Rebels Character Spotlight – Ezra Bridger

BEFORE STAR WARS REBELS
Continuing on our journey of the members of the Ghost, today we will spotlight Kanan’s padawan, Ezra Bridger. Ezra was born on the very day the Empire was born, also known as Empire Day in the future.  He grew up on an Outer Rim planet called Lothal.  His parents, fearing Ezra would grow up in a dark world with the birth of the Empire, set up public broadcasting transmissions to speak out against the Empire’s harsh rule. At the age of 7 Ezra’s parents were taken away by the Empire leaving him to fend for himself over the next 8 years.  Over those 8 years he became a capable con artist and thief, all the while using the Force without his knowledge. He would steal technology and sell it on the black market to make ends meet.

DURING STAR WARS REBELS
Season 1 –  Ezra meets Kanan and the rest of the crew of the Ghost as he steals a shipment from them that they had stolen from the Empire.  As he makes his escape Sabine Wren recovers one of the crates he stole from them.  The Empire begins to chase Ezra through the streets.  To escape he Force leaps with the hover cart onto the back of the Ghost.  With this act Kanan knew Ezra was Force sensitive.  Ezra was forced to stay on the Ghost to stay hidden from the Empire. As the Ghost lands in Tarkintown, he notices how Kanan and the others gave the supplies to the people.  After being captured and escaping from General Kallus, Ezra helps free the Wookies he overheard were being held at the spice mines of Kessel.  With this done he steals Kanan’s lightsaber and heads back to where he lived.  Kanan follows him and gives him a choice…keep the lightsaber and stay on Lothal or return the lightsaber and not only join the crew of Ghost, but also become Kanan’s Padawan.  Ezra returns the lightsaber and makes the decision to begin his training as a Jedi. At first Ezra didn’t get along well with some of the crew as Zeb and Chopper seemed to always be at odds with him.  Though he did feel an attraction to Sabine, even if she didn’t reciprocate.

After Kanan let it be known he was a Jedi, the Emperor ordered Vader to handle them, and the Grand Inquisitor was dispatched. As time went on Kanan and Ezra continued to train and run missions with the Ghost.  Kanan and Ezra took a shuttle to asteroid PM-1203, which housed a former Republic base called Fort Anaxes, to help train.  Kanan sensed great fear in him and tried to help get him to let it go. In his attempt to let go of his fear Ezra made a connection with the creatures that inhabited the asteroid known as Fyrnocks.   The Grand Inquisitor finds the pair and a duel ensues.  Just as the Inquisitor has Kanan at a disadvantage, Ezra loses control of his anger as he is cornered.  Ezra summons the queen of the Fyrnocks and drives the Grand Inquisitor off.  After such a strong display of the Dark side of the force, Ezra faints and Kanan takes him back to the Ghost, but not before explaining to him how he failed to teach him how to stay away from the Dark Side. Kanan begins to worry about Ezra and decides to have him locate a Jedi temple to make sure he is worthy to be trained as a Jedi. To both their surprise one is located on Lothal. Once in the temple Ezra is put through trials that helped determine if he was worthy to be a Jedi. Once he has faced his fear and proven that he has control of his emotions, Grand Master Yoda guides Ezra through the rest of the temple.  Yoda asks Ezra many questions, once satisfied with Ezra’s answers he is gifted with a Kyber crystal so that he can construct his lightsaber. Ezra built his lightsaber, that not only emitted a blue blade but that also incorporated his energy slingshot into it as a blaster so he could conceal it from the Empire. The Emperor not satisfied with the continued failings of the Inquisitor he sends in Grand Moff Tarkin to take over snuffing out the members of the Ghost, most notably the Jedi. Tarkin lays siege to Lothal and captures everyone in Tarkintown. The Ghost crew capture a communications tower and chose Ezra to send out a message of hope to the entire planet and beyond.  In the process Kanan is captured by Kallus and Grand Inquisitor.  In a daring rescue, led by Ezra, Kanan is freed from the clutches of the Inquisitor. A grand duel ensues but Ezra is knocked off the bridge during it and falls unconscious. When he woke up he found out that the crew won the day and that the Grand Inquisitor had been defeated. He then meets Bail Organa and Fulcrum, who turns out to be Ahsoka Tano.

