Patrick Scalisi's Blog - Posts Tagged "clone-wars"

A few years ago when I was sick with a cold, I decided to start binge watching Star Wars: The Clone Wars, the animated series that takes place between Episode II: Attack of the Clones and Episode III: Revenge of the Sith.

I didn’t last long.

The show never grabbed me, and the problem had to do with tone. There were clearly elements geared toward adults, but the show was plotted like a children’s program with all the hand-waving that goes along with that. As a result, I never made it past the first season.

Enter the year 2020. Star Wars had just returned to the small screen in a big way with The Mandalorian. The Clones Wars was given a proper final season on the streaming service Disney+. Oh yeah, and a little thing called COVID-19 was keeping everyone indoors.

Just before the world went to hell, I had started watching Star Wars: Rebels, which I found much more enjoyable than Clone Wars. If Clone Wars was Dave Filoni’s training wheels, then Rebels was where he came into his own.

Still, in watching both Rebels and The Mandalorian, it was clear that there were plot elements from Clone Wars that I was missing. (Darksaber, anyone?) Given that I had time to kill, I decided to explore the episodes of Clone Wars directly related to Mandalore.

While there were primers on the “best” and “essential” episodes of Clone Wars, it was hard to find a definitive list of episodes pertinent to Mandalore. One I did find was wildly incomplete based on entries on other lists.

So I decided to make my own. What follows is what I believe to be the essential episodes needed to best understand the Mandalore plot that continues in Rebels and lays the groundwork for The Mandalorian.

Here is the episode list, followed by recaps and analysis. Note that after the list are spoilers for all three shows!

Season 2: Episodes 12-14

Season 3: Episodes 5-6, 12-14

Season 4: Episodes 14, 19-22

Season 5: Episodes 1, 14-16, 17-20*

Season 6: Episodes 1-4*

Graphic Novel: Darth Maul: Son of Dathomir

Season 7: Episodes 5-12

* = optional

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S2E12: “The Mandalore Plot” | S2E13: “Voyage of Temptation” | S2E14: “Duchess of Mandalore”

In this arc of three episodes, the audience is introduced to the planet Mandalore. In “The Mandalore Plot,” we learn that the Mandalorians were once a warrior race with a violent history. After rebuilding their society in the wake of a civil war, Mandalore adopted a stance of pacifism and neutrality. Warriors were banished to the planet’s moon, Concordia, while Mandalore itself refused to side with either the Republic or the Separatists in the ongoing Clone Wars.

Most importantly, we learn that Qui-Gon Jinn and Obi-Wan Kenobi were stationed on Mandalore during the planet’s civil war and that Obi-Wan developed feelings for Duchess Satine Kryze while serving as her protector.



Despite the desire for peace, all is not well on Mandalore. A terrorist group called Death Watch is seeking to overthrow the duchess. Leading this group of banished warriors is Pre Vizsla (voiced by future Mandalorian showrunner Jon Favreau!), a descendant of Tarre Vizsla, the first Mandalorian ever admitted to the Jedi Academy. Pre Vizsla has inherited a very important artifact from his family line: Tarre’s unique black-blade lightsaber, known as the Darksaber.

The story continues in “Voyage of Temptation” and “Duchess of Mandalore” as Obi-Wan and Satine travel to Coruscant to reassert Mandalore’s neutrality. More attempts are made on the duchess’ life, culminating in a plot in which Satine herself is framed for murder. The heroes eventually learn that Count Dooku is secretly backing Death Watch in order to plunge Mandalore into war. With help from her allies in the senate, Satine is able to set the record straight and expose the plot, all while maintaining Mandalore’s neutrality.

S3E5: “Corruption” | S3E6: “The Academy”

An entire season of the show goes by before we return to Mandalore in this duology of episodes.

Some time has passed since Death Watch tried to overthrow Duchess Satine. Unfortunately, Mandalore’s decision to remain neutral in the Clone Wars has had economic consequences. Trade routes are closing and supply chains are strained, leading to shortages and rationing. A thriving black market has emerged to fill the gap, but not all products and services are on the level.

Senator Padmé Amidala arrives on Mandalore for a diplomatic mission just in time to witness an outbreak of poisoning caused by a tainted tea shipment. Jedi apprentice Ahsoka Tano, meanwhile, begins teaching about corruption at a government academy for future civil servants.



Eventually, their investigations reveal that Prime Minister Almec is leading the black market in a misguided attempt to help Mandalore’s citizens. He is removed from power and arrested.

