We’ve met the Mandalorian rebel, Sabine Wren, and learned about how she may come into play in her live action debut in Ahsoka. As a quick recap, the last time we saw Sabine, she was headed out on a mission to find her missing teammate and fellow rebel, Ezra Bridger. But just who is Ezra Bridger and why is he missing in the first place, you may ask? Here is part 2 of our deep dive into the characters in Star Wars: Rebels. 

Rebels 101

Star Wars: Rebels begins five years prior to Episode IV. Jedi are hunted throughout the galaxy by Inquisitors under the direct order of Darth Vader. The Empire rules with an iron fist, its presence particularly damaging to the small outer rim planet of Lothal.

It’s on Lothal that we find a small band of (you guessed it!) rebels. The band of insurgents consists of:

• Former Jedi padawan and survivor of Order 66, Kanan Jarrus (voiced by Freddie Prinze Jr)
• Fearless Twi’lek captain of the Ghost, Hera Syndulla and her trusty droid companion, Chopper.
• Last of the Lasat race, warrior Garazeb Orrelios.
• Force-sensitive teenager and Lothal native, Ezra Bridger.
• Mandalorian ex-Imperial cadet, Sabine Wren.

The Lothal Orphan

At fifteen years old, Ezra is first introduced as a thorn in the side of his would-be crew. Ezra was born on a very significant day in Star Wars lore: the day the Republic fell to the Empire. Coincidentally, this is also the same day Padme Amidala gave birth to her and Anakin’s twins, Luke and Leia. 

In Rebels, we learn that this event is referred to as Empire Day and designated as the equivalent of a federal holiday. Every year on his birthday, Ezra finds it difficult to celebrate a day that also brought great suffering to the galaxy.

This suffering also affected Ezra’s life on a personal level. His parents operated as activists and spoke out against the Empire’s dealings on Lothal in secret broadcasts. Due to these actions, his parents were arrested and imprisoned as traitors, leaving Ezra orphaned at only seven years old. 

Ezra survives on his own by using wits, street smarts, and a secret weapon he has up his sleeve:

The Force.

Master and Apprentice

Though he doesn’t fully realize the implications of his latent skills, Ezra is particularly gifted with relating to animals through the Force. When his antics interfere with the Ghost crew’s rebel activity and put him in the path of Kanan Jarrus, Ezra finally realizes just how powerful he could be.

As a former Jedi padawan during The Clone Wars, Kanan recognizes that Ezra is force-sensitive almost immediately. The trauma and survivor’s guilt Kanan experiences since Order 66 makes him reluctant to reveal his true identity. At the urging of Ghost captain, Hera Syndulla, Kanan takes the step to reclaim his past as a Jedi to train Ezra.

Ezra finds a family aboard the Ghost, earning the official calling code “Specter 6.” 

A Jedi’s Tenacity

Under Kanan’s instruction, Ezra learns the details of The Force, the history of the Jedi, and the risks that come along with operating openly as one. 

Though there are many deterrents that cause other force-sensitive beings to stay hidden, Ezra not only accepts his destiny as a Jedi, but also thrives as he grows. He is tenacious in his devotion to freedom for Lothal and the greater galaxy.

Throughout the series, these risks come in many forms, including Inquisitors, The Imperial Security Bureau, and Grand Admiral Thrawn. Inquisitors doggedly track Kanan and Ezra at Darth Vader’s orders, even capturing them on multiple occasions. But Ezra’s cunning and skills always prove to be a formidable force.

The Bridger Broadcast

The best example of Ezra’s drive for justice throughout the galaxy comes in the form of what’s dubbed The Bridger Broadcast. In Call to Action (season 1, episode 13), Ezra quite literally finds his voice and transmits a message to Lothal and surrounding planets. 

Ahead is The Bridger Broadcast in full. Spoilers!

We have been called criminals, but we are not. We are rebels, fighting for the people, fighting for you. I’m not that old, but I remember a time when things were better on Lothal. Maybe not great, but never like this. See what the Empire has done to your lives, your families, and your freedom? It’s only gonna get worse unless we stand up and fight back. It won’t be easy. There will be loss and sacrifice. But we can’t back down just because we’re afraid. That’s when we need to stand the tallest. That’s what my parents taught me. That’s what my new family helped me remember. Stand up together. Because that’s when we’re strongest—as one.

Follow the Purrgil

Ezra’s devotion to the rebel alliance comes before his own safety or life. When faced by Grand Admiral Thrawn, his most difficult and intelligent foe, Ezra concocts a plan to use his special connection with animals. By communicating via The Force with purrgil, Ezra uses the whale-like creatures’ ability to travel through hyperspace to transport himself and Thrawn to parts unknown. 

Ezra is fully aware that his plan means he will be stranded in deep space with no way to communicate his location with his team. There will be no easy rescue, if rescue is even possible. But his sacrifice means removing Thrawn from the equation, weakening the Empire and giving a bit more hope to the rebel alliance. 

When Will We See Ezra Again?

The Rebels season finale aired in 2018, leaving Ezra’s fate unknown. However, that doesn’t seem to be the case for much longer. Before the purrgil make the jump to hyperspace, Sabine promises Ezra that she will find her friend and bring him home.

An unspecified amount of time later, we find Sabine standing in front of a mural of the Ghost crew. Ahsoka approaches and the two set out for parts unknown to find Ezra.

In Season 2 of The Mandalorian, Ahsoka is hunting for information about Grand Admiral Thrawn’s whereabouts. With the recent rumors of Eman Esfandi being tapped to play Ezra, fans will have to wait until Ahsoka premieres in 2023 to find our favorite missing Jedi. 

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