Here's why the Grand Inquisitor killed himself in Star Wars Rebels. The Disney XD series was Lucasfilm's second animated series following Star Wars: The Clone Wars. It introduced fans to a new band of freedom fighters who has a small operation but has a significant impact on establishing the bigger Rebellion. Known as the Ghost Crew, the team is composed of Kanan, Ezra, Hera, Sabine, Zeb, and Chopper.
Over the years, the team dealt with various threats in and around Lothal. While they mainly functioned on their own, they had some encounters with familiar Star Wars characters such as Saw Gerrera, Princess Leia, and Mon Mothma. This put them under the scrutiny of the evil Galactic Empire, especially with two Force-sensitive members in Kanan and Ezra. Acknowledging the threat the Ghost Crew posed as they continued to fend off Imperial activities in Lothal, the Grand Inquisitor, who was originally tasked by Darth Vader to hunt down all the Jedi who survived Order 66, zeroed in on Kanan after he revealed himself upon rescuing a group of Wookies who were enslaved in Kessel.
Star Wars Rebels Series Finale And Ghost Crew Fate Explained
The Grand Inquisitor arguably was Star Wars Rebels season 1's overall villain. He had multiple encounters with the team throughout several episodes. Originally a male Jedi Knight, the Pau'an ultimately turned to the dark side of the Force, becoming the leader of the Inquisitorious — a group of Jedi hunters who served the Empire. The Grand Inquisitor was also directly involved in Ahsoka Tano's plight in The Clone Wars, being the Jedi Temple Guard to arrest the wrongfully-convicted Jedi. Given his rich backstory and interesting dynamic with Darth Vader, many were surprised that he was killed early on in the animated series. That said, his death was unique on its own as he chose to kill himself instead.
With Kanan captured by the Grand Inquisitor and in Imperial custody, the Ghost Crew comes up with a plan to save him in Star Wars Rebels season 1, episode 15 titled "Fire Across the Galaxy." Ezra and the team successfully located Kanan, but just as they're about to get away, they encounter the Grand Inquisitor. Wanting to keep his team safe, Kanan asked for Ezra's lightsaber as he told him to go ahead as he fought the Grand Inquisitor. Unlike their previous encounters, Kanan ended up as the winner as he fought the former Jedi at the edge of the platform; he eventually lost balance and dangled from the ledge.
Instead of ending his adversary, however, Kanan decided to spare him until the Grand Inquisitor let go of his grip, down the enflamed reactor meeting his death. Before he fell, he told Kanan that there are things more frightening than death — at this point, he was referring to Darth Vader. Ultimately, he decided to kill himself than having to face the wrath of the Sith Lord after failing him so many times, the latest and potentially biggest disappointment of them all is having Kanan escape when they finally got him.
The death of the Grand Inquisitor ties into the eventual involvement of Darth Vader. After the failure of his subordinate, Emperor Palpatine sent his right-hand man instead to personally the matter, especially with the Ghost Crew proving to be much more difficult to contain than initially perceived. The Grand Inquisitor was mentioned a handful more times in later seasons of Star Wars Rebels, however.