Season 2 – This season starts off with Ezra and Kanan facing off against Darth Vader.  Both together were no match for the Dark Lord of the Sith.  Knocking Kanan away, Vader uses the Force to slam Ezra against the wall and begin to slowly bring his lightsaber up to his own throat.  Kanan comes to and Force pushes Vader away.  They both escape barely with their lives on the Ghost. Vader finds them in his TIE.  He proceeds to lay waste to the small Republic fleet on his own to the horror of Ezra and the rest of the Ghost.  The Ghost escapes again and lays low as they plan their next move. Ahsoka, on board, suggests they find her friends to help improve the fledgling Rebel tactics.  Much to Kanan’s dismay, Ahsoka’s friends turn out to be former Clone commanders.  After helping the Clones, Rex agrees to join the team.  Ezra notices Kanan’s standoffish stance to Rex. Both Kanan and Rex attempt to give Ezra advice which leads to Ezra being frustrated by both. It wasn’t until the mission to help Princess Leia Organa, where she gives Ezra advice that helps him see things in a new light and renews his resolve.  Ezra and Kanan both feel a need to separate themselves from the Ghost as the 7^th Sister and 5^th Brother continue to hunt them.  Eventually Ahsoka returns from her time away to join the 2 at the Jedi Temple on Lothal.  All 3 receiving their own visions and answers to questions they both have.  Ezra once again is guided by Master Yoda, this time seeing him clearly rather than as dancing lights the first time he encountered him.  Through their discussion Yoda admitted that he felt fear during the Clone Wars. Ezra was surprised at this, but Yoda continued how it was a lifelong pursuit to not let the fear bend to anger.

The Inquisitors find the temple and enter it, cutting the discussion short. Ezra insistent they already chose to fight the Empire, Yoda reluctantly tells Ezra to seek Malachor. Once Ezra, Kanan, and Ahsoka reached Malachor they see the remains of a huge battle.  Ezra picks up an old lightsaber and ignites it…emitting a green blade and a similar design to that of Kylo Ren from The Force Awakens.  The trio gets separated and Ezra is on his own.  He eventually finds former Sith apprentice, Maul within the belly of the temple. Ezra and Maul work together making their way through the temple.  During their journey Maul begins to tempt Ezra with knowledge of the Dark Side that would help him protect his friends.  Eventually the pair meet up with Kanan and Ahsoka. Both were at first weary of Maul until the 5^th Brother, 7^th Sister, and 8^th Brother find them inside the temple.  A battle ensues where Maul and Ezra take on the 5^th Brother, while Kanan and Ahsoka take on the 8^th Brother and 7^th Sister.  Maul managers to kill both the 5^th Brother and 7^th Sister while Kanan takes out the 8^th Brother. Maul urges Ezra to the pinnacle of the temple to place the holocron to activate the temple. Ezra climbs the temple and inserts the holocron into the panel and begins to activate the temple.  Vader shows up at the top of the temple to Ezra’s horror.  Just then Ahsoka reaches the top and engages Vader.  After a few moments Kanan, with Chopper’s help, makes it to the top of the temple.  Together Kanan and Ezra remove the holocron from the panel causing the temple to close.  Ahsoka urges Ezra to escape with Kanan. Back aboard the Ghost Ezra sits alone with the Sith Holocron, the anger rising within him. Just then the Sith Holocron begins to open as the red glow shines in Ezra’s eyes.

Here are a few expectations for Season 3 for Ezra.  With the time jump his swordsmanship should improve along with his power.  It is shown in the trailer that Ezra has made a new lightsaber, this one with a green blade. I am guessing we will see a struggle within for Ezra as he fights to control his anger while Maul is in his ear. With that chances are the Kanan and Ezra’s relationship will grow extremely strained.  I also believe we could see Ezra lash out in anger at Kanan multiple times, almost quitting the cause.

As I said with the spotlight on Kanan this isn’t everything on Ezra.  All information on Ezra can be found in season’s 1 and 2 of Star Wars Rebels.  There is also short character videos on YouTube you can find.  Hope these are getting you excited for Season 3 coming in September.  Next time we will take a look at Mandalorian artist, Sabine Wren