Darth Vader cannot be stopped in a new sneak peek from the Star Wars Rebels season 2 premiere.
“The Siege of Lothal,” which airs this Saturday as a one-hour episode, will find the crew of the Ghost working hard to come into their own as a rebel cell. But the forces of the Dark Side — or really, the force of the Dark Side — raises a few objections to their ongoing rebel activities.
In our first sneak peek, Kanan and Ezra find that Darth Vader is totally unimpressed by their attempts to fight him off.
Oh, and Vader also apparently knows exactly what their plans are. So that’s kind of scary.
Related: Ahsoka featurette teases major conflicts in Star Wars Rebels season 2
Overall, the previews for Star Wars Rebels season 2 have made no attempt to conceal the fact that the Disney XD cartoon is embracing its darker nature. A new teaser for “The Siege of Lothal” includes talk of Imperial punishment, a planet under potentially deadly attack, and plenty of screaming. You know, kid stuff!
Another important element of “The Siege of Lothal” will be the Phoenix Squadron, a team of rebel fighter pilots recently partnered with the crew of the Ghost. A new featurette touches on Phoenix Squadron, and also offers more information about the tone and events of Star Wars Rebels season 2.
Comparing season 2 to the flame rising up from the “sparks of rebellion” in season 1, executive producer Simon Kinberg says that the crew of the Ghost will be dealing in a much larger universe.
“One of the main challenges for them now, as a team and as a family, is facing the potential for darkness,” Kinberg says.
Much of that darkness with certainly emanate from Darth Vader — both in his actions, and his impact on the story.
“If the first season was New Hope in tone, the second season is more of Empire Strikes Back,” Kinberg says — so let’s just hope nobody gets their hands cut off.
The Star Wars Rebels season 2 premiere airs on Saturday, June 20 at 9:00 p.m. on Disney XD.