Star Wars Rebels is about to enter its fourth (and final) season, and the hit cartoon has introduced us to many a new character; and even seen a few from the movies and The Clone Wars make appearances as it bridges the Star Wars story between Revenge of the Sith and Rogue One/A New Hope. Whether you’re new to the series (read the ‘story so far’) or just looking for a re-cap, check out our ‘Who’s Who’ guide to the hit animation…
The Good Guys
Kanan Jarrus
Real name Caleb Dume, he was a Padawan to Depa Billaba at the time of the Clone Wars and Order 66. After surviving the massacre of the Jedi, he went in to hiding, earning his crust as a thief and a smuggler before meeting Hera Syndulla, a member of the fledgling rebellion against the Empire.
Since joining with them, Jarrus has become an increasingly important member of the rebellion and one of very few light side force users left. He has also taken on training the young Ezra Bridger as a Padawan of his own and has fought hard to keep Bridger away from the dark side. Kanan was blinding by Darth Maul at the end of Season Two.
Ezra Bridger
Ezra is a young force sensitive born on the same day as the Empire on the planet of Lothal. His parents were arrested by the Empire, and later killed while trying to escape prison when he was very young and he scraped by until encountering Kanan, Hera and their crew were on a mission on Lothal. After impressing when helping free some Wookie prisoners, Kanan offered to take Ezra on as his Padawan and teach him the ways of the force.
Bridger has shown himself to be a loyal member of the Ghost crew and rebellion, although he has had his troubles. The frustrations over the situations he has found himself in, the loss of his parents and influence of former Sith apprentice Darth Maul have all seen him flirt with the dark side.
Hera Syndulla
A Twi’lek (think Jabba’s mate with the funny head tails) from Ryloth she was born in to a family who fought against the CIS in the Clone Wars and as she grew up she became a top notch pilot and joined the rebellion, recruited by Fulcrum (more on them later).
She is a big part of the early Rebel Alliance and has been key in a number of raids, attacks and sabotages on Imperial bases and has disrupted a number of the Empire’s plans. We also know, due to a mention in Rogue One, she is still about at the time of A New Hope.
Sabine Wren
Sabine is a Mandalorian (same as Boba Fett) who joined the Empire when they opened an academy on her home world. Soon though she was at odds with their tactics and ethics.
She recently acquired the Darksabre, a black bladed lightsabre forged by the first Mandalorian Jedi Tarre Vizsla from the Nightsisters on Dathomir.
Garazeb Orrelios
One of the last Lasan’s in the galaxy after genocide committed by the Empire, ‘Zeb’ joined the Spectres due to his deep hatred for the Empire. Often coming across as cantankerous, or annoyed by Ezra or Chopper Zeb is fiercely loyal and often enjoys a scrap. Zeb has helped members of his species find a new home on a hidden planet.
Chopper
C1-1OP is the Ghost crew’s droid, tech support and basically R2-D2.
Ahsoka Tano
The aforementioned Fulcrum. Tano, a character from the Clone Wars TV show, is a former Padawan and apprentice to Anakin Skywalker who left the Jedi before Order 66 after the Jedi failed to support her during a troubling incident. After going in to hiding she emerged to help build the Rebel Alliance. Status currently unknown after a duel with her former master at the end of Season 2.
Notable mentions: Bail Organa, Leia Organa, Mon Mothma all appear, as does Saw Gerrera from The Clone Wars and Rogue One. Rex, a clone trooper not affected by Order 66, Wedge Antilles, the future leader of Rogue Squadron, Obi Wan Kenobi and Yoda all appear.
The Bad Guys
Agent Kallus
The main antagonist of the first two seasons, Kallus worked with Darth Vader and his dark side Inquisitors to hunt down rebels. A meticulous and vindictive person he is extremely adept at foiling rebel plans.
In the second season, after becoming stranded on a moon with Zeb and having to work together to survive he starts to see the error of the Empire’s ways and switches allegiance, becoming a Rebel spy and even helping Kanan and Ezra on a mission.
Grand Admiral Thrawn
A character born in the old Expanded Universe, Thrawn crossed over in to the new canon in Season Three as the man tasked with taking apart the rebellion and capturing the Ghost and its crew. A cold and calculated man, the Emperor sees Thrawn as a man to get things done where other officers have failed miserably.
Imperial Inqusitors
Adept in the dark side of the force, answerable to Vader and Palpatine, they are tasked with eradicating remaining Jedi and others with force potential. They call themselves brothers and sisters, and we know of an eighth brother but have no idea how many there are. The Grand Inquisitor was a fallen Jedi and temple guard who committed suicide after failing to kill Kanan, afraid of Vader’s retribution.
Darth Maul
The best thing about The Phantom Menace, his character was expanded upon in The Clone Wars, because apaprently you can survive being cut in half and falling down a big hole, and then in Rebels he, on a mission to find and kill Kenobi, tries apprenticing Bridger to himself and manipulating him in the ways of the dark side. Finally meets his end on Tatooine at the hands of Obi Wan at the end of season three.
Notable mentions: Brief appearances from Darth Vader, Emperor Palpatine and Tarkin.