Star Wars The Clone Wars
You have maybe heard of a little show that launched when Disney+ launched called "The Mandalorian." I know it's kind of niche and a lot of people haven't heard of it, but if you're reading this, you probably enjoy it because this is a post about "Star Wars." You're in luck, because the three episodes that we are covering today all feature Mandalore. I'm joking. Of course, you've heard of the Emmy nominated, Grogu pimping sensation. But even, if you hadn't seen "The Mandalorian," you'd still enjoy these episodes.
"The Mandalore Plot," Season Two, Episode 12
"If you ignore the past, you jeopardize the future."
Narrator: "Diplomacy or deception? The Council of Neutral Systems speaks for over 1,500 worlds who want to stay out of the war. But rumors have reached the Republic Senate suggesting that the Council's new leader, Duchess Satine of Mandalore, is secretly building her own army to fight for the Separatist cause! Now, Jedi Master Obi-Wan Kenobi has been sent to Mandalore to discover the truth behind these claims..."
Once on Mandalore, Obi-Wan meets with the Duchess Satine, a woman he shares history with. Satine assures Obi-Wan that Mandalore has given up their war mongering ways and the people trying to align with the Separatists are a small splinter group called Death Watch. Satine wants to handle this without Republic intervention in order to keep Mandalore's neutrality, but Obi-Wan isn't convinced, especially after a Death Watch attack almost takes them both out. Will a visit to Mandalore's moon, Concordia, and their supposedly closed factories soothe the Jedi's mind or just reinforce his non pacifist position?
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| Darksaber baby. |
I know I was joking around about "The Mandalorian" in the intro to this post, but really. If you love "The Mandalorian" and have never watched the episodes of "The Clone Wars" that deal with Mandalore, you should. "The Mandalorian" does a great job of giving you enough information to be be able to just watch it and enjoy, but these episodes enrich it so much. There is amazing backstory here that is really worth your time and investment.
I'm always a fan of Obi-Wan getting a solo showcase and the spotlight. I don't feel like we've got much of that and since he is one of my favorite Star Wars characters I will take any amount of backstory for him I can get. And boy howdy, do we get a lot in these three episodes. I took an immediate shine to the Duchess Satine. There aren't many characters who can verbally spar with the snarkiest Jedi there is, but Satine does and it is a real delight. The rapport is there and just gets stronger as the episode continues. It leads to some comedy when Obi-Wan contacts Satine when he's been captured by Death Watch.
Despite the banter, there are serious stakes. "The Clone Wars" continues to not sugarcoat things when the Death Watch operative at the bombing chooses to throw himself off a building then be taken alive. It's very intense and the fact that the man doesn't die right away add a whole new level to it.
The Mandalorians prove to not be pushovers. They are more than a match for Obi-Wan and are every bit the legendary warriors that you'd expect them to be and they are played up to be in "The Mandalorian." It's not a huge surprise that the leader of Death Watch turns out to be Governor Vizsla but that doesn't make it any less impactful. Mandalorians hate the Jedi and they even have their own Jedi-like weapon. Yes, this episode marks the first appearance of the darksaber, which will only become more important to Star Wars lore.
Grade: A-
"Voyage of Temptation," Season Two, Episode 13
"Fear not for the future, weep not for the past."
Narrator: "A royal welcome! Sent to investigate allegations that Mandalore was joining Count Dooku's Separatists, Obi-Wan Kenobi was reunited with an old friend, the Duchess Satine of Kalevala. While Satine claimed Mandalore's intentions were to remain neutral during the war, an attack on the capital city led Obi-Wan to the discovery of a terrorist organization known as Death Watch. Now the Duchess travels to the Senate, so she can plead her case against her involvement in the war, as the Jedi prepare a defense against her opponents..."
Anakin and a cadre of Clone Troopers join Obi-Wan as they escort Satine and her delegation of senators to Coruscant. Despite the dangers of Death Watch and the views of some of her fellow senators, Satine is committed to her neutrality despite the Jedi delegation and the constant arguing with Obi-Wan. When a contingent of Assassin Droids is located in the hangar, placed there by one of her delegation, will Satine remain true to her pacifist philosophy?
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| We get it. You're good at killing droids. |
We have seen "The Clone Wars" tackle pacifism in a time of war and it usually ends the same way. The show typically comes down on the side of war being a necessary evil and everyone should fight, no matter what their ideals. This is really the first time we have seen legitimate pushback on that philosophy. And I'm pretty psyched that it is Satine who is really shoving back. Satine shows that her ribbing of Obi-Wan in the last episode was simply a warm up for the hardcore, grade A shade that she hits Obi-Wan with in this episode. She introduces him as a collection of half-truths and hyperbole. Reader, when I tell you I died that is not hyperbole. Ok, it totally is, but it was withering and wonderful.
