Right, I’m going to make this rebels Recap movie in a fairly collaborative way, since there are a few interpretations for what this should be. So if anyone would like a copy of the workprint, please let me know and I’ll send you a copy.

The main question is: Should this be a true ‘recap’ in the sense that it’s really for people just catching up with Ahsoka’s story in Rebels before the Ahsoka show, having already watched Rebels? Or, should it be viable to watch this as its own thing without having watched Rebels, in which case it will spoil Ahsoka’s plot in Rebels but should tread more carefully around spoiling other content from that show?

I’m leaning toward the former, basically making this the final part of TCW:R (where Ahsoka is the main character), to show the aftermath of Ahsoka’s TCW story if you’ve just watched through. I think that’s the most useful and interesting, and the most appropriate for my focus. If I was to make a true standalone Ahsoka-in-Rebels movie, I feel like it’d be somewhat redundant, because the Ahsoka show is going to continue the whole of Rebels really, so you’d want to watch that entire show (or an edit of all of it) in order to get up to date. (Also, if I was going to make this a true Rebels edit, I’d want to make it a single movie-length episode that’d fit into a full series edit, which I’d rather not pursue right now.)

If I do go with the former, I think I’ll still skip over the non-Ahsoka content from the World Between Worlds episode, because I think we’re more interested in her perspective (since again, if we wanted all the Rebels stuff we’d just watch Rebels). It’ll be unique to watch it from Ahsoka’s perspective, but as this’ll be a recap for content we’ve already seen, we won’t mind the odd spoiler from what’s happening outside her story (and timeline).

Either way, if anyone would like to see how well it achieves those goals, let me know, and I’ll send out a workprint.

Lots of work done on this movie today, which I think I’m calling FULCRUM OF THE FORCE. Still more to be done tomorrow, but I’m so excited to share this with you all. Allowing spoilers for Rebels has allowed me to play with the presentation of the narrative and chronology a little in an interesting way (without deviating from canon). I’ve cracked the overlap point where we transition from Ahsoka’s present to Ezra’s future, and got the right ending to bring it full circle, and what I think should be a fun beginning. I’ve just stitched the rest together so I can watch through a rough whole tomorrow morning and take notes for the remaining trims and polish.

First version of this will just use TCW conventions, but after gathering your feedback I might spin it off into its own thing with a traditional SW opening crawl so it can stand alone too.

g00b said:

I’d go with the former! I feels like it’d make the most sense in terms of the focus for your edit. I’m also interested in the workprint 😃

Cheers buddy! The other reason I’d been leaning toward the former is because I want to avoid treading on your toes regarding Rebels - you’ve already worked through the whole show in a Refocused-style edit so why compete? It feels right to do something completely different.

Rebels movie is rendering now. It’s a workprint, but a very polished one. Let me know if you’d like a copy.

Haha, yeah. I got in the zone and just smashed it out in a day and a half. To be honest though, if it were intended to replace (some of) Rebels I don’t think it’d do it justice. There are other projects tackling Rebels, and frankly if you’re wanting an edit of Rebels you really need the context of at least 60% of the whole show, which is either many movies, or a TV edit like g00b’s. You’d need all the Mandalorian and Thrawn stuff, and a lot of the earlier content which sets up the later stuff. I think in this incarnation it’s a powerfully told refresher on Ahsoka’s (entire) Rebels story, with a load of nice callbacks that conclude TCW:R nicely (including its heightened spiritual focus), with good focus on the key elements in that era that the Kenobi show also explored - Inquisitors, Anakin/Vader, Sidious’ plans, and the fallout of the fall of the Republic and rise of the Empire.

RELEASED - S05E06 - Fulcrum of the Force (V1.0)

SPOILER WARNING:

This ‘episode’ contains MAJOR SPOILERS for Star Wars: Rebels!
It is intended as a RECAP in advance of the Ahsoka show, for people who have already watched Rebels.

• SORT-OF RELEASE VERSION. I might refine this based on feedback, but it’s complete and well polished. Perfectly viewable.
• A new optional movie-length aftermath to TCW:R, set during the Rebellion, numbered as season five episode six.
• (Note: This pushes the Maul coda to become s05e07 now.)
• Comprising the original REBELS episodes The Siege of Lothal, Future of the Force, Shroud of Darkness, The Mystery of Chopper Base, Twilight of the Apprentice, and World Between Worlds.
• Running 1 hour 45 minutes.
• DOWNLOAD LINK is in the tracker spreadsheet, PM me for access.
• Note: It’s recommended that you download this before watching, rather than streaming it directly from Google Drive.

