Episode 2 – Star Wars: Visions Volume 3

Song of Four Wings wearing it Star Wars Inspiration wears its sleeves. We have a princess, an ice planet, a rebel base, an evacuation point, and a team of AT-AT walkers. Heck, we even have something reminiscent of the Death Star trenches. On the one hand, it’s a clear homage to the original trilogy. On the other hand, it’s a reminder that the destruction of Alderaan and the Battle of Hoth were far from uncommon. You don’t need a Death Star to commit genocide, the Rebels are always running from one barely habitable world to another to hide from the Empire.

While it uses familiar concepts, this episode does a good job of twisting them – the fact that the Empire doesn’t discover the Rebels and is actually just plundering the planet for its recently discovered resources is the best of them all. Then there’s the Japanese influence. We have a real woman named Princess Crane, and a little alien who makes origami cranes as a hobby. (And, to foreshadow the climax, these cranes come with two sets of wings instead of one.)

As for Crane, she’s headstrong but compassionate. She may have been born a princess, but as the sole survivor, she saw her tragedy reflected in Upas’ own tragedy. Thematically, she is a woman trying to break with the past and focus on the present. She is not a princess, but a soldier. However, through a brief adventure with Upas, she discovers that the princess and the soldier are one and the same – her past drives her forward and should not be forgotten. On the contrary, it should be cherished even more.

All of which brings us to the elephant in the room. Unlike the first episode of the season, this one seems to build on the main content Star Wars The universe – at least uses its setting and rules, if nothing else. From robots and speedsters, to snowtroopers and a YT-2400 light freighter, this episode pulls a lot of power from around the world Star Wars Canon. …and then we get Crane’s magical girl/sentai hero transformation sequence.

At first glance, this may seem ridiculous – it doesn’t qualify as “serious” at all Star Wars. However, when you think about it carefully, you will find that this is not the case. At its most basic, the Tor-Tu is literally a jetpack. These are not uncommon in the country Star Wars– We’ve seen a number of astromechs throughout the series who can fly using jet boosters. All necessary parts are there. In fact, Tor-Tu’s jetpack form is arguably more realistic than our most common form – the robot has wings for better stable flight, and it can act as artificial intelligence to help with piloting. Ultimately, how does this differ from the more modular jetpacks and armor found throughout the series?

To be honest, I have less issues with robot transforming power armor than I do with a crane wearing short sleeves in the snow. And, she really needs to remember to pull down her goggles during a fight—especially when blaster bolts and seismic bombs are exploding in the snow around her.

Finally, while this may not be the most memorable iteration Star Wars: PhantasmWith its inventive visuals and quirky cast of characters, it’s a fun little episode that’s not quite as out of the ordinary as it first appears.

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Star Wars: Visions Volume 3 Currently live broadcast
Disney+.