10 Best Star Wars Rebels Episodes

Trials of the Darksaber focuses on Sabine's training with the titular weapon. She works with Kanan, who is not a great teacher for her. He insists on going at a slow pace, starting off with wooden sticks rather than lightsabers, so Sabine grows frustrated with his condescension and lashes out, insulting him.

After a talk with Hera, Kanan switches gears to fit Sabine's needs, allowing her to finally spar with him with real weapons, and she opens up to him about her past as she holds her own with the Darksaber.

This is the first time we learn much about Sabine's life before the Rebellion. She worked on a weapon that the Empire used to enslave her Mandalorian people, and she blames herself for her homeworld's fall. She also opens up about how, when she renounced the Empire's cruelty, her family stood by the Empire instead of her. As she falls to the ground crying, Kanan tells her that this family will follow her.

Star Wars Rebels is at its best when it follows its characters' relationships more than the Rebellion. What differentiates it from Clone Wars is the more traditional narrative structure, as opposed to the anthology style of Clone Wars, it allows the audience to see the characters grow together and care for each other.

Since Trials of the Darksaber features no villains, schemes, or explosions - only training and development - it focuses exclusively on how much these Rebels care for each other, and the result is the single best episode in the entire series.