This movie-length episode is the complete story of Ahsoka from Star Wars: Rebels. I’ve skipped only a little of her content (where she’s just around, or helping recruit Rex), but all of her relevant character development between Clone Wars and the Mandalorian/Filoniverse-era is here. In particular, we focus on her discovery of Anakin’s fate, and her struggles with that information.

SPOILER WARNING: In order to tell Ahsoka’s full story, I also included the ‘flashbacks’ to her season two storyline featured in the season four episode World Between Worlds. These also include major spoilers to a key Rebels plotline.

Either way, I did this because I wanted to tell the complete Ahsoka story from Rebels, because it’s really fun and powerful to consume it in this way. That makes this a little unique, and because of that uniqueness and the other related spoilers, I would not recommend this for a first-time viewer. People who’ve already seen Rebels would probably have a blast with it though - I think it’s a worthwhile story told in an intresting way.

I haven’t really deviated from canon, but in amalgamating episodes from across a whole season into a full standalone narrative a few scenes are now recontextualised as referring to other events, and many events in this timeframe are skipped. It’s a focused recap!

Anyway, I also included as many relevant scenes as I could relating to the events of the Clone Wars, including a few great lines of dialogue (that really hit well when in focus like this) and a lot of Inquisitor content (especially the one where they’re pursuing force-sensitive kids). I didn’t include a couple of notable TCW-related episodes - Always Two There Are (which is set on an old Clone-Wars-era medical station) and The Last Battle (which features a lost droid army) because they don’t feature Ahsoka. Also notably, I’m not including the episodes where Rex joins the crew, or where he and Kanan reminisce, because they’re not Ahsoka focused.

Noteworthy changes:

MAJOR SPOILERS BELOW

I also recommend you don’t read this - just go in blind and let it do its thing!

