4. Season 1
Though Season 1 of Star Wars Rebels might find itself at the bottom of this list, it’s like the first step in a dance. Every story, even one as grandiose as Star Wars, must find its footing before it can soar. This season was a canvas of character introductions, setting placements, and foundation building. It was here we got our first glimpse of Ezra’s potential, Kanan’s leadership, and a look into the members of the Ghost crew and their rapport. Sure, it might not have had the intense space battles or the heart-wrenching moments we’d come to expect in later seasons, but it set the pace and rhythm for the narrative ballet that followed.
… I actually kept falling asleep every time I tried to finish an episode, and it took a lot to not give up on the series as a whole – so please know you weren’t/won’t be alone in feeling this. It does get better, as you’ll see.
Ranking it fourth out of four might seem harsh, but think of it this way: without the base layer, a cake would crumble, and without season 1, Rebels wouldn’t have had the groundwork to evolve into the masterpiece it became. In essence, season 1 was the unsung hero, the foundation stone upon which this saga was built. It was the gentle, yet necessary beginning of a story that would soon capture our hearts and imaginations.