'Star Wars Rebels' season 3 episode 21 spoilers: Grand Admiral Thrawn prevents attack from Phoenix Squadron; executive producer talks about Maul's death

The new leader in fighting off the rebellion — Grand Admiral Thrawn — will be able to anticipate an attack from the Phoenix Squadron and prevent it from happening. Meanwhile, the executive producer explains the story behind Obi-Wan and Darth Maul's standoff, which resulted in the latter's demise.

The next episode of "Star Wars Rebels" season 3 will be the first part of its two-hour season finale, and it is titled "Zero Hour: Part 1."

In this episode, Grand Admiral Thrawn will be able to prevent an attack from the Phoenix Squadron.

"In the final preparations for Phoenix Squadron's attack on Lothal, Grand Admiral Thrawn discovers their location and disrupts their plans," the episode listing on ScreenerTV reads.

Episode photos also revealed a few scenes that are bound to happen in the two-part finale of the third season of "Star Wars Rebels."

According to Screenrant, one of the photos preview Thrawn examining a tactical map, which hints that the character will reveal his tactical prowess in battle. The Ghost and two other Dornean Gunships also hint that bigger Rebel formation will be happening soon.

Another revelation from the photos is that Ezra might be recruiting Mandalorians as he was seen talking to Mon Mothma.

Meanwhile, executive producer Dave Filoni shared what happened in the battle between Obi-Wan and Maul in an interview with io9.

Maul died sooner than expected from the two characters' lightsaber battle, but according to Filoni, the length of the battle didn't matter, especially when compared to the tensions that took root during the fight.

"It really is to express the difference between the Jedi and the Sith. Which is the Jedi become selfless and the Sith remain selfish. When pressed, because Obi-Wan is protecting someone else in the end, he does fight. But because he is so true and knows who he is in that moment, you can't defeat that. So Obi-Wan is going to strike down Maul because Maul is such a broken and lost person, which I think is why in the end you see Maul being cradled by Obi-Wan," Filoni explained.

"Star Wars Rebels" season 3 airs every Saturday at 11 a.m. EDT on Disney XD.