History Fridge / RogueOne

* Why the Death Troopers are not mentioned or seen in any other canon of the franchise? Well, since they are cyborgs, it is likely that they cost a fortune to create and train, making their menbership of the Imperial Army very small, so it's possible that the ones in Scariff when Tarkin ordered the planet's destrucction were all of them. Another possibility was that the instructions to create them were also on Scariff, so when Tarkin blew the planet those were also destroyed and the Empire didn´t know how to make more, making any survivor irreplaceable after being destroyed. Any way, the Death Troopers are doomed to canonical extinction.

* (This may have been shown in some other materials, but it’s really well showcased in this movie) In Rogue One, we finally find out why Star Destroyers are named Star Destroyers. It’s because Imperials like parking them ''over'' troublesome cities like Jedha. This has the sheer intimidation factor of ''blotting out the sun'', which to lesser species, ''is'' destroying a star.

*** According to the novelization, that is actually one of the factors at play: Scarif was seen as an easy posting, and most of the Imperials there had grown lazy, with the officers expecting that if it ever happened anything it would be swiftly dealt by the orbiting Star Destroyers and the shield, not realizing the Star Destroyers' crews had also grown lazy (enough to not maintain a CAP and to fail to scramble their [=TIEs=] during the battle). The only Imperials who were actually up to standards were the Dark Troopers, who weren't actually part of the local garrison, and ''the rank-and-file crew of the gate station'', who had taken the initiative to drill themselves into peak efficiency while their officers lazed away. Thus while the gate station reacted swiftly to the attack and nearly screwed the Rebel attack when their fighters scrambled and engaged the Rebels', the ground garrison panicked and performed badly, and only started reacting decently when Krennic, an outsider, saw the mess and took over.

** A part of it is that what the Rebels used on Hoth and Scarif were much different vehicles: on Hoth the Rebels used the airspeeder equivalent of ''technicals'' ([[TechnicallyATransport the T-47 being originally an unarmed cargo handler equipped only with a magnetic harpoon launcher and tow cable to move cargo containers that the Rebels uparmored and equipped with laser cannons) supported by antiquated anti-vehicle cannons intended to deal with much lighter and smaller targets, but on Scarif they used actual military vehicles, that is [=UT60D=] U-Wings (heavily armed assault transports) and X-Wings (multi-purpose fighters capable of engaging light ''warships'' with their guns alone). The Imperial force on Hoth was dealing with weapons barely able to scratch the paintjob and was effectively unstoppable, while the one on Scarif was savaged by the heaviest weapons the Alliance had.

** A part of it is that what the Rebels used on Hoth and Scarif were much different vehicles: on Hoth the Rebels used the airspeeder equivalent of ''technicals'' (the T-47 being originally an unarmed ''cargo handler'' equipped only with a magnetic harpoon launcher and tow cable to move cargo containers that the Rebels equipped with laser cannons) supported by antiquated anti-vehicle cannons intended to deal with much lighter and smaller targets, but on Scarif they used actual military vehicles, that is [=UT60D=] U-Wings (heavily armed assault transports) and X-Wings (multi-purpose fighters capable of engaging light ''warships'' with their guns alone). The Imperial force on Hoth was dealing with weapons barely able to scratch the paintjob and was effectively unstoppable, while the one on Scarif was savaged by the heaviest weapons the Alliance had.

* Aside from the obvious DoubleMeaningTitle, why would the writers call the team Rogue One when there's [[NamesTheSame the similarly named]] [[http://starwars.wikia.com/wiki/Rogue_squadron Rogue Squadron]]? Well, considering all the main cast die at the end of this film, Rogue Squadron is almost certainly named as a tribute to the fallen heroes. Based on the tone, setting, and characters -- from the slightly-firmer science, the martial focus, and the hard-edged RagtagBunchOfMisfits -- this movie's team and operation could be seen as the [[SpiritualSuccessor Spiritual Predecessor]] of the [[Literature/XwingSeries Rogue and Wraith Squadron novels' heroes]] and ''VideoGame/RogueSquadron'' games. Said novels and games are considered non-canon and part of the ''Franchise/StarWarsLegends'' brand now, but the Rogue Squadron does exist canonically, first appearing in ''Film/TheEmpireStrikesBack'', which takes place some time after the destruction of the Death Star.

