A Long Time Ago, During the Clone Wars: "Nightsisters," "Monster" & "Witches of the Mist"

 StarWars The Clone Wars

If you're a super fan of Asajj Ventress like I am, then these are the episodes for you. Be prepared to get a lot of backstory about Dooku's ex-apprentice and some twists and turns that back when these episodes premiered.

"Nightsisters," Season Three, Episode 12

"The swiftest path to destruction is through vengeance."

Narrator: "Galactic showdown! In a fierce battle for survival, the Republic and Separatist armies have clashed in the distant Sullust system. Count Dooku's most cunning assassin, Asajj Ventress, leads the vicious attack..."

During the Sullust battle, Darth Sidious advises Dooku that it is time to eliminate Asajj Ventress. It's clear that Sidious fears her growing power in the Dark Side of the Force. Ventress escapes her former masters kill order and Obi-Wan and Anakin. Ventress flees to her home planet of Dathomir where Mother Talzin and females of the planet rule. Talzin and Ventress concoct a plan to get revenge on Dooku.

Mother and daughter.

I feel like season three of "The Clone Wars" is really where the show becomes required viewing for any real Star Wars fan. There is lore here that is introduced that is staring to carry over to the new Star Wars series on Disney+ and the comic series over at Marvel.

Like I said win the intro to this post, I am a huge Asajj Ventress fan. She's probably my favorite original character created for the series and has one of the best arcs of the show. That arc really starts here. In the past, Ventress usually shows up to cause mayhem, flirt/fight with Obi-Wan, almost win and then take off. Dooku cutting her loose as his apprentice gives Ventress a new mission and that mission is taking her ex-Master down.

Not only do we get some necessary backstory with Ventress, we also get to see some other sides of Dooku. Dooku and the other Separatists can come off a little one note. Their defining personality trait is eeeevviiillll, but here we get to see a softer side of the Sith Lord. He obviously cares for Ventress and ordering her killed hurts him. It doesn't stop him from doing it, but he at least feels guilty.

It's interesting to see the flashes of Ventress' life. She is taken in by Jedi Ky Narec who is eventually killed. You wonder how her life would have turned out had he lived. She could have been a Jedi. She might have been working with Anakin and Obi-Wan instead of against them. But instead, she was found by Dooku and trained as a Sith. Her hatred and anger growing and growing. 

The episode is full of great action scenes, particularly when Ventress and her sisters attack Dooku. And even though, Dooku comes out on top, it is all part of Talzin's plan to get Dooku a new assassin, one that works for her and Ventress.

Grade: A

"Monster," Season Three, Episode 13

"Evil is not born, it is taught."

Narrator: "A bid for revenge! Betrayed and left for dead by Count Dooku, Asajj Ventress has begun a deadly game with her former Master, launching a secret assassination attempt against him with the help of her kin, the mysterious Nightsisters. Deceived into believing the Jedi werebehind the recent attack, Dooku has traveled across the galaxy to enlist the Nightsisters in his quest for vengeance..."

After the attack on his life, Dooku travels to Dathomir to meet with Mother Talzin and procure a new Sith assassin. Talzin assures the Count she will get him the best. A man this time. After he departs, Ventress travels to test the men of Dathomir and find the one that is most worthy of this mission. That man is Savage Oppress. But has Savage bitten off more than he can chew?

Brothers.

In this episode, we get a little bit more backstory on how the power structure on Dathomir really works. In "Nightsisters," we only saw females and "Monster" makes it clear that on Dathomir the power system is completely matriarchal. It's super cool, because it sort of circumvents what you would think. 

Watching Ventress beat the hell out of these guys and taunt them about how worthless they are is a real treat. During this, we meet brothers Savage Oppress and Feral. It's clear that Feral is the weak link here and that Savage is doing all this to save his brother from being the victim of Ventress' manipulations. You know that it isn't going to end well for him from the very start, but it's still pretty heartbreaking when a mindless Savage, amped up by the Nightsisters magic kills Feral in a rage. It's pretty bone chilling.

The whole choosing process is intriguing. Ventress handily dispatches most of the men and I'm kind of obsessed with the role reversal here. The men don't even live with the women on Dathomir. They are separated. My guess is to stop any romantic relationships from forming that could possibly disrupt the power system. I'm curious how mating and reproduction work on Dathomir. I could honestly probably watch an entire series based on Dathomir.

After Savage proves his loyalty to Ventress, he is sent to Dooku. Dooku immediately tests him which tracks. Dooku sends Savage to Devaron where he handily takes out the two Jedi, Halsey and Knox, who are defending it. He makes it look easy and he definitely lives up to his name. Dooku is impressed and is ready to train Savage in the ways of the Force and use him to overthrow Sidious. 

One thing I will say is that Dooku believes the story Talzin tells and trust Savage maybe a little too easily. You'd think he would be a little suspicious, but no, he just goes along with everything. It's a minor gripe, but it doesn't make a ton of sense overall.

Grade: A-

"Witches of the Mist," Season Three, Episode 14

"The path to evil may bring great power, but not loyalty."

Narrator: "Mysterious deaths! Unknown to the Jedi, a new threat has unleashed on the galaxy: Savage Oppress, a pawn in the dangerous game between Count Dooku and his former assassin, Ventress. The victims of his brutal massacre on the planet of Devaron are being returned to the Jedi Temple for evaluation. It's up to the Jedi Council to find this mysterious killer, and eradicate him..."

Delta squad returns the bodies of the fallen Jedi from Devaron to Coruscant. Obi-Wan is surprised to find that their killer is of the same species as his former foe, Darth Maul. Obi-Wan and Anakin head to Dathomir to find answers but only get into a fight with the male denizens of Dathomir and the runaround from Mother Talzin. Dooku is training Savage in the ways of the Force, and sends him on a mission to kidnap the Toydarian king, Katuunko. A mission that goes sadly awry.

I meant to mention this in the introduction to this post, but these three episodes were written by Katie Lucas, George Lucas' daughter. It just goes to show that maybe she got the writing talent in the family. Heyo! I kid, I kid. Or do I?

The Jedi finally get involved in the last part of this little trilogy of episodes. After the tragic murders of the Jedi on Devaron, Obi-Wan and Anakin get involved. It's great to see Obi-Wan on Dathomir and confronted with all these men who look a lot like the guy who killed his former master. And even though the negotiations do get a bit aggressive, Obi-Wan remains painfully British throughout all of the interrogations. 

We are reintroduced to the king of Toydaria, Katuunko, but he meets a bad end when Savage Oppress bungles his kidnapping. This is another example of "The Clone Wars" going where are a lot of other cartoons wouldn't go. The show continues to show the harsh realities of a conflict like this and the death of Katuunko is as tragic as it is unnecessary and kind of mindless.

We are treated to a no holds barred battle between Ventress, Oppress and Dooku that sort of shakes out just the way you would think it would. I was a little surprised that Oppress kind of gave up so quickly, but I guess I get it. Savage returns to Dathomir where Talzin reveals one of the biggest shockers of the series to date. Oppress has another brother: Darth Maul. And not only that, but Maul is alive and living in the Outer Rim!

Grade: A-

Next up, On Mortis, Anakin is confronted by the Father, Son and Daughter.

How do you all feel about these episodes? I love them and think they start off a long run of really stellar "Clone Wars" episodes. I want to hear your thoughts in the comments.