Star Wars Rebels Season 3: 12 Best Moments

When it comes to Thrawn, there are so many moments that you could pick as being one of the best and we will mention a few of the highlights at the bottom.

Aside from his reveal in the first trailer for Season 3, his introduction in the two-part premiere episode, “Steps Into Shadows” may have been limited, but was inarguably spectacular.

In the episode, Governor Pryce requests further military assistance in their fight against the increasing Rebel threat to her system. Enter Grand Admiral Thrawn, perfectly performed by Lars Mikkelsen, who within merely a few minutes of screen-time shows that he means business, immediately taking charge over Kallus and Constantine, characters who have been in command since Season One, and grounding his character with the attributes of being analytical, strategic and intellectually brilliant.

The shot that feels ingrained on my mind is the transition from Thrawn’s initial introduction to the planet where the Rebels are headed. The transition fades between the two images, but Thrawn’s piercing eyes remain in the dark canvas of space, looking down at the planet and the arriving Rebels. It is in that single image in which you can feel the weight of Thrawn as a villain. I for one knew little about Thrawn from the Expanded Universe. Now I do.

Honourable mentions for Thrawn include him almost throttling Captain Slavin in Hera’s Heroes for speaking disrespectfully about Twi’lek Art, revealing to Yularen he knows the true identity of Fulcrum and, as discussed before, coming face to face with Bendu.