Line #68 Recap/StarWarsRebelsS1E11CallToAction


1	[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/rebels_call_to_action.jpg]]
2	The Rebels plan to hijack an Imperial communications tower to broadcast a message of hope. Meanwhile, Grand Moff Tarkin arrives on Lothal to deal with the Rebel problem.
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5	!!Tropes in this episode:
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7	* AmbiguousSituation: Ezra openly wonders if his message actually inspired anyone to fight -- while people on Lothal are shown to react, the reactions of people on other nearby systems are not seen. It's made more ambiguous by the following episode, which seemingly shows life on Lothal proceeding as usual, only with a larger Imperial presence in the streets. Later episodes show that it had an even greater impact than they realized.
8	* ArmorPiercingQuestion: First Minister Tua, and then Aresko and Grint, are reduced to nervous stammering as Tarkin grills them about the rebels' activities and their failures to prevent them.
9	* BadBoss: One of Tarkin's first acts on Lothal is having the Inquisitor kill Aresko and Grint for their repeated failures in catching the rebels.
10	* TheBadGuyWins: Kanan is captured, and the Empire destroys the communications tower when they realize it's been hijacked, preventing the crew from sending out anything more than a short message of hope, which they aren't confident will lead to anything.
11	* CallBack:
12	** Gall Trayvis is shown pledging his support to the Empire in a holo-transmission, after he blew his cover in the previous episode.
13	** Ezra uses his animal control ability to make a loth-cat sabotage the probe droid, which he learned how to do in [[Recap/StarWarsRebelsS1E06EmpireDay "Empire Day"]]/[[Recap/StarWarsRebelsS1E07GatheringForces "Gathering Forces"]].
14	** The transmission equipment used by Ezra's parents is used by the crew to transmit their message.
15	** Like in [[Recap/StarWarsRebelsSparkOfRebellion "Spark of Rebellion"]], Hera refuses to leave Kanan behind even if it's dangerous. Unlike in "Spark of Rebellion", she's left without a choice.
16	* CantStopTheSignal: After hijacking an Imperial comm tower, the crew has [[HopeBringer Ezra]] give a RousingSpeech to Lothal (and several other neighboring systems; it's a SubspaceAnsible tower). After being unable to enter the control room to pull the plug, Tarkin orders the tower demolished immediately . . . but it's too late. The missiles hit right as Ezra finishes the broadcast.
17	* CallForward: Tarkin does the same thing here that he will later do in ''Film/RogueOne.'' When he can't stop the transmission, he destroys the transmitter instead. In the latter case he is even willing to destroy a manned Imperial installation with the Death Star to do so.
18	* ContinuityNod:
19	** Tarkin mentions having worked with Jedi, which was shown in ''[[WesternAnimation/StarWarsTheCloneWars The Clone Wars]]'' a few times. He didn't much like them then, either.
20	** Tarkin tells Kanan, "You do not know what it takes to win a war, but I do." One of Tarkin's complaints in his first ''The Clone Wars'' appearance was that the Jedi were ill-suited to leading a galactic war.
21	** Kallus mentions the scene of Kanan against a bunch of Stormtroopers is familiar, referring to his outing as a Jedi in [[Recap/StarWarsRebelsSparkOfRebellion "Spark of Rebellion"]]. Kanan quips that it will have the same outcome, but this time Kallus has the Inquisitor.
22	** Tarkin notes that the rebels here are principled, unlike other cells he's met. He's likely referring to [[Literature/{{Tarkin}} Teller's group]].
23	** Tarkin wears battle armor that is very similar to that worn by General Veers in ''Film/TheEmpireStrikesBack''.
24	* CrazyEnoughToWork: The general opinion of Kanan's plan to hijack an Imperial communications tower.
25	-->'''Ezra:''' That's a crazy plan.\
26	'''Kanan:''' That's why you like it.
27	* DarkReprise:
28	** When Kanan and Ezra are discussing sacrifice on the ''Ghost'''s ramp, the scene ends with "Binary Sunset". When Ezra leaves Kanan behind, a few bars of it play just before the door closes.
29	** The Imperial March, which had previously appeared in-series as an upbeat military anthem, returns in all its dark glory to signal Tarkin's arrival.
30	* DefiantToTheEnd: Double subverted. The Inquisitor offers Kanan the chance to spare his friends if he surrenders, since Tarkin wants him taken alive. The Inquisitor is surprised when Kanan turns off his saber, having expected him to reject the deal out of hand. Then Kanan's communicator beeps; he was just stalling for time until Hera could show up in the ''Phantom'', at which point he holds off the Inquisitor as long as possible.
31	* DestructionEqualsOffSwitch: Kanan stabs the elevator controls to keep the Imperials from getting to the control room where his crew is. It doesn't prevent them from flying up there, but Hera and Sabine have that problem covered.