* Aside from the obvious DoubleMeaningTitle, why would the writers call the team Rogue One when there's [[NamesTheSame the similarly named]] [[http://starwars.wikia.com/wiki/Rogue_squadron Rogue Squadron]]? Well, considering all the main cast die at the end of this film, Rogue Squadron is almost certainly named as a tribute to the fallen heroes. Based on the tone, setting, and characters -- from the slightly-firmer science, the martial focus, and the hard-edged RagtagBunchOfMisfits -- this movie's team and operation could be seen as the [[SpiritualSuccessor Spiritual Predecessor]] of the [[ComicBook/XwingSeries Rogue and Wraith Squadron novels' heroes]] and ''VideoGame/RogueSquadron'' games. Said novels and games are considered non-canon and part of the ''Franchise/StarWarsLegends'' brand now, but the Rogue Squadron does exist canonically, first appearing in ''Film/TheEmpireStrikesBack'', which takes place some time after the destruction of the Death Star.

** KieronGillen's superlative ''Darth Vader'' series bridged the gap between ''A New Hope'' and ''The Empire Strikes Back'', demonstrating that Vader's suddenly more confident, menacing role came about after finding out he had a son and finding new purpose in the quest to find said son, establish a coup within the Empire and seize control for himself. The series also includes The Emperor chewing Vader out for his lack of initiative and failure to protect the Death Star. By that logic, we can surmise that the years between the events of ''Revenge of the Sith'' and ''A New Hope'' had him passionless and demotivated - and this film gives us a glance at that. Whether it's his own decision or the Emperor's, he spends all his free time in a Bacta Tank on Mustafar because he literally has nothing else to do; he's a living weapon that the Emperor points at things to make them go away. He gets his mojo back briefly when he has the chance to intimidate/threaten/pursue/destroy things, but otherwise, without loved ones, he sees no point in making the effort.

* Aside from the obvious DoubleMeaningTitle, why would the writers call the team Rogue One when there's [[NamesTheSame the similarly named]] [[http://starwars.wikia.com/wiki/Rogue_squadron Rogue Squadron]]? Well, considering all the main cast die at the end of this film, Rogue Squadron is almost certainly named as a tribute to the fallen heroes. Based on the tone, setting, and characters -- from the slightly-firmer science, the martial focus, and the hard-edged RagtagBunchOfMisfits -- this movie's team and operation could be seen as the [[SpiritualSuccessor Spiritual Predecessor]] of the [[ComicBook/XwingSeries Rogue and Wraith Squadron novels' heroes]] and ''VideoGame/RogueSquadron'' games. Said novels and games are considered non-canon and part of the ''Franchise/StarWarsLegends'' brand now, but the Rogue Squadron does exist canonically, in ''Film/TheEmpireStrikesBack'', which takes place some time after the destruction of the Death Star.

* Aside from the obvious DoubleMeaningTitle, why would the writers call the team Rogue One when there's [[NamesTheSame the similarly named]] [[http://starwars.wikia.com/wiki/Rogue_squadron Rogue Squadron]]? Well, considering all the main cast die at the end of this film, Rogue Squadron is almost certainly named as a tribute to the fallen heroes. Based on the tone, setting, and characters -- from the slightly-firmer science, the martial focus, and the hard-edged RagtagBunchOfMisfits -- this movie could be seen as the [[SpiritualSuccessor Spiritual Predecessor]] of the [[ComicBook/XwingSeries Rogue and Wraith Squadron novels]] and ''VideoGame/RogueSquadron'' games. Said novels and games are considered non-canon and part of the ''Franchise/StarWarsLegends'' brand now, but the Rogue Squadron does exist canonically, in ''Film/TheEmpireStrikesBack'', which takes place some time after the destruction of the Death Star.

** To add even more similarities, in the Legends-continuity novelization of ROTJ, Moff Jerrjerrod has orders of turning the superlaser of the Second Death Star onto the moon if the shield is deactivated.

* The Battle of Endor goes smoothly for the Empire at first because they ''learned'' from their experience on Scarif. The Empire was caught with their pants down when the Rogue One launched an unexpected ground assault, which was also a diversion for Jyn, Cassian, and Kaytoo to sneak into the Citadel to steal the plans. Meanwhile, the Rebel fleet led by Admiral Raddus launched a surprise attack on the unsuspecting Imperial Fleet above the planet and dealt a devastating blow. Even though most of the Rebels were annihilated, they were successful in their mission. Fast forward to Endor, the Empire ''knows'' the Rebels are desperate for any information regarding their superweapons, no matter how unreliable they are, so the Emperor deliberately creates a 'Scarif 2.0' situation, albeit this time the Empire sees it coming. He lets the Rebels take the Death Star II plans, killing quite a few Bothans to make the attempt convincing. He lets an Imperial Shuttle get stolen, knowing that it will be used to transport a small Rebel strike force to destroy the shield generator planetside. Then he lays the trap for them all. The Empire's 'best troops' wait for the Rebels to sneak inside the bunker (which limits their escape routes) before they spring the trap. The full might of the Imperial Fleet ambushes the Rebel fleet as soon as they break out of hyperspace. It all played out perfectly and the Empire has essentially won... except for one little minor detail. ''[[SpannerInTheWorks Scarif doesn't have Ewoks.]]'' The Rebels making friends with the Ewoks, leading to them assisting the Rebellion on the forest moon, was the one thing the Empire didn't see coming and didn't prepare for.
** To add even more similarities, in the Legends-continuity novelization of ROTJ, Moff Jerrjerrod plans on turning the superlaser of the Second Death Star onto the moon before the station is destroyed.

