Oh wow. The third-to-last episode of Star Wars: The Clone Wars' final season arrived on Disney Plus on Friday, following on from final week's killer Siege of Mandalore opener. We additionally get the best title but: The Phantom Apprentice.
We final noticed ex-Padawan Ahsoka Tano (Ashley Eckstein) surrounded by dangerous Mandalorians as their chief, former Sith apprentice Maul (Sam Witwer) stepped out of the shadows, apparently disillusioned to see her as an alternative of his nemesis Obi-Wan Kenobi (James Arnold Taylor).
Along with sounding superior, the episode's title has a number of meanings. It alludes to prequel trilogy opener The Phantom Menace, the place Maul made his debut and seemingly met his end at Obi-Wan's palms. I've all the time considered Maul's grasp, Darth Sidious, because the titular Phantom Menace, however maybe it referred to the Sith as a pair?The title may additionally consult with Ahsoka and Maul, since each are apprentices who by no means accomplished their coaching. Ahsoka willingly left the Jedi and her grasp Anakin Skywalker, however Maul was changed with Depend Dooku when Sidious thought he was useless. The important thing distinction is that Anakin clearly misses Ahsoka, whereas Sidious simply doesn't give a hoot about anybody besides himself.
Now let's make a journey to SPOILER city.
Revenge of the Sith
When Maul wonders why Obi-Wan and Anakin did not come, Ahsoka tells him that they had a "extra urgent engagement" -- specifically rescuing Chancellor Palpatine (aka Darth Sidious) from Basic Grievous, as seen within the opening of Revenge of the Sith. This episode takes place concurrently that film.Maul begins to monologue about how Sidious is about to grab energy and wipe out the Jedi. He would not get an opportunity to elaborate earlier than Rex and a bunch of clones arrive. He is pressured to flee, leaving Ahsoka to marvel who the heck Sidious is.
She contacts Obi-Wan, who's about to be despatched to Utapau, a second that occurs about 50 minutes into Revenge of the Sith. He needs Ahsoka to seize Maul so the Jedi Council can study extra about Sidious, however I really feel like Maul is approach too highly effective to stay a captive for lengthy; foolish Jedi!
He additionally asks Ahsoka to name Anakin, since her former grasp's in a huff concerning the Jedi Council tasking him with spying on the obviously-evil Palpatine. Sadly, Rex interrupts to let Ahsoka know that dastardly Maul has struck once more and he or she by no means will get an opportunity to contact Anakin.
Whoops. It is fairly miserable to assume how in another way issues may've gone for the galaxy if she'd made that decision.
Plans inside plans
It seems Maul is being motivated by a Pressure-induced imaginative and prescient about Sidious taking up the galaxy, prompting him to order the lieutenants in his Shadow Collective prison empire to enter hiding. He needs to journey out the chaos and seize no matter energy is offered within the new order.His visions additionally revealed that Sidious has lengthy "groomed" Anakin to grow to be his new apprentice -- a key a part of the plan. He orchestrated the Siege of Mandalore to lure Anakin and Obi-Wan there, so he may kill Anakin and "deprive Sidious of his prized pupil."
He asks Ahsoka to affix him to allow them to cease Sidious and (mind-blowingly) she initially says sure. However the point out of Anakin turning to the darkish aspect places her off the concept. She will be able to't consider the respectable man who skilled her could be swayed. So she and Maul do the one factor they will: They've a fully unbelievable lightsaber duel.
"You are fortunate Anakin did not present up," says Ahsoka. "The way in which you are preventing, you would not have lasted lengthy."
It is smack discuss, however she's completely proper. Anakin would've slaughtered Maul as he did Count Dooku. Ahsoka finally saves Maul from a deadly fall, and the clones seize him.
"You are all going to burn, we're all going to die!" Maul screams earlier than being shocked by the clones. Intense, however applicable.
Mando battle
Ahsoka and Maul's duel is not the episode's solely epic second. Gar Saxon (wearer of the best Mandalorian armor ever and performed by Ray Stevenson) throws down with Bo-Katan Kryze (Katee Sackhoff) in an elevator shaft earlier than escaping. Ultimately, he and the remainder of his Maul-supporting Mandos, whom Maul was about to desert, are defeated by the mixed may of Bo-Katan's forces and the clones.Within the latter a part of the episode, there is a fixed stress as a result of we all know Order 66 is coming, forcing the clones to activate Ahsoka. How will Bo-Katan and her Mando buddies react to this betrayal? Presumably they will not be focused by the clones, nevertheless it's seemingly the Republic forces will refuse to finish their occupation of Mandalore as soon as they've formally grow to be the Galactic Empire.
We'll discover out subsequent Friday, Might 1, when the second-to-last episode of the present involves Disney Plus. You will not have lengthy to attend till the finale both; that is coming Monday, Might 4.
Easter eggs and observations
- It is clear Maul is aware of a few of Sidious' grand plan, however not all the main points. It looks like he is piecing issues collectively based mostly on what he knew earlier than his defeat in The Phantom Menace and what he noticed in his Pressure imaginative and prescient.
- Maul pulls details about Ahsoka from the thoughts of captive clone Jesse utilizing the Pressure, a transfer Kylo Ren will pull on Rey in The Pressure Awakens.
- The previous Sith makes a reference to Saxon and Rook Kast (Vanessa Marshall) liberating him from imprisonment by Sidious and Dooku. That occurred within the 2014 Son of Dathomir comic series.
- Among the many Shadow Collective lieutenants Maul orders into hiding is Solo villain Dryden Vos, the chief of Crimson Daybreak. He would not say something, nevertheless it's superior to see him in animation.
- The shot after the window smashes within the throne room, inflicting glass and embers to waft by Ahsoka as she contemplates Maul's supply, gave me chills.
- Ray Park, who performed Maul in The Phantom Menace and Solo, did motion capture for the Ahsoka-Maul duel, and it reveals. His strikes are tremendous fluid and a pleasure to observe. Ahsoka's motion was carried out by Lauren Mary Kim, who did stunts for The Mandalorian and numerous different motion pictures and reveals.
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