Ezra Bridger’s second lightsaber in Star Wars Rebels was significantly different from his first, as it changed from unique to more traditional. One of the so-called “Children of the Force” born during the Dark Times of the Empire’s reign, Ezra Bridger was trained as a Padawan by Kanan Jarrus. He eventually became a gifted Jedi, his distinctive Force powers growing over time.
Ezra’s first lightsaber broke Jedi tradition, because it combined a lightsaber with a blaster – a utilitarian hilt that contained a firing mechanism allowing him to shoot stunt blasts at his enemies. Ezra’s second lightsaber had a much more familiar shape, with a black grip and silver accents. Lightsabers are a key part of a Jedi’s identity, and this was no different for Ezra.
Ezra’s Second Lightsaber Symbolized His Progression As A Jedi
Ezra’s first lightsaber represented his hesitancy to join Star Wars Rebels’ Ghost Crew fully and embrace his new role as a Jedi. The stun blast feature provided an alternative to the lightsaber, reminiscent of the slingshot he’d used on the streets. Ezra mostly used the blaster when he felt out of his depth, falling back on his basic skills rather than the ones Kanan was teaching him. This lightsaber represented his difficulty letting go of his past, while its replacement indicated he’d accepted that his parents were gone, that he had a new family, and that he’d become a Jedi.
That change in Ezra Bridger’s character was reflected in the way the audience witnessed him using his second lightsaber for the first time in Star Wars Rebels season 3, episode 1. Ezra’s prowess with the Jedi weapon had grown exponentially, there was no hesitation on his part, his movements were fluid, and he was in total control of the blade. The shift to a green lightsaber symbolized Ezra’s changing attitude as well; green lightsabers are closely associated with helpfulness, cooperation, and demonstrable goodwill, things Ezra possessed in spades.
Ezra Bridger’s Third Lightsaber Honored Kanan Jarrus
The end of Star Wars Rebels season 4 saw Ezra disappear with Grand Admiral Thrawn, spirited to the extragalactic planet of Peridea by a flock of purrgil. Ezra returned in Ahsoka (now played in live-action by Eman Esfandi), and he built a new lightsaber. According to the lightsaber droid Huyang, this was very similar to the lightsaber of his mentor, Kanan.
The new lightsaber symbolically completed Ezra’s journey, confirming he had become the Jedi that Kanan always believed he was destined to be. Now, he wielded the blue of a Jedi Guardian, dedicating himself to protecting entire galaxies from the threat of the dark side. Ezra’s three lightsabers thus represent his entire character arc in Star Wars Rebels and beyond.
Ezra Bridger
Hailing from the planet Lothal, Ezra Bridger’s Force potential was discovered by Order 66 survivor Kanan Jarrus. Ezra became Kanan’s apprentice, working as a key asset in the Lothal rebel cell. He sacrificed himself in a desperate gambit to defeat Grand Admiral Thrawn, becoming stranded for years in a distant galaxy on the planet Peridea. Ezra has now returned, thanks to the efforts of his friend Sabine Wren.
- Cast
- Taylor Gray , Eman Esfandi
- Alliance
- Rebel Alliance, Jedi