* It's a good thing (for the Rebel cause, at least) that the bulk of, if not all the Empire's Death Troopers were wiped out in the annihilation of Scarif. These relentless, coldly efficient and inhumanly resilient soldiers (that actually HIT what they're aiming for more often than not) would have made things considerably harder for Luke and co. through the course of the trilogy. ''Film/ReturnOfTheJedi'' in particular would have gone very differently if the Ewoks faced Death Troopers rather than the increasingly ineffective Stormtroopers.
* The Empire passes off the destruction of Jedha as a "mining catastrophe". There's every indication that they expect this story will be deemed entirely believable by the galaxy's unsuspecting civilian inhabitants. If a "mining catastrophe" can plausibly blast ''a huge chunk of planetary crust into orbit'', then what the freakin' hell kind of demolitions - never mind, safety standards - are routinely utilized in mining operations in the ''Star Wars'' 'verse?

* It's a good thing (for the Rebel cause, at least) that the bulk of, if not all the Empire's Death Troopers were wiped out in the annihilation of Scarif. These relentless, coldly efficient and inhumanly resilient soldiers (that actually HIT what they're aiming for more often than not) would have made things considerably harder for Luke and co. through the course of the trilogy. ''Film/ReturnOfTheJedi'' in particular would have gone very differently if the Ewoks faced Death Troopers rather than the increasingly ineffective Stormtroopers.

** Not to mention that it gives weight to the theory that in spite of all that ''he was still only toying with Obi-Wan.'' He wanted to make him suffer like he suffered. Too bad [[HeroicSacrifice Obi-Wan found another way.]]

* Vader's not the only one in a bad mood in ''Film/ANewHope''. When Ponda Baba and Dr. Evazan are just itching to pick a fight with Luke, they're ''pissed'' at failing to pick a fight with Jyn a day or two earlier. Not to mention almost getting vaporised from orbit on Jedha. On that note, ancillary materials tell us precisely why they have death sentences in so many systems: they have been plying their trade for Saw Guerra's Partisans, making meat droid fighters out of captured imperials by plugging droid brains onto partially decapitated heads, which are later shows in ''Film/SoloAStarWarsStory''.

* Vader's not the only one in a bad mood in ''Film/ANewHope''. When Ponda Baba and Dr. Evazan are just itching to pick a fight with Luke, they're ''pissed'' at failing to pick a fight with Jyn a day or two earlier. Not to mention almost getting vaporised from orbit on Jedha. On that note, ancillary materials tell us precisely why they have death sentences in so many systems: they have been plying their trade for Saw Guerra's Partisans, making meat droid fighters out of captured imperials by plugging droid brains onto partially decapitated heads, which are later shows in ''SoloAStarWarsStory''.

* Vader's not the only one in a bad mood in ''Film/ANewHope''. When Ponda Baba and Dr. Evazan are just itching to pick a fight with Luke, they're ''pissed'' at failing to pick a fight with Jyn a day or two earlier. Not to mention almost getting vaporised from orbit on Jedha. On that note, ancillary materials tell us precisely why they have death sentences in so many systems: they have been plying their trade for Saw Guerra's Partisans, making meat droid fighters out of captured imperials by plugging droid brains onto partially decapitated heads.

* Darth Vader's MookHorrorShow against the Rebel squad at the end of this film sheds a new, terrifying light on his future confrontation with Han Solo in ''Film/TheEmpireStrikesBack''. Here, Vader goes through a heavily armed contingent of Rebel troops like they were nothing; if he didn't need Han and the rest as (living) bait for Luke Skywalker, he could have killed one of the cagiest, most bad ass gunslingers in the Star Wars lore with a wave of his gloved, cybernetic hand.

Darth Vader's MookHorrorShow against the Rebel squad at the end of this film sheds a new, terrifying light on his future confrontation with Han Solo in ''Film/TheEmpireStrikesBack''. Here, Vader goes through a heavily armed contingent of Rebel troops like they were nothing; if he didn't need Han and the rest as (living) bait for Luke Skywalker, he could have killed one of the cagiest, most bad ass gunslingers in the Star Wars lore with a wave of his gloved, cybernetic hand.