The might of the Dark Side is closing in on the crew of the Ghost — and that’s just the beginning of the Star Wars Rebels season 2 premiere.
The hourlong episode, titled “The Siege of Lothal,” will find Kanan, Ezra, Hera, Sabine, and Zeb (…and Chopper) working with the larger forces of the Rebellion. But with the galaxy on the brink of war, the Empire will stop at nothing to obliterate the Rebels — and that means that the crew of the Ghost will find themselves facing forces more brutal than they could have imagined.
…specifically, Darth Vader.
Season 1 of Star Wars Rebels focused largely on Ezra as he took his first steps toward becoming a Jedi. Though the street-rat from Lothal had some serious trust issues to overcome, Ezra developed a strong bond with his master Kanan, as well as the rest of the Ghost crew. Earning his Kyber Crystal from Yoda, Ezra built his own lightsaber, and continued to grow rapidly in the ways of the Force.
Ezra’s development also helped Kanan get back in touch with the Jedi he used to be — though his past still holds painful memories of Order 66, brought to the forefront by the Inquisitor and Tarkin’s torture. Meanwhile, Hera played every card in her hand to keep the rest of the crew from learning about Fulcrum throughout the season. But when Chopper called for help during their desperate rescue of Kanan, Fulcrum unveiled herself as Ahsoka Tano — Rebel leader, and the former padawan of Anakin Skywalker.
The Rebellion had another significant victory during Kanan’s rescue, when Grand Moff Tarkin’s star-destroyer was… well, destroyed. But the Inquisitor’s last words — “There are things far more frightening than death,” — are about to be proven true, as the Emperor sent Darth Vader to deal once and for all with the Rebels on Lothal.
In addition to the terrifying specter of Vader, “The Siege of Lothal” will also include the Rebels military excursions with Commander Sato and the Phoenix Squadron.
But Vader quickly becomes a force which the crew of the Ghost must reckon with — both in the cold of space and the heat of planet-side wreckage.
A new featurette for the Star Wars Rebels season 2 premiere also suggests that Vader’s connection to Ahsoka will be the source of major drama in “The Siege of Lothal.”
While it may be thrilling to see and hear the greatest villain of all time (voiced by the incomparable James Earl Jones) it’s eminently clear that neither Vader nor the animated series will be going easy on the crew of the Ghost. Search your heart, you know it to be true.
The Star Wars Rebels season 2 premiere, “The Siege of Lothal,” airs on Saturday, June 20 at 9:00 p.m. on Disney XD.