Maul stepped in to raise the stakes as Ezra pursued hidden knowledge and learned something very important in Star Wars Rebels 3×03.
The episode, titled “Holocrons of Fate,” does what Star Wars Rebels does best, leveraging Maul to inspire a storyline that may have major implications for the future.
Upon discovering that Maul has taken the crew of the Ghost captive, Ezra and Kanan must retrieve the Sith holocron as ransom. (Or so they think.) Maul himself seeks out the Jedi holocron on the Ghost, delving into Hera’s mind a la Kylo Ren to unearth its location in Kanan’s quarters.
Kanan introduces Ezra to the Bendu, who knows exactly what Maul wants. Combined, the Jedi and Sith holocrons “will grant a clarity of vision beyond your kind,” he says. “Any secret, wisdom, or destiny can be seen through the Force.”
So, while Maul yells at the Jedi holocron to open up (it, ah, doesn’t work) Kanan guides Ezra through the spider caves where the Bendu has hidden the Sith version. Kanan has to rescue Ezra from the spiders, and Ezra apologizes for the events on Malachor.
Kanan tells Ezra that he never blamed him, and that it’s time for Ezra to forgive himself. They hug, and it’s kind of adorable. Clearly the Force agrees, because they soon find the Sith holocron.
As they leave, the Bendu warns that one of them will have to open the Jedi holocron, leaving them vulnerable to the vast wisdom revealed. “”Such power comes with a price,” Bendu says. “Once a secret is known, it cannot be unknown.”
Oh, I’m counting on that.
Kanan and Ezra reach the transport where Maul has stowed the Ghost. Maul sends Ezra away, and tosses Kanan out an airlock. (He either really wants Ezra as his apprentice, or just really wants a hug?) But the black void of space works a little differently in Star Wars Rebels 3×03, so Kanan manages to claw his way back to the transport with just a few extra icicles for his trouble.
Maul quietly orders his droids to kill the rest of the crew, and sits down with Ezra and the holocrons. (Which would be a great band name, TBH.) Ezra seeks the knowledge to destroy the Sith. Mauls says he seeks “something much simpler, yet equally elusive.”
“What’s that?” Ezra asks.
“Hope,” says Maul. Aww. Buddy, if you weren’t super evil, I’d love you.
The Jedi and Sith holocrons flower open and combine in a blast of light. Maul is greeted with a view of “oblivion,” but Ezra feels that he close to finding what he seeks.
Kanan rescues Hera, Zeb, and Sabine, and they all find Ezra — but only Kanan, blind to everything but the Force, is able to see through the combined light of the holocrons. As Maul dives deeper into its terrible wisdom, Ezra murmurs that he sees “The key to destroying the Sith.”
“Twin suns,” he whispers.
Okay, I got chills.
Knowing that this is all really bad news, Kanan urges Ezra to look away. As he hesitates, the holocrons implode, knocking everyone over. Maul recovers first, staggering away to his ship muttering that “He lives!” His tone, anguish or ecstasty, is impossible to parse.
On the Ghost, Kanan coaxes Ezra back to consciousness. Ezra seems unharmed by his encounter will Ultimate Knowledge, and confused by the flashes of familiar and strange places he discovered.
“I’m not sure what they mean,” he admits.
“I’m sure we’ll find out together,” Kanan says.
And I’m now sure that at some point, we’re all going to Tattooine, baby.
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