Welcome to the official discussion for Rebels, episode 2x13, "The Protector of Concord Dawn."
Plot Summary:
The episode starts out with the Ghost Crew, Rex, and Sato discussing plans for a new hyperspace route. Sabine suggests the Concord Dawn system, which is not a part of the empire. The system is known for its Mandalorian warriors, the protectors.
Sabine and Hera go to discuss an agreement with the people of Concord Dawn, but their negotiations fail, and the leader of the protectors, Fenn Rau, starts chasing Hera and Sabine. Hera makes an opening, and Sabine jumps into hyperspace. Hera also makes the jump, but not before Rau hits her. Her ship emerges near the Rebel fleet, smoking and with her unconscious.
Sato asks for a report on the mission. Sabine says that Fenn Rau was the one they were up against. Rex adds that Rau was a fighter pilot instructor for the Republic.
With negotiating off the table, Kanan volunteers to infiltrate their base. Ezra, Zeb, and Sabine protest that Kanan can't go without them, but Kanan will only take Chopper along.
On the way, Kanan asks Chopper for Sabine's intel. Chopper responds to just ask her, and when Kanan asks what he means, Sabine steps out, and Kanan is forced to reveal that he actually wanted to finish negotiations.
They land and take a look at the base, and see that the empire has gained Rau's loyalty. Sabine goes to plant charges, in case negotiations fail. Kanan finds Rau, and retells the story of how he saved his life and his masters life. Rau still has no intention of joining Kanan. Sabine plants her charges but the protectors find her before she can get to Fenn Rau's ship. She has to convince the protectors that she is Mandalorian, although they then accuse her of being a traitor. In the end, she invokes the code on Fenn Rau, who is no longer negotiating with Kanan. When the two fight, Sabine disarms him and sets off the explosives. Fenn Rau tries to leave in his fighter (which was not blown up). Kanan leaps on and disables it before it can get much farther. He knocks Fenn Rau out, and leaps onto the Phantom. When Rau wakes up, he receives a transmission, but turns down their offer to rescue him.
Back at the fleet, Hera has also woken up, and is proud of Kanan and Sabine.
My (random) thoughts on this episode:
It does seem weird how Hera survived. I mean, the real world explanation is plot armor, but is there any good in-universe explanation?
I really see a father-daughter relationship between Sabine and Kanan. I don't think it stood out to me so much the first time I watched this episode.
I wonder if Sabine ever didn't bring enough explosives?
The Protectors have a neat, distinctive design. It might have been interesting to see a little more of them.
In my opinion, this episode was about ordanary. Not my favorite, but nothing in it to make it my least favorite.
Well, those are my thoughts; what are yours? Like or dislike? Did anything stand out to you? This is the place to discuss!
Here is the hub for all Rebels discussions: https://starwars.fandom.com/f/p/3100000000000189486
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