Satine brings up something that I'm surprised no one ever has before when these neutrality vs war conversations come up. The Jedi are a peacekeeping organization and yet here they are leading troops into war. Obi-Wan brings up the fact that sometimes in order to keep the peace you have to go to war. Satine is quick to point out the ridiculousness of this and it is nice to finally have a character bring that up.
The episode touches more on Obi-Wan and Satine's previous relationship which Anakin quickly picks up on. Of course, the guy in the clandestine marriage is pressing his former Master on his previous romantic feelings. The difference is that Obi-Wan chose the Jedi order and ideals over love, something that Anakin refuses to do. He also has the worst timing, interrogating Obi-Wan when everything is going to shit. When Tal Merrik reveals his duplicity and is trying to goad Obi-Wan or Satine into killing him, a win/win in his book, it's Anakin that deals the killing blow. And he has zero moral compunctions about it, which is very telling.
"The Clone Wars" doesn't ever shy away from action even when the entirety of the episode takes place in a ship. These Assassin Droids are legitimately terrifying and when the smaller droids pour out, it is even scarier. Even Artoo is scared! It's good stuff.
The episode ends with some more flirtatious banter between Satine and Obi-Wan, but she is completely wrong about the beard. Obi-Wan should never shave.
Grade: A
"Duchess of Mandalore," Season Two, Episode 14
"In war, truth is the first casualty."
Narrator: "A diplomatic mission! As dissent threatens to tear apart the peaceful Mandalore system, Duchess Satine struggles to protect her people against the escalating violence. Betrayed by two of her trusted allies, Satine now travels to Coruscant. There, she hopes to convince the Senate that a destructive splinter group, Death Watch, does not represent the entire Mandalorian government."
Duchess Satine receives a rude awakening when she addresses the Senate. A holo message from her Prime Minister Jerec denouncing Satine and her neutrality and urging the Republic to have a presence on Mandalore. Satine knows something is wrong and she's correct. The holo was doctored and her Mandalorian ally, Davu Golec, provides her the undoctored holo to play for the Senate. Unfortunately, a member of Death Watch assassinates Golec and Satine is blamed. Will she able to clear her name and keep Republic forces off of Mandalore?
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| Giant Holgram Man |
"Duchess of Mandalore" is the weakest of the this three part storyline, but it is still a great episode. We get to see Palpatine's machinations here in full force. They are subtle and you wouldn't know he was puling the strings unless you were looking really closely, which is what makes him such a terrifying enemy and why he wins... at first.
Satine continues to be steadfast in her neutrality which I can't emphasize enough how much I freaking love. Even as the men around her continue to gaslight her. I particularly enjoyed the scene after she leaves Palpatine's office and Obi-Wan chases after her to try to comfort her by telling her that she's acting hysterical. He thinks she is right to be hysterical, but Satine is not having it and quickly puts Obi-Wan in his place.
This episode is a little action lite but we still get a battle between Obi-Wan and the Death Watcher that has came to assassinate Satine. This is bone crunching and Obi-Wan seems to definitely be going harder than he usually would due to the fact that it is Satine that is being attacked.
The conflict of this episode is where it kind of falls apart. First, the holo being clearly faked and Satine pretty easily getting her hands on the unadulterated holo is a little too convenient. Then, there's the whole manhunt for Satine. It doesn't make a ton of sense that everyone would so easily and quickly believe that Satine was the assassin. There were witnesses who would have seen something and it shouldn't be too difficult to judge the angle of where the shot came from. I get that Palpatine is most likely manipulating things, but you have to stretch belief a little too far.
That being said, even though things are a little too easy, I do enjoy that Satine is able to keep Mandalore neutral for now and keep Republic forces off her planet. It's nice to see war not totally winning out like it usually does. I enjoyed that Satine knew to have Obi-Wan give the holo to Padmé. She must have sensed that she had an ally who also had a disdain for war. All in all this three some of episodes were some of my favorites yet, even if they did sort of stumble to the finish. I can't wait to get more Mandalore and more Satine.
Grade: B
Next up, young Boba Fett is ready to get revenge on the Jedi for killing his father and he's enlisted other bounty hunters to help him.
What did you all think of these episodes? Do you love Satine? Were you happy to visit a pre-"Mandalorian" Mandalore? How about that darksaber? Let me know what you think in the comments.
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