What an absolutely breathtaking Episode! ‘A World Between Worlds’ has been a spectacular gift from the storytellers of Star Wars Rebels! Yes, it wasn’t a typo, I said a ‘gift’, because despite a lot of backlash from the internet on certain events in the Episode, I still find that its certain storytelling decisions are meant to teach us something. They should be taken as a lesson with gratitude. I want to see it again and again, because each time it shows me something newer and deeper, allows me to think about the world around me. This whole Star Wars Saga unifying Rebels episode was absolutely gorgeous! Let me just warn you that this review will contain spoilers, as you probably have guessed already!

The episode kicks off right where we left in ‘Wolves and a Door’ – Ezra found himself in another dimension, which was portrayed as a complete void and blackness, although, it did contain within itself all the events that were, that are, and that are yet to come. The opening shots let us hear the voices of  Yoda, Obi-Wan Kenobi, Qui-Gon Jinn, Ahsoka Tano and others. The writers chose the most iconic citations to be used there just to emphasise that that special dimension has all these events happening all at once, right there. We hear Yoda say in the opening phrase to the Episode: ‘Truly wonderful a mind of a child is’ (AOTC). ‘Train yourself to let go of everything you fear to lose’ – Yoda (ROTS). ‘This is our most desperate hour. Help me, Obi-Wan Kenobi. You’re my only hope’ – Leia (ANH). As well as ‘Luminous beings we are, not this crude matter’ (TESB). ‘The time to fight is now!’ – Jyn Erso (Rogue One). From Ahsoka: ‘Just when you think you understand the Force, you find out how little you actually know.’ (SWR). To Anakin: ‘You never would have made it as Obi-Wan’s Padawan, but you might make it as mine’ (The Clone Wars). They all continued in a magical sequence all through the way to the new trilogy with Kylo Ren ‘And I will finish what you started’ (from TFA). All this just put my brain into some drug-like Star Wars euphoria! Because it’s all Star Wars and it all is right here!

What I have to mention straight away is that this episode introduced us to some unquestionably beautiful soundtracks, one of which you just have to hear right now to prepare yourself for what this post is yet to reveal to you (in case you are one of those who reads spoilers without watching the episodes) :-p

Ahsoka is alive! ‘What?’ – I was shocked and ecstatic at the same time. I see a lot of people on the internet tell: ‘OK what’s the point, everyone can time travel now and save people in SW’.  I would say to you: ‘Think again’. As I mentioned at the beginning of this post – these kind of storylines are like gifts to try to tell us and help us uncover what they might actually mean.  First thing to note, there is nothing that shows what happens to Ahsoka after that temple fight on Korriban (Malachore). Although Ezra says that ‘she missed a lot’,  at the end of the ‘World Between Worlds’ we see Ahsoka right where we saw her at Rebels Season 2 finale entering the triangle cave.

What changed is that we know that she survived. Now, how I read this. I was always in favour of that unresolved finale in Rebels Season 2. However, it opens so many ideas for interpretation, that you can lose your focus in analysing such an outcome, because you choose not only how to interpret it, find the meaning, but also the character fate. Here, we are shown to have a reverse ‘save’ situation. In Rebels Season 2 finale Ahsoka was a strong protector and saved the fragility of Kanan and Ezra’s relationship by protecting them from Vader. In this episode we see a reverse: a raised through that very relationship that Ahsoka saved – a grown up Ezra who saves Ahsoka after Kanan’s sacrifice that made it all possible. I think it is very beautiful storytelling that teaches us how things always work both ways in reality and everything we do towards other people matters, although it may seem as if that is happening just with ourselves. Also, Ezra chose not to save Kanan; the Emperor could only gain access to that dimension only when it was opened by Ezra in very unique circumstances and not any time after (as we know)! So – no, not ‘everyone can do it at any time’. I also loved how Ahsoka, being pulled into the dimension called Vader as Anakin, because in that place, where all Star Wars is together – he is Anakin, her Master, despite all the evil that he did and we should perceive him as such! Here is to an awesome unification of all the storylines!

The episode exhibits a great deal more other stunning storytelling in various moments. They certainly held the best till last! For example, depicting Hera and Zeb work in a union together to get Ezra and Sabine out and Zeb almost reading Hera’s thoughts on the plan how to do rescue their crew. When Sabine works with Ezra and he can use his Jedi abilities and direction, whereas Sabine can use her wit and knowledge. When Sabine talks to the Minister Hydan regarding the drawings of the Mortis gods and the opening of the portal. I like how Sabine was shown to find out the way to open the portal first, but then, having become a bit satisfied with herself, did not think about closing the portal after: she has got an answer from her enemy. Although Hydan was on the side of evil he was portrayed as someone who has deep interest in knowledge. I found this to be very reminiscent of our world. I liked how Ezra was shown to be a grown up since Ahsoka and he last met and changed much from a complete victim into an adult helper and doer. I like the contrast of depicting Ahsoka not having come to terms with her Master becoming Vader when she puts her lightsabers in the floor – almost subconscious fight move she would never do (becoming almost without her weapon symbolises that she still can’t let go) versus Ezra coming to terms with his Master’s death, however traumatic for him, and letting go.

All symbolises that Ezra had reached that level of consciousness and realisation that he did’t when he was young and naive. When Ezra was receivng his cyber crystall back in Season 2 he was shown to be back at that empty space of void, yet he wasn’t realising it back then. I love the mirror of the previos episode ‘Wolves and a Door’ where the portal opened throught the Dauhgter – the carrier of life and now, here, it was closed by the Son – representing destruction and death. The Son and the Dauther also look at the Father (turn their heads) prior to commencing the opening or closing of the portal.

I liked how Ezra was portrayed unconcious after closing the portal, emphasizing the surreality of all these events and Zeb carrying him as his true rebel comrade. It was beautiful how Ezra heard Kanan’s words “The force will be with you. Always.”, and then woke up to realise that he had moved to the place where he stood once wiht his Master. ‘Bye, Kanan’ – were his final words, indicating that he finally came to terms with his Master being gone, but mentioned that he taught him that very ‘one last lesson’. I also like how Ezra is depicted not having an absolute strength following the sacrifice of Kanan, but also having his weaknesses that were tied not only to his Masters drawbacks from before, but other events that linked them together.

Everything just hints that Star Wars Rebels had reached its pinnacle and we are to be revealed the end and to say farewell to a fantastic series next week!