– Spoiler Review –
While Star Wars Resistance‘s latest episode title, “The First Order Occupation,” leaves little to the imagination, there’s plenty hiding within the episode itself…I’m looking at you, little janitor.
If the title of the episode didn’t quite give it away, the First Order has begun its occupation of Colossus, first putting stormtrooper boots on the ground and installing themselves within the security system of the station. But they aren’t only there to be security, they’re actively looking for a pirate spy in an effort to tie up the loose end Synara San represents, while they’ve connected Kaz to her in some capacity and thus have their suspicions about him as well. What I found most interesting about the FO’s presence on the platform, and it’s something I wished the episode spent a little more time with, was how most of the citizens of the Colossus welcome the FO aboard. To them, after the FO’s “heroics” saving the station from pirates/returning Captain Doza’s daughter Torra home safely, the FO seem like saviors in some regards, and are more a symbol of security than fear and oppression. While the Empire had the easier task of simply taking over what was already under the Republic, branding itself as a unified, peaceful continuation of the previous government, the First Order hasn’t had such luxury and has had to come up with creative ways to win over populations and support. Of course there’s the sympathetic Imperials who look at it as a resurgence of their fallen Empire, but what of the backwater planets and worlds which have largely not felt the push and pull of galactic wars, eking out a life on the edge of known space, no matter who is in charge? From what The Last Jedi novelization teased about Snoke’s hand in building up the goodwill of the First Order in the eyes of planets in the Unknown/Wild Space Regions, himself already biding his time out there, it’s no surprise they have been able to sneak their way across parts of the galaxy usually ignored, no matter the good intentions of the New Republic in the outset of their rule or their eventual complacency in peace-time. At least in Resistance here, we’re getting to see one of the ways they’ve managed to sneak their way into a society before they tear it down for their own gain, and while I understand that can’t be the complete focus, I’m happy we’ve got what little we have of it in this series.
Whereas the previous episode left Kaz basically as a viewer of the unfolding plot, “Occupation” not only brings him back as an important player to events, but he and Synara share an equal stake in her escape this episode. Kaz is outraged at the FO’s occupation, urging Yeager to get a message out to Poe and the Resistance proper, but considering this isn’t Yeager’s first rodeo, he manages to calm Kaz down and make him understand how sending out a message now would put unnecessary scrutiny on them. Not like Kaz’s actions haven’t already done so however, as the FO is suspicious of him due to security footage showing him and Synara together, who happens to be their target for the pirate spy aboard the station. Despite Yeager’s continued warnings, Kaz rushes out to help her, considering he knows her secret thanks to the events of “The Doza Dilemma,” one he’s kept due to her actions in helping him save the day/save Torra anyways…and because he has a bit of a crush on her. Synara takes Kaz knowing her secret in stride when he eventually comes to help her escape the station, but it’s very clear their isn’t a romantic interest both ways, something I’m happy with as I’d like the show to end with them just friends, something I was glad Rebels avoiding with Ezra and Sabine (though who knows how that’ll go when they see each other again…if ever). While I wasn’t against the focus on Synara last episode, I’m happy Kaz got to have a little more agency this episode AND that it came at no expense to Synara’s own, as Kaz smugglers her to a cargo ship (heading to Takodana!!) but an alarm goes off and he and BB-8 act as a distraction, and then Synara comes to rescue them from pursuing stormtroopers. And while Kaz thinks of Neeku for help (that took me by surprise), it’s Synara who gets him to start helping them, and then together they get to the underwater escape pods. Their goodbye isn’t sappy, and it’s short, but it shows Kaz understands the gray-area of life, where it’s not just Resistance and First Order for everyone, as it can be more complicated than that, while Synara tells him how much being with them has changed her point of view on living for more than just money/what Kragan and the pirates tell her to want.
Synara’s contemplative goodbye makes me very curious to see what she does next, as she seems to consider the Colossus more of a home than Kragan and the pirates, though she returns to them for now due to the safety they offer compared to staying on the station and risking the lives of her new friends. This is definitely not the last we’ll see of her or Kragan’s pirates, but I wonder how her new perspective will change her relationship with the pirates at large, and if Kragan will find someway to take advantage of it to get revenge on the First Order. Or could she turn his heart, focusing his anger against the FO to help him see how he could as easily be the one who is loved by the station, and control it…or just see they could have a mutually beneficial co-existence against a much bigger and deadlier threat. No matter what it is, the return of Synara and the pirates is one I will watch for with great interest!
Here are a few other things:
- I have to say, I was enjoying the little background funnies with the Frigosian janitor and the First Order stormtroopers taking away his scrubber (one was played by Dave Filoni, of course), but they took it next level with an amazing, hilarious payoff during Kaz and Synara’s awkwardly silent elevator scene. Bravo, Resistance team, bravo.
- In “Bibo,” I theorized the giant monster rokkna could very well be important to the finale, especially in regards to how it could come to the aide of the good guys like most monsters do, but that was based off remaining footage of the creature seen in the mid-season trailer which has now been seen this episode. I still bet the rokkna will be important, much like I imagine Synara and the pirates will be, but I have a bigger (pun intended) question: was the rokkna seen this episode little Bibo already grown up!? Or just mama Bibo??
- One thing this episode made me wonder: considering Synara’s pod was the last, how does one get more escape pods? Most times ships get taken/blown up so there usually isn’t any need for more escape pods, so I’d wager repeat customers are very rare, so could they be quite expensive? Will the lack of pods be a major detriment to the heroes in the finale? Or are their more once we see the station rise out of the water, as teased in the mid-season trailer as well? Or am I just asking too many questions?
- As far as I noticed, Mary Elizabeth McGlynn was credited as Voice Director in the credits for the first time this episode, making me wonder what prompted it to be shown this particular episode and if she’s been doing it all along on the show.
- The season one finale drops March 17, just a little less then a month before Star Wars Celebration Chicago, so I wouldn’t be surprised if, like with Rebels before it, those in attendance (hopefully yours truly) will get to see the season two premiere before it comes to TV later this year!
Star Wars Resistance‘s “The First Order Occupation” continues dealing with Synara’s duplicitous life in a nuanced way without overstaying the plotline’s welcome.
+ Synara’s goodbye…for now
+ Snapshot of the First Order’s widening grasp of backwater planets
– Wishing we spent a little more time with how the denizens of the station feel about FO takeover
Ryan is Mynock Manor’s Head Butler. You can follow him on Twitter @BrushYourTeeth. You can follow the website @MynockManor.
STAR WARS RESISTANCE REVIEWS:
Season One – Ep. 1.1/1.2: “The Recruit” | Ep. 1.3: “The Triple Dark” | Ep. 1.4 “Fuel for the Fire” | Ep. 1.5: “The High Tower” | Ep. 1.6: “The Children From Tehar” | Ep. 1.7: “Signal From Sector Six” | Ep. 1.8: “Synara’s Score” | Ep. 1.9: “The Platform Classic” | Ep. 1.10: “Secrets and Holograms” | Ep. 1.11: “Station Theta-Black” | Ep. 1.12: “Bibo” | Ep. 1.13 “Dangerous Business” | Ep. 1.14: “The Doza Dilemma” | Ep. 1.16: “The New Trooper” | Ep. 1.17: “The Core Problem” | Ep. 1.18: “The Disappeared” | Ep. 1.19: “Descent” | Ep. 1.20: “No Escape” – Part One | Ep. 1.21: “No Escape” – Part Two