Season 1 gets a ton of hate for being more lighthearted and arguably less plot heavy but I’d argue it’s actually really good. Part of me thinks Rebels was better being a more pure, standalone kids show before they brought in elements like Thrawn, who - while portrayed very well in the show as far as performance and screen presence goes - feels like he’s more suited to more complex stories like Timothy Zahn’s books and represents a pull for the show to become something it’s not. When Thrawn’s part of the story, the more lighthearted elements of Rebels stick out like a sore thumb rather than being a charming and integral part of the series.