Season Two of Rebels got underway on 20 June, 2015 with a two-part premiere, The Siege of Lothal. Part One shows the Ghost crew stepping into a larger world, as they become a part of the growing rebel alliance. They are assigned to Phoenix Squadron and the Inquisitor is no more.

But Kanan (Freddie Prinze jr.), Ezra (Taylor Gray) and the rest find that their troubles are just beginning as Darth Vader (James Earl Jones) arrives on Lothal, intent on hunting them down.

Hera (Vanessa Marshall) slips easily into the command structure and protocol necessary for the alliance, while Kanan has a more difficult a time adjusting, even with the presence of Ahsoka Tano (Ashley Eckstein). He’s used to their small group, and now, working with more people isn’t something he’s used to.

On Lothal, Imperial Minister Maketh Tua (Kath Soucie) reaches out to Kanan and the others for help, and though Ezra believes she is telling the truth, could things be manipulated so that the Ghost crew are walking into a trap?

The opening of the second season throws us right back into things with space battles and all the excitement we’ve come to expect from a space fantasy that is called Star Wars. The story moves quickly, and it’s easy to get caught up in events, even while loving the continuity that plays such a big part in the Star Wars universe.

It seems our heroes are walking right into a trap set by Vader, and it ends on a cliffhanger with that familiar menacing breathing and approach on Kanan and Ezra.

Part Two was also written by Gilroy and sees our heroes confronting Vader, and seeking help from an old friend, in the form of Lando Calrissian (Billy Dee Williams) to help get them off of Lothal.

But Vader, after his confrontation with them, has a plan to draw them out. He orders Kallus (David Oyelowo) to burn down the refugee camp of Tarkin Town and imprison the inhabitants.

The crew decide to leave Lothal anyway, and agree, eventually, that they should work with the rebellion, which may help them find a way to free those trapped on Lothal. But their shuttle was tracked, and could lead the Imperials right to the gathering rebel fleet.

During the course of the battle, both Ahsoka and Vader sense one another, and just realised things are worse than they thought. It’s a heart-wrenching moment for Ahsoka, and Vader is now intent on tracking down her and the Force-wielding Kanan and Ezra in an attempt to track down more hidden jedi.

To do so, he is ordered to dispatch more Inquisitors to join the hunt.

The Lost Commanders first aired on 14 October, 2015 and was written by Matt Michnovetz.

Ahoska sends the Ghost crew on a mission to bring an old friend back to the fold, and hopefully aid the rebels in their fight against the Empire. On the remote planet of Seelos, the crew discover Captain Rex (Dee Bradley Baker) and a squad of surviving clones.

Kanan has trust issues with the clones due to the events of Order 66, when they gunned down his master. But Ezra works to convince him that they can trust them, and soon, the old-timers prove their worth and their friendship.

And while the episode weaves in a story about hunting down some beast, I found myself more interested in the character moments with Kanan as he comes to grip with his past involving the clones, the war, and recognising that perhaps the clones were telling the truth about the programming (they were) and that they aren’t as bad as he thought they were.

How will the Zeb (Steve Blum), Sabine (Tiya Sircar) and the rest react when they encounter these relics of the Old Republic, and when Imperials arrive, will they all be able to work together? Or will the clones elect to remain in hiding? We’ll get the answers next week when the battle in a galaxy far, far away continues. Until then, may the Force be with you.

And man, it’s great to see Rex and company so many years on following the events of the Clone Wars.