S3E12: “Nightsisters” | S3E13: “Monster” | S3E14: “Witches of the Mist”

This arc of three episodes doesn’t relate directly to Mandalore, but it’s an important primer for events that happen later.

In “Nightsisters,” Count Dooku is ordered by Darth Sidious to dispose of his apprentice Asajj Ventress. Rudderless, Asajj returns home to Dathomir to reunite with her tribe of witches known as the Nightsisters.

Does Dathomir sound familiar? It may because it’s the home planet of another famous Sith: Darth Maul. Not only are Asajj and Maul from the same species, but the Nightsisters had a hand in apprenticing Maul to Darth Sidious way back before Episode I: The Phantom Menace.

Asajj and the head of her tribe, Mother Talzin, hatch a plot to get revenge on Count Dooku. They will provide the count with a new apprentice, but one that they will secretly control.



Dooku accepts the offer and is introduced to the fantastically named Savage Opress, who comes from the same family unit as Darth Maul. Whether through Nightsister magic or natural talent, Opress is a quick study in the ways of the Force. He’s also fond of the same kind of double-sided lightsabers favored by his kin, Darth Maul.

Unfortunately, Asajj tips her hand a bit too early, and both Dooku and Opress become aware of her plan. Realizing that he has been used, Opress flees after turning on both his creator and his master.

S4E14: “A Friend in Need”

(Note: The character Lux Bonteri features heavily in this episode but not in any other Mandalore arc, so I didn’t include the other episodes pertaining to him in this primer. For the purposes of this guide, you’ll learn most of what you need to know about Lux in this episode.)

This is a rare one-off episode that also has to do with Mandalore. During peace talks between the Republic and the Separatists hosted by Duchess Satine, the conference is interrupted by Lux Bonteri , who is promptly arrested. Fearing for his safety, Ahsoka goes to check on him only to be caught up in Lux’s plot to get revenge on Count Dooku for the death of Lux’s mother.

Lux has come to realize that neither the Republic nor the Separatists can give him what he wants, so he has found a third option: the remaining members of Death Watch, hiding now on the snowy planet of Carlac.



You see, Death Watch also wants revenge on Dooku after the failed coup against Duchess Satine. It would seem that their objectives align. The only problem is that Pre Vizsla is interested in his own ends — and will do anything to achieve them.

This episode is particularly important because it introduces the Death Watch character Bo-Katan and features the first meeting between her and Ahsoka.

S4E19: “Massacre” | S4E20: “Bounty” | S4E21: “Brothers” | S4E22: “Revenge”

This is another arc of episodes that doesn’t directly relate to Mandalore but is important for events that happen later.

Directionless again after her failed plot against Dooku, Asajj returns to the Nightsisters to become a full member of the tribe. The only problem is that Dooku is a tiny bit upset about the whole Savage Opress betrayal thing and orders the Nightsisters completely wiped out.

“Massacre” is a great battle episode that pits two forces of evil against each other. It even goes a bit further by making you sympathetic toward Asajj, who we’ve only seen so far as a villain.

With the Nightsisters tribe nearly destroyed, Asajj decides to try her hand at bounty hunting. In “Bounty” she takes up with a who’s who of famous Star Wars bounty hunters (including a young, armor-less Boba Fett) for an underground train job.



Meanwhile, Savage Opress has sought counsel from Mother Talzin on what to do next. She humbly suggests that Opress seek out his brother. What brother, you might ask? Oh you know, just the chopped-in-half Darth Maul who was assumed dead all these years.

Opress begins following Maul’s trail, which leads him to the junk planet Lotho Minor. Stories there abound about a creature living beneath the junk heaps and feeding on victims like some mechanical Shelob. As Opress comes to find out, these are more than just stories. Darth Maul is alive! Sustained by his rage and having constructed a spider body for himself, Maul has been living the life of an insane, muttering animal.

Opress captures Maul and returns to Mother Talzin, who restores Maul’s mind and legs with some sweet new prosthetics. Then the brothers lure Obi-Wan into a trap, where the Jedi is forced to team up with Asajj in order to survive. Ever want to see Kenobi use a red lightsaber? This is your chance.

S5E1: “Revival”

The season 5 premiere continues the arc that began at the end of season 4.

With Obi-Wan having slipped his grasp, Darth Maul begins his career as a criminal that will eventually culminate in him leading the Crimson Dawn syndicate.

But everyone has to start somewhere, and Maul