• This episode is dressed up as an episode of TCW:R, but once I’m sure it’s finalised, if there’s popular demand, I might take away my conventions and use the more classic Star Wars style.
• This episode is titled ‘Fulcrum of the Force’, after both Ahsoka’s codename and the World Between Worlds. Anakin and Ezra are also arguably fulcrums (points about which many things rotate, and which with enough force can cause great shifts), and are this movie’s other main characters.
• We cold open on Ezra entering the World Between Worlds. Lovely, moody introduction to the story, with lots of great dialogue from across the franchise (including the very first line focusing on children) and what appears to be a bookend structure. Without context, this could just be a force vision or something. Ezra even asks “why are you showing me this?”, which is cute. He sees Ahsoka facing Vader, and screams “No!” before-
• The opening crawl positions us during the reign of the Empire, and gives context on Phoenix Squadron, Kanan and Ezra, Ahsoka and Rex, and Vader and his Inquisitors. Rex is already with the rebellion (so we can skip his introduction, assuming he and Ahsoka stayed in contact after Revenge of the Sith) and is searching for a new rebel base (so we can trim that content), and Vader is closing in on Phoenix Squadron, allowing us to open on-
• From the very end of The Siege of Lothal, a trimmed high-intensity action scene of Vader attacking Phoenix Squadron. The Ghost crew (and Ahsoka) get in their ship, fight Vader, and Ahsoka and Vader sense each other. Phoenix Squadron lick their wounds, and Vader and the Emperor talk about hunting down the remaining Jedi.
• From Future of the Force, pretty much the full episode. The Inquisitors capture a force sensitive kid, and in researching Vader, Ahsoka catches wind of it. The rebels move to rescue the kid, and Ahsoka fights off the Inquisitors. I’ve removed the Inquisitors getting the Garel clue, since in this plot the rebels are already seeking a new base (and the Inuisitors magically track them to Lothal in the original anyway).
• From Shroud of Darkness, we skip the early fight with the Inquisitors (which in the original only serves to remind us they exist), going straight to Ahsoka and Kanan deciding that to fight them they need Yoda’s advice. Onward to the remainder of this episode, with Yoda giving the Malachor clue, Ezra meeting Yoda in a place that looks a lot like the World Between Worlds, and Ahsoka getting a vision of Anakin which confirms his identity.
• A five-minute breather takes us to The Mystery of Chopper Base, where we meet Rex and he introduces the base. I’ve reordered the scenes I’ve used here to make it clear that they’re just here for a breather before heading off to Malachor - Kanan and Ezra are wrapped up in last-minute training, Kanan and Hera talk about Kanan leaving, Ezra says goodbye to Zeb, and Ahsoka tells Ezra it’s time to go. I cut all the rest of the episode, including the spiders. Closing shot on Morai, then we iris wipe to-
• From Twilight of the Apprentice, we’re now on the way to Malachor. The whole two-parter plays out in full, with all the Maul/Ezra/Inquisitor/Kanan/Vader/Ahsoka stuff, with two major changes:
• Firstly, I’ve minimised as much as possible of those bloody ridiculous helicopter lightsabers. This was a challenge, but I think I’ve pulled it off, with most of it turning into just large leaps, and the one really obvious one (where the Inquisitor dies in helicopter mode) happening offscreen (after he’s cornered we cut away to Ezra who hears the scream).
• Secondly, I’ve put in the ‘flashbacks’ from World Between Worlds into their proper place in the timeline. This begins with a little intercutting, extending out the Ahsoka-Vader fight while Kanan and Ezra fly away. Future Ezra rescues Ahsoka into the WBW (where we saw him without context in the cold open), then we see the immediate conclusion of present-Ezra and Kanan leaving and the temple exploding, before waking Ahsoka in the WBW.
• I didn’t show any of Ezra watching Ahsoka vs Vader from his perspective, though I could have, but I think it would have left the viewer confused. It’s still very clear what’s happened, as Ahsoka ends up in that same space Future Ezra began in. Having more of his perspective in that moment would have taken away from the real drama in the present, I think. The device I ended up using, of Ezra watching events via the cold open, only to reveal he’s actually able to interact (at the point where a viewer has nearly forgotten that cold open) I think is the most elegant, and also suprising and fun.
• Ahsoka and Ezra then explore the WBW, with the majority of content present, though I trimmed most references to Ezra’s future timeline experiences - we need to know that Kanan died, but we don’t need the links to DUME the wolf, or what’s going on on the other side of the portal. They still see Kanan die (Ahsoka gets some important characterisation here), and of course encounter Palpatine. The only context Ahsoka gets from this is what Ezra tells her - we never see the other side. I reordered the escapes (now Ezra gets out first, so we can linger on Ahsoka after), and then it’s back to the present for all those lovely conclusions set to lovely music, to wrap it all up.
• As a note, this also gives us the remaining missing context to set up the Maul/Obi-Wan coda, since the holocron gained here is what leads Ezra to Obi-Wan (with Maul pursuing).

This episode was a whole lot of fun to produce, and if it’s what you’re looking for I think you’ll really enjoy it.

Oh, and forget what I said about needing to ask for a link to the workprint - I’ve put it in the spreadsheet.

TDS91939 said:

Is it alright if I get a PM link to this project?

Sorry, I missed this. PM me and I’ll send you the link.

Are you sure? I’ve just checked my rendered file and it looks fine to me.

You are a maniac.

Hal 9000 said:

You are a maniac.

Expand on that!

Every time I turn around you’re expanding this project and turning out new material like it’s nothing!

Haha! 😎 Sometimes the vibe just grabs you, y’know?

Ohhh damn I’d better check, thanks!

Just checked back after a little bit and I’m a bit bummed that Tales of the Clone Wars has been bumped, and a little confused as to where your list has its potential alternate placement minus the FoD content. Since the 03 CW scenes involve Barris being knighted and that can’t happen before season 2. So is that just a placeholder number (s2e00)?

Hey Del, great to have you back!

It’s not been bumped, it just needs a new version minus FoD (since FoD is in Dreams of Destiny now). It’s a lower priority for work compared to some other episodes though. You’re right about the placement though, it should be s03e00b - I’ve updated it.

In other news, I’ve noticed an audio error in Retribution (AKA Massacre), and will fix that and add radio effect to Dooku soon. The next proper episode to come out will be the Younglings arc, but this may be a little while as I’ll be away from my PC for a couple of weeks.