32	* DeterminedExpression: Kanan, after surrendering to the Empire.
33	* DispenseWithThePleasantries: Tarkin responds to Maketh Tua's greeting by scolding her, Kallus, and the Inquisitor for their failures.
34	-->'''Tua:''' Grand Moff Tarkin, we are honored by your visit to Lothal.\
35	'''Tarkin:''' My visit is hardly an honor, Minister.
36	* DoubleEntendre: Ezra, Kanan and Sabine debate on how to execute their plan of hijacking the main communications tower of the Empire.
37	-->'''Sabine:''' Five minutes ''is'' optimistic!\
38	'''Kanan:''' Three is better.\
39	'''Sabine:''' You can have it good, or you can have it fast.
40	* DownerEnding: Kanan is captured, and the Empire destroys the communications tower as the crew of the ''Ghost'' try to broadcast a message to all of Lothal.
41	* DramaticIrony: Retroactively overlaps with ButForMeItWasTuesday in context of ''[[WesternAnimation/StarWarsTheBadBatch The Bad Batch]]''. Tarkin meets Kanan Jarrus in person after he surrenders to the Grand Inquisitor, with the Grand Moff completely unaware that this is the same Padawan that Clone Force 99 helped him escape Order 66.
42	* EstablishingCharacterMoment: For newcomers to the ''Star Wars'' universe, this episode delivers a perfect introduction for Grand Moff Tarkin, who after walking off his shuttle delivers an epic TheReasonYouSuckSpeech to Minister Tua, Agent Kallus and the freaking ''Inquisitor''. Then, in his next scene, he has Aresko and Grint executed for their latest failure in apprehending the Rebels.
43	* EvenEvilHasStandards: Both Kallus and Maketh Tua are extremely put-off by how coldly Tarkin has Aresko and Grint executed. In Kallus' case, mind you, his reaction is more likely due to him realizing that, if he makes one more major screwup, it will be ''his'' neck on the chopping block next. [[spoiler:Both would later turn against the Empire and aid the Rebels.]]
44	* ForDoomTheBellTolls: A loud clanging bell tone is heard just before the Grand Inquisitor executes Aresko and Grint.
45	* FoundFamily: Ezra explicitly calls the crew of the ''Ghost'' his new family, since he lost his parents.
46	* FreezeFrameBonus: It's incredibly brief, but the lightsaber starts to cut into Aresko and Grint's necks just before the shot switches to Kallus' reaction. Grint can even be seen wincing.
47	* GoryDiscretionShot: The camera pans away just before Aresko and Grint lose their heads.
48	* HeroicSacrifice: Kanan didn't ''intend'' a heroic sacrifice when he sent the others up the lift, but when the Inquisitor shows up, he doesn't hesitate to sabotage the lift so that the Imperials can't use it and then challenges the Inquisitor directly.
49	* HopeSpringsEternal: The theme of the episode. Tarkin recognizes that the Rebels are a threat not for their strength, but as a symbol of hope. Likewise, Ezra's transmission stresses that they have to keep fighting for something better.
50	* IWantThemAlive: Tarkin tells the Inquisitor that he wants Kanan taken alive. [[BadBoss Fortunately]] he's able to deliver.
51	* KillerRabbit: The loth-cat that Ezra reaches via the Force is nearly strong enough to nearly disable a probe droid. Nearly.
52	* KnightOfCerebus: Things get ''dark'' when Tarkin shows up. Aresko and Grint get killed for their failures, and Kanan is captured.
53	* LuredIntoATrap: When Tarkin learns that the rebels plan to hijack the Imperial comms tower, he lets them carry out their plan while setting up an ambush.
54	* MakeAnExampleOfThem: Why Tarkin has Aresko and Grint decapitated right in front of Minister Tua and Agent Kallus, to let them know failure is no longer acceptable on his watch. This is also the reason he orders the Inquisitor to capture Kanan, so they can break him and dispell the myth of the heroic Jedi on Lothal.
55	* MakeItLookLikeAnAccident: Ezra uses a loth-cat to disable the probe droid so the Imperials won't be alerted to the fact that they're scouting the communications tower. Unfortunately, a feral cat isn't quite as thorough as a blaster, so the probe droid is still able to transmit an image of them back to base.
56	* MusicalSpoiler: Of the FiveSecondForeshadowing variety; the episode opens with the Imperial theme playing, and then Grand Moff Tarkin steps off the shuttle.
57	* MythologyGag: Tarkin's arrival on Lothal is shot exactly like Darth Vader's arrival at the second Death Star in ''Film/ReturnOfTheJedi''.
58	* NeverSayDie: An odd variation. After the speeder chase through town, Aresko reports that there were no casualties, which Tarkin takes as proof that the crew is more principled than other rebels. Note that Kanan shot a Stormtrooper in the chest and another tumbled into his exploding speeder after a crash. Sabine goes on to shoot six more over the course of the episode. Aresko might be referring to civilian casualties, which would make more sense. It's also possible that the wounds were non-fatal.
59	* NoMacGuffinNoWinner: When he learns that the rebels have hijacked the communications tower, Tarkin has the entire thing leveled rather than try to undo the damage. The rebels [[YouAreTooLate still get their message out]], however.
60	* NoNonsenseNemesis: Tarkin in spades. His appearance is a signal that the Empire is done playing around on Lothal and the gloves are off.
61	* NotQuiteDead: Ezra has a loth-cat sabotage the probe droid guarding the communications tower, but it's still able to transmit an image of them leaving on speeder bikes, giving Tarkin a heads up so he can arrange a trap.
62	* OffWithHisHead: Goodbye Aresko and Grint, courtesy of the Inquisitor.
63	* PunctuatedForEmphasis: After the transmission cuts out, Ezra turns to Hera and says "This isn't over."
64	-->'''Hera:''' No. It. Isn't.
65	* ReactionShot: Kallus and Tua are both visibly disturbed by Aresko and Grint's execution.
66	* TheReasonYouSuckSpeech: Tarkin lets the Imperials on Lothal know that he is ''not'' pleased with their inability to deal with a five-person rebel cell.
67	* RousingSpeech: Ezra gives one using the hijacked Imperial communications tower. At the very least, everyone on Lothal heard it. It's said to have enough range to reach several systems. Though he has his doubts it worked or anyone was even listening, Hera is sure they were.
68	* SacrificialLion: Aresko and Grint's purpose in the story. Their deaths are meant to showcase just how ruthless and brutal Tarkin is along with showing the Empire is done playing games on Lothal and is kicking things up a notch.
69	* SarcasmMode: Tarkin gives the Inquisitor a dark look while scolding him for his failure to defeat the Jedi.
70	-->'''Tarkin:''' A shame we don't have someone who specializes in dealing with them, otherwise our problems might be solved.
71	* ScottyTime: Sabine says that she can do a good job in five minutes, and a fast job in three. When the Empire arrives, she gets one, and it does the job well enough.
72	* ShaggyDogStory: Ezra goes out of his way to destroy the probe droid without using weapons, so as to not alert the Empire to their presence and their planned attack. Unfortunately, the droid still manages to identify them when they escape on their speeder bikes.
73	* ShooOutTheClowns: Tarkin's first order upon arriving on Lothal? [[YouHaveFailedMe Execute]] [[GoldfishPoopGang the incompetent comic relief villains]].
74	* ShoutOut: An execution much like this one, ordered by a menacing elderly general to the dismay of both his CoDragons -- a ruthless male and a more benevolent female subordinate - takes place in [[WesternAnimation/TronUprising another sci-fi dystopian Disney show]].
75	* TemptingFate: Kanan boasts to Kallus that their battle will end the same way it did last time -- in Kanan's favor. Then one of the dropships flies in and out pops the Inquisitor.
76	* TookALevelInBadass: Kanan actually manages to land a decent kick on the Inquisitor, who notes that he must have been training. He still loses, but it's progress nonetheless.
77	* TrrrillingRrrs: When Tarkin is ordering prrrobes sent after rrrebels.
78	* UnexpectedCharacter: Grand Moff Tarkin's appearance was a surprise, to say the least.
79	* UnspokenPlanGuarantee: Our heroes discuss their plan enough to ensure that something goes wrong. It's even {{Lampshaded}} by Sabine when she mentions how rarely things go according to plan.
80	-->'''Kanan:''' That's the plan.\
81	'''Sabine:''' And things always go according to plan, right?
82	* VillainousDemotivator: Tarkin has Aresko and Grint killed just to demonstrate to Maketh Tua and Kallus that he is done tolerating failure. Both are severely unnerved by it.
83	* WhamEpisode: Kanan is captured, and the crew broadcasts a message to all of Lothal -- the biggest impact on the Empire that they've left thus far. Additionally, having had enough of their failures, Tarkin kills Aresko and Grint.
84	* YouCalledMeXItMustBeSerious: Kanan tells Hera to leave him behind using her callsign "Spectre 2". When she refuses, he calls her Hera to stress how important it is.
85	* YouHaveFailedMe: The Inquisitor decapitates Aresko and Grint for their repeated losses to the Rebels, on Tarkin's orders.
86	-->'''Tarkin:''' From now on, failure ''will'' have consequences.
87	* YouShallNotPass: Kanan sabotages the control to the door of the communications tower after the rest of the crew has used it, stranding most of the Imperial forces outside. This also means he has nowhere to go, forcing the crew to leave him behind.
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Context Recap / StarWarsRebelsS1E11CallToAction