History Recap / StarWarsRebelsS1E06EmpireDay

* TakeThat: The Imperial [=HoloNet=] broadcast is strongly reminiscent of the screen format for Creator/FoxNewsChannel, down to the yellow text of the news ticker at the bottom.

* GrenadeHotPotato:

* RevengeBeforeReason: Subverted. Zeb initially tries to snipe Kallus, but has no problems with being told to shoot at the Inquisitor instead due to him being the bigger threat.

%% * GettingCrapPastThe Radar: Due to overwhelming and persistent misuse, GCPTR is on-page examples only until 01 June 2021. If you are reading this in the future, please check the trope page to make sure your example fits the current definition.

** The cybernetic headband implanted into Tseebo's skull is the same model [[Film/TheEmpireStrikesBack Lobot]] has (as well as being very similar to that of [[Series/StarWarsTheBadBatch Echo]].)

** The cybernetic headband implanted into Tseebo's skull is the same model [[Film/TheEmpireStrikesBack Lobot]] has.

* GettingCrapPastTheRadar: When he's caught too close to the TIE fighter, Kanan [[PlayingDrunk pretends to be drunk]]. It's never explicitly said that's what he's doing, but it's pretty obvious (at least to older viewers). Then Ezra piles it on by pretending Kanan is his father who wandered off, which implies that the Empire turns a blind eye to drunken parenting on Lothal.

* AllPartOfTheShow: As part of their distraction to blow up the new TIE fighter model, Sabine has Zeb pitch fireworks into the sky. Maketh Tua praises Aresko for the idea, and he just goes along with it rather than admit he didn't think of it.

* ABirthdayNotABreak: It's never been a normal birthday for Ezra, since it's the same "birthday" as the tyranny that spans the Galaxy and took his family away from him.

** Kanan's pretend drunkenness may seem like a fleeting gag, but readers of prequel novel ''Literature/ANewDawn'' will be aware that Kanan used to drink heavily.

** A Phase I clone trooper helmet and a Republic gunship show up in Old Jho's bar.

** The anti-Empire broadcast is also intentionally similar to rebel broadcasts against oppressive rule in countries like Iran and Egypt.

* GettingCrapPastTheRadar: When he's caught too close to the TIE fighter, Kanan [[PlayingDrunk pretends to be drunk]]. It's never explicitly said that's what he's doing, but it's pretty obvious. Then Ezra piles it on by pretending Kanan is his father, which implies that the Empire turns a blind eye to drunken parenting on Lothal.

* HonorBeforeReason: Ezra's parents insisted on continuing to fight the Empire, even if it was dangerous. It resulted in them being captured, leaving their son to fend for himself.
* IronicBirthday: Not only does Ezra's birthday fall on Empire Day, but it is also the day he lost his parents.

* NonFatalExplosions: While TIE fighters are known to be fragile, an explosion that can effectively destroy one should do a lot more damage to people standing around five metres away than knocking them off their feet.

* ShipTease: Fairly prevalent between Ezra and Sabine here. Made even more apparent thanks to Ezra's sad expressions and Sabine feeling more worried about him than the others.

* TitleDrop: Empire Day is basically evil Independence Day for the Empire, and the day on which the episode takes place.

->''"Ezra Bridger. Son of Ephraim and Mira Bridger, [[WhamLine born fifteen years ago today.]]"''

!!Tropes in this episode:

* ABirthdayNotABreak: It's never been a normal birthday for Ezra, since it's the same "birthday" as the tyranny that spans across the Galaxy and took his family away from him.

* TheCameo: Palpatine shows up briefly in a news broadcast, showing him addressing the Senate.

** Ezra goes back to his tower from the pilot to grab his house key.

** The pro-Empire broadcast itself uses an image of Palpatine from the Clone War as opposed to [[EvilMakesYouUgly how he looked when the Empire was established]]. As the episode guide's [[http://www.starwars.com/tv-shows/star-wars-rebels/empire-day-trivia-gallery trivia gallery]] notes, RealLife tyrants were known for similar practices on their state-run broadcast networks (such as the HitlerCam). Stalin famously had his smallpox scars removed from all official imagery and the images of Kim Il Sung the "eternal President" of UsefulNotes/NorthKorea are intentionally shown in such a way that you don't see the giant tumor that grew on his neck during his later years.
** The Imperial banner seen at the parade consists of [[ThoseWackyNazis a red field, with a white disk and a black Imperial seal.]]

** The cybernetic headband implanted into Tseebo's skull is similar to the one [[Film/TheEmpireStrikesBack Lobot]] has.

* SerendipitousSurvival: Agent Kallus' life is spared by a quirk of fate. At one point Zeb has him in his gun sights, but is told to shoot the Inquisitor (a much bigger threat, who happened to appear on the scene the same moment as Kallus) instead.

* UnwillingRoboticisation: The Empire has low-level technicians outfitted with implants at the cost of personality in order to make them more effective workers. Played with: They're encouraged but still entirely voluntary . . . for now.

* TakeThat: The Imperial [=HoloNet=] broadcast is strongly reminiscent of the screen format for FoxNews, down to the yellow text of the news ticker at the bottom.

** The pro-Empire broadcast itself uses an image of Palpatine from the Clone War as opposed to [[EvilMakesYouUgly what he looked at the time of the Empire's establishment]]. As the episode guide's [[http://www.starwars.com/tv-shows/star-wars-rebels/empire-day-trivia-gallery trivia gallery]] notes, RealLife tyrants were known for similar practices on their state-run broadcast newtworks (such as the HitlerCam). Stalin famously had his smallpox scars removed from all official imagery and the images of Kim Il Sung the "eternal President" of UsefulNotes/NorthKorea are intentionally shown in such a way that you don't see the giant tumor that grew on his neck during his later years.

* FreezeFrameBonus: Among the information that Tseebo stole is something related to Base Delta Zero, which is easily misinterpreted as the capital letter delta (Δ) looks just like the Aurebesh "X".

* FunnyBackgroundEvent: While Kanan, Ezra, and Sabine are discussing their situation at Ezra's old home, Tseebo walks into a door and falls down. Cue Kanan FacePalm.