Hera Syndulla took her place at the center of the story — and the cockpit of a B-Wing fighter — in Star Wars Rebels 2×07.
Dark wings
This week’s episode was one of the deadliest Star Wars Rebels has ever delivered. Desperate to deliver a convoy of food and supplies to a rebel base, Hera batters the fleet against an Imperial blockade — leading to the death of Phoenix Leader, and the destruction of the convoy.
It wasn’t quite a “Death Star dogfight” level of carnage, but it was up there for a kids’ show.
Desperate for an edge in the fight against the Empire, Commander Sato sends Hera to meet with a starfighter engineer named Quarrie. The entire mission is a risk, and Hera has to assert her truly exceptional piloting skills just to land on the deadly planet.
But Quarrie, who is curmudgeonly and adorable, is unwilling to hand over his new ship. So Hera does something she really has never attempted so far on Star Wars Rebels — she gets personal.
The ‘B’ plot
Hera tells Quarrie why she became a pilot — she was fascinated by the Republic fighters as the Clone Wars raged on her home planet. She also admits that, no matter what devastation is around her, Hera always feels at her best in the sky.
It’s a tantalizing tidbit of information, but unfortunately, that’s as much backstory as we get on Hera in “Wings of the Master.” Still, the Twi’lek pilot has a few skills to show off.
Moved by her story, Quarrie allows Hera to test the “Blockade Buster,” which she does exceptionally well. With Quarrie’s blessing, Hera flies the B-Wing into battle to help Kanan and Ezra get past the Imperial blockade – exhibiting the B-Wing’s Death Star-like weapon in full view of a disconcerted Agent Kallus.
Thanks to her bravery and skill, Hera is promoted to Phoenix Leader — and it’s about time!