Shaving off a third of the runtime seems about right. So after wasting a lot of time with trying to make a bonus episode out of the shorts, including TotJ Resolve and whatever, I am now making rapid progress, since the direction is clear. Episode 1 is finished. I basically shaved 3 minutes off and added 3 minutes of new footage. The next 2 episodes will then save a big chunk of meaningless watchtime for the viewer. They will also fundamentally restructure Kanan’s character arc. Excited to see how people will react.

Episode 1 - Spark of Rebellion

Runtime: 44:54 min

Footage from

Art Attack Promotional Short (additional scenes)
Spark of Rebellion Part 1 (main story)
Spark of Rebellion Part 2 (main story)

Changelist (chronological)

ADDED the “Art Attack” Short as a cold opening, because it establishes Sabine’s phoenix graffity (which is part of the Intro) and it is called back to at the end of the season. It also shows that her methods are evolving. Here she puts an explosive on top of the graffity, later in the episode the graffity IS the explosive.
REMOVED the opening scene of the Inquisitor talking to Vader. Neither character plays a role in this episode and the ending of this episode functions very well as an introduction for the Inqusitor anyway. It is one of those instances where they spelled it out for the kids, making for a very clunky experience.
REMOVED the scene of Ezra standing on his tower and leaving for the town. If you remove the Rebels fanfare (and the title screen) there is not much left there and it does not flow very well into the next scene, because we get 2 establishing shots right after each other, but there is nothing really happening in the first location.
REMOVED the on the nose dialog by the Jogan trader. We do not need a character spelling out that it was better before the empire. He instead gets instantly arrested, without discussion. Makes the empire look even worse, but without having a character basically turning to the camera and saying “The empire is bad, you know?”
REMOVED the first instances of Kanan Tap-Signalling when Ezra watches them getting ready for their ambush. So instead of him going around and tapping his pockets repeatedly (and suspiciously), Kanan now walks towards Zeb, stops for a moment (WITHOUT tapping), Zeb gets the hint and gets ready, Kanan then continues ahead and taps when reaching Sabine, who confirms via tapping and proceeds to set the plan in motion. This makes the Crew look more discrete and therefore more competent. Another instance of the show spelling it out for the kids.
REMOVED Zebs on the nose comment when Kanan tells him to fall back with his speeder. We know he is angry at “the kid” (Ezra). It really does not need to be spelled out.
REMOVED an awkward looking shot (from the side in a weird posture) when Ezra jumps onboard the Ghost with the crate.
REMOVED the line of Zeb specifying that “throwing out” means “mid flight”. It really does not need to be spelled out.
REMOVED banter between Hera and Kanan that establishes again how special Ezra is. This has been established enough already at this point. Removing these improves the pacing of the still ongoing chase.
REMOVED a lot of redundant dialogue to bridge the gap between episodes 1&2.
ALTERED the appearance of Kessel in an establishing shot to better resemble it’s appearance in SOLO.
REMOVED the little moment where Ezra emerges proudly between the Wookies after setting them free. We get that this was a heroic action without this shot.
REMOVED the lines regarding Ezra “passing a test” when he gives back the Holocron. Opening Holocrons was never established as being “a test” anywhere in the lore. Plus we don’t need an explanation here. Ezra opened the Holocron, which can only be done by using the force. No further explanation needed.
ALTERED the appearance of Kessel again to fit better with SOLO.

If anyone wants to take a look, just shoot me a PM.