When last we met our intrepid hero, Kaz, he was demonstrating his eagerness to be a spy and his resistance (see what I did there?) to learning the trade of his cover identity.
The latest episode, Fuel for the Fire, finds Kaz still straining against the expectation that he work competently as a mechanic. He’s still obsessed with racing and intent on spying, but this week, we also see that he’s hungry for friendship.
When Jace Rucklin and his team enter Kaz’s life, his unquestioning acceptance of them speaks volumes about his character. Just as when Poe Dameron extended the offer of work for the Resistance, Kaz jumps into this friendship with both feet. He’s barely known the lad for five minutes when he follows Rucklin into the bowels of the Colossus (a means of getting about that I wonder if we’ll see more tactical use of later on) and onto a swoop bike that almost kills him.
It’s clear that Kaz believes the best of people. Not for a moment does he suspect the truth: that Rucklin set up that swoop bike to fail at high speed over water so he could stage a rescue and win Kaz’s trust. When Rucklin asks to pretty please get into Yeager’s private hangar just to look at the storied racing craft he is sure must be berthed inside, Kaz can’t even fathom an ulterior motive.
Kaz’s naivete and his desire to see the good in others shines through as both a blessing and a curse in this episode. Even after it’s become clear that Rucklin used him to steal volatile hyperfuel from Yeager, Kaz still goes out of his way to try and stop his friend from blowing himself up. It’s only after he’s successful that Rucklin shows Kaz his true colors—blaming Kaz for the loss of his ship (that would have blown up in that moment whether he was aboard or not!). Kaz thought he’d made a friend, but instead may have just made his very first personal enemy. I’ll be interested to see how this relationship develops going forward.
It’s not lost on Yeager that Kaz is a good guy, and was a good friend to Rucklin. He even comes to Kaz’s defense when Tam is at her wit’s end—reminding her that she was given a chance once, so she should give Kaz one (I would very much like this backstory in comic book form, please). At the end of the episode, Yeager even goes out of his way to tell Kaz he appreciates him—that he’s good at being a person, even though he’s a lousy mechanic, and “a questionable spy at best”.
And speaking of Yeager! The tidbits of insight into his character were a highlight of this episode for me. Kaz and Rucklin’s sortie into his office showed us bits of Yeager’s past that have me clamoring for more. Between a wall full of racing trophies, and holos featuring his past as a rebellion fighter pilot and loving family, we get our first glimpse at Yeager’s inner life. “Fuel for the Fire” begins to scratch the surface of this deep and complex character, and I am very much looking forward to learning more as the series unfolds.
This week we got a glimpse behind the curtain that is Yeager’s stern exterior, Kaz got some appreciation for his best qualities, BB-8 got to save the day a little bit (anyone else here convinced BB-8 is the real spy?), and the Colossus got a new rivalry. Sounds about right for this point in the series.
Threads are being woven, facts entered into evidence, and bread crumbs sprinkles liberally. I’m excited for what’s next!
