'Star Wars Rebels' Season 4, Episodes 5 and 6 Recap: Saving Lothal and Warning of a Wolf [SPOILERS]

The Ghost Crew is taking on one last mission before the season 4 mid-season break. The series is coming to a close as it is tying loose ends with the other “Star Wars” films. Young Padawan Ezra has been trying to save his planet Lothal and finally, he has the chance. But Lothal is on complete lockdown of the Empire. Unlike other episodes of the series, they went back to their serialized format. “Star Wars Rebels” Part 5, titled “The Occupation,” focuses on the team landing on Lothal and getting information about a new Imperial threat. Meanwhile, Part 6, titled “Flight of the Defender,” the crew steals an upgraded TIE Defender.

‘Star Wars Rebels’ Comes Back To Lothal

After their dangerous mission with the Kyber crystals, they arrive at Homebase. They are summoned by Mon Mothma to view a holographic recording from Loth. Ryder Azadi, the leader of the rebel cell on Lothal, starts to reveal intel about an upgraded version of the Empire’s TIE Defender. But his transmission was cut short. Knowing the dangers of the defenders, Mothma sends the Ghost Crew to Lothal.

Since the planet is on Imperial Lockdown, the team has to find a way to infiltrate the planet. The Ghost Crew meets the Broken Horn, a ship owned by Cikatro Vizago. They team up with a Lothal Crime Lord to find a way to enter Lothal without getting arrested. As payment for helping them, Ezra reveals several cages full of puffer pigs. Surprisingly, they are worth a tiny fortune in the trade market.
Before arriving at Lothal, the crew put on disguises to look more like typical Lothalians. Once landing on the planet, Ezra is shocked about the state of his home planet. The Empire’s harsh industrialization process has polluted his once beautiful and clean home.  But before the Ghost Crew leave for their mission, a Stormtrooper searches the ship. As a distraction, they use the pigs, and Ezra and his team were able to leave the ship undetected by the Empire.

The Ghost Crew Gets Rescued By A Few Old Friends

Once out of sight, the Ghost Crew decides to split up to cover more ground. Ezra and Sabine are out to check out Old Jho’s Pit Stop, thinking the cantina’s owner has information about Ryder. Meanwhile Kanan, Hera, and Seb secure transport.
Ezra notes that the Old Jho’s Pit was a safe haven for those running from the Empire. But things have changed since their first mission in Lotha. After running away from a Stormtrooper checking IDs, the two enter the cantina to avoid being recognized. But it looks like their safe haven is no longer what it used to be. It’s now full of troopers and Baron Valen Rudor working behind the bar. He informs the two Jho was arrested and the cantina is under Imperial management. Unrecognized by the bartender, Ezra and Sabine try to escape the bar but forget to pay for their drinks. Rudor calls Troopers to force them to pay until another teenager intervenes.

Ezra recognizes their savior as Jai Kell, a former cadet from the Imperial Academy. Together they find the other Ghost crew members and make a run for it. Hera, Kanan, and Zeb arrive in a stolen speeder but were blocked by two Imperial “Occupier” combat assault tanks. The cantina was no hiding place either so the team retreated to the sewers.
Jai informs Ezra and his crew the tunnels lead to the main junction sewer out of town. Sabine notices her symbol on the walls left by Ryder. With Troopers right behind them, we are treated to an aesthetic chase sequence with lightsabers and the crew trying to fight off Troopers. Ryder has arrived in the nick of time and they escape in his U-Wing.

Stealing TIE Defenders And Saved By Myths

Ezra informs Ryder that they can’t destroy the new TIE defender since the Rebel Alliance won’t be able to send in back up due to the lockdown. Disappointed, they opt for a plan B. They went to where the new defender was stationed and took a look at the new TIE Defender from a distance. When they witnessed how fast and deadly the new TIE Defender was, they realized none of their ships would keep up with it, much less fight it.
The Ghost Crew and Ryder were able to take pictures of the imposing threat so they could send it back to Home Base. However, Sabine has a different but dangerous plan in mind. She suggested they get the TIE data recorder. Knowing the risks, Sabine and Ezra steal the upgraded TIE Defender. But after stealing their new weapon, they were tracked down by Imperial soldiers. Ezra and Sabine were forced to crash land the Defender and travel on foot. Suddenly, a Loth-Wolf appeared a mystical and extinct animal of Lothal. Immediately, Ezra feels connected to this wolf. He offers him and Sabine help to return to Ryder’s Rebel base.
But the wolf started growling at Sabine to “Sleep,” and she instantly passes out. Unsure about their connection and why he was the only one the wolf trusts. This can imply Loth Wolves are force-sensitive and explains Ezra’s strong connection with it. The wolf was able to take them back to Ryder’s rebel base without being detected—like any magical force-reeling wolf can. When they arrive, Ezra asks the wolf why it helped them. The Loth-Wolf’s response is just to ominously growl, “Doom,” before disappearing. What’s the doom? What will happen? The mid-season left us one with unanswered question fans would have to agonizingly wait for.