcrew to Malachor, site of an ancient battle tactics, but their history, by fear,
Sith Temple, for an epic showdown involving philosophy, art.” The trailer
Star Wars notables Darth Vader, Darth Maul, concludes with an ominous what about
and Ahsoka Tano. Worthy of the weight of prediction from Thrawn: “I will
these established characters, the events that tear the rebels apart piece by a villain who
unfolded were spectacular. piece. They’ll be the architects
Fans eagerly anticipated the Star Wars Rebels of their own destruction.” leads through
Celebration panel to see where the show would loyalty? And
go next. As the Season Three trailer premiered in Origin Story
a darkened room, a growing excitement rippled Every hero, or band of heroes, who respects
across the arena at the sight of some familiar requires a villain who will
opponents?”
iconography: the shape of an alien lizard known create obstacles that seem
as the ysalamiri, a white uniform, a blue-skinned insurmountable. Star Wars
alien with red eyes who talked about art and Rebels introduces the key Timothy Zahn
history. By the time Grand Admiral Thrawn’s themes and conceits of Star
name was spoken by Hera Syndulla, the crowd Wars to a new generation of fans. For Luke
had been whipped into a frenzy. A fan-favorite Skywalker in the original trilogy and Anakin
from the novels was making his debut in the Skywalker in the prequel trilogy, the principal
animated series. peril was their potential for self-destruction. After
For fans of Rebels not familiar with the Vader’s revelation in Star Wars: The Empire Strikes
character, the trailer made sure to lay out the Back, the question on everyone’s mind was “Will
dynamics that made Thrawn a unique Star Wars Luke Skywalker follow his father and turn to the
villain and the impact he could potentially have dark side?” Anakin’s failure to resist the darkness
on the fate of the Ghost crew. Grand Moff Tarkin was a known quantity, but fans still pondered on
asks Governor Pryce how she intends to deal how the fateful temptation would occur.
with the rebels who have proven “particularly For the 16 years between the first two trilogies,

stubborn.” When Pryce replies that she needs Star Wars experienced a period referred to by
“someone who sees the bigger picture,” Thrawn some fans as the dark times. Eight years after
stands in the background, in a room more like Star Wars: Return of the Jedi, and with no more

a museum than an office. The first words from movies on the horizon, Lucasfilm turned to

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