Star Wars: Rebels returned last night as Ezra and Kanan faced their fears and received guidance from an old friend in an abandoned Jedi temple.

‘I have to know if you’re ready’

Kanan is concerned about Ezra’s recent brush with the dark side on the asteroid (in the previous episode). With a little encouragement from Hera, Kanan convinces Ezra to join him on an expedition, where Ezra will be given a test to determine whether or not he really is capable of becoming a Jedi.

As they fly away from the rest of the rebel crew, Kanan explains to Ezra that the Jedi used to have small temples spread throughout the galaxy. Although the Empire destroyed many of these temples, some still remain. Through meditation, Ezra is able to locate a temple on Lothal. Once there, Ezra finds the entrance to the temple by connecting with the Force. The temple will only allow a padawan and master to enter as a pair, so together, Kanan and Ezra go inside.

‘In here, you’ll have to face your fears’

Once inside, Kanan and Ezra are confronted with dead bodies which Kanan believes belong to previous visiting masters whose padawans never returned from their test. Kanan sends Ezra further into the temple on his own, hopeful that they will not meet a similar fate.

However, Kanan catches up with Ezra shortly thereafter, second-guessing his plan to let Ezra go it alone. Just ahead, they encounter the Inquisitor, who claims to have sensed their presence as soon as they arrived. Kanan and the Inquisitor face off in a light-saber duel; Ezra tries to assist his master, but is thrown to the side by his opponent. Ezra watches in horror as the Inquisitor sticks his light-saber blade through Kanan’s body and then kicks him off the edge of a cliff.

It is clear to Ezra and viewers alike that Ezra is experiencing a vision of sorts. Much like Luke Skywalker in the cave on Dagobah, Ezra is facing physical manifestations of his fears in this temple.

Ezra suddenly finds himself back in his bunk on board the Ghost. He overhears the other members of the crew discussing his weaknesses: Hera doubts he’ll make it back alive, Zeb is happy to have the room to himself, and Sabine pities him. Although he acknowledges that this is not reality, Ezra still screams when the Inquisitor shows up and kills all of his friends before his eyes.

After falling into blackness, Ezra finds himself back in the cave again, confronted by the Inquisitor. This time, Ezra stands his ground and acknowledges his fears: fear of losing those he loves and fear of letting his master down. However, Ezra declares that he has no fear of the Inquisitor. The Inquisitor makes a final slash of his light-saber and Ezra wakes up, back in the temple, having survived the visions of his fears manifested.

‘Know I am here, because you are here’

Ezra now hears a voice, a voice familiar to generations of Star Wars Fans. That is the voice of Yoda, performed here by Frank Oz. We never see Yoda’s physical form -– he is represented by a group of lights, guiding Ezra further into the temple. Yoda asks Ezra if, after his experience in the temple, he is ready for what lies ahead. It feels like a scene straight out of Empire Strikes Back as Yoda quizzically questions Ezra’s readiness for the challenges to come and his motivations for becoming a Jedi.

In a somewhat telling moment, Ezra shares that he wants revenge, that he wants to make the Empire pay for all the evil committed. Yoda identifies much anger and fear inside Ezra and for a moment, we are wondering if Ezra might go the route of Anakin Skywalker. However, Ezra then shares that he is inspired by the way his friends help others, the way they make others feel better and he hopes to do the same. Finding this satisfactory, Yoda guides Ezra to the discovery of a Kyber crystal.

Meanwhile, Kanan is having a discussion of his own with the voice of Yoda. Kanan admits his own fears, fear of being an inadequate teacher to Ezra, fear of letting his padawan down.

‘How Do You Feel?’ ‘Different, but the Same’

Ezra and Kanan reunite and leave the temple together. Kanan is impressed that Ezra was rewarded with a Kyber crystal, as that is a big step in the path to becoming a Jedi.

Weeks later, Ezra emerges from his bunk on the Ghost to share a new creation with the crew. Constructed from spare parts found around the ship and the Kyber crystal given in the temple, Ezra ignites his new light-saber.