Continuing to watch through, and recently watched Retribution, and I really appreciated how you tied the Lair of Grievous episode into the Massacre episode, it helped give both more meat I think and give Grievous more menace.

Just finished Like Father, Like Clone. Excellent episode.

And that makes sense. Really glad to see the ToTJ content incorporated too, looking forward to getting to s3.

RELEASED - S04E01c - The Ancient Architect (v2.0)

• RELEASE VERSION.
• This is a BONUS episode that is NOT part of my recommended viewing order! It is for those wanting a little additional Ahsoka focus, but is not vital.
• This is numbered as episode 4C of season three - fitting between s04e01 and s04e02 if you want to watch it. (A future 4B would go before it, but that’s even less important.)
• Comprising the original episodes A Test of Strength, Bound for Rescue, and A Necessary Bond.
• Running 62 minutes.
• DOWNLOAD LINK is in the tracker spreadsheet, PM me for access.
• Note: It’s recommended that you download this before watching, rather than streaming it directly from Google Drive.

By somewhat popular request, here’s the Younglings arc, one of a few bonus ‘not quite vital’ episodes. This one continues Ahsoka’s development solo, as a teacher, and as a lightsaber combatant - though it’s technically nothing too new for her character. It does give us some competent and threatening Grievous, which is always nice to see. But mainly I decided to work on this one now because it features Huyang, who we know from the trailer will return in the Ahsoka show. We now, arguably, have all of the key Clone Wars episodes that’re relevant to the Ahsoka show included in TCW:R.

Anyway, this isn’t an amazing episode, but it’s not terrible. It features those Jedi padawans, who are fairly annoyingly childish, but ultimately OK in small doses. It’s always good to see Hondo, and the story is perfectly decent if a little light on emotional investment.

Those familiar with the source material might note the absence of the ‘Gathering’ episode. Sure, it sets up those kids more, but they are not our main characters. (Ahsoka is, and where they reflect her training they are, but otherwise, they’re very unimportant to the focus of the Clone Wars - especially since the spinoff show that was going to feature them never got made.) And the Gathering (whose only familiar character is Yoda), and what comes after (this episode), are really two different plotlines. I will, naturally, one day produce that Gathering episode for the people who really miss it, but I wouldn’t recommend it for anyone who’s really willing to put up with kid focus just to get more of a feel for how Jedi get their crystals.

Anyway, this one’s fine, and it means you’ve got maximum Ahsoka out of this show.

Noteworthy changes:

• This episode is titled ‘The Ancient Architect’. The episode doesn’t have much of a core thread to pull on for a thematic title (other than maybe something about passing on knowledge or Ahsoka being at her peak as a Jedi, but both of those felt a bit loose), and I figured, really you’re watching this for the Huyang angle, and this sounds cool.
• Regarding placement, I think it belongs here, with peak Ahsoka character maturity before her fall.
• Notably, that puts it out of order with the other Hondo/Florrum content, so I’ve used the crash of the Slave 1 to explain Hondo’s base’s damage in the Maul episode I brought forward, and the money he gains in that Maul episode to explain the repairs.
• I used the opening crawl to give us a bit of a late-game update to the state of the war, remind viewers of Ahsoka’s side role in training Jedi (which I’m trying to emphasise in this edit), to set up the Younglings’ situation in this episode, and to explain what Hondo’s been up to and is planning.
• The first episode plays out pretty much in full - I figured it’s OK to have the kids show wonder at building their lightsabers, and be a little rougher once the combat kicks off.
• The second episode plays out mostly in full - I just cut a scene where Hondo threatens captured Ahsoka (for a second time) to remove his references to kidnapping Dooku (in a horrible episode I’ve cut from TCW:R) and the uncomfortable implication Hondo makes in another line.
• I’m not a big fan of the travelling circus subplot but it’s necessary, so had to stay, and I let the kids keep their goofiness here since it’s a somewhat competent plan and reflects well on Ahsoka’s training.
• I trimmed a lot from the opening action scene in the third episode, to tighten it and remove kid goofiness.
• I also removed Dooku threatening Hondo by hologram - he references the cut episode again, and doesn’t deliver on his threat, so now he doesn’t appear at all, leaving Grievous as the true threat to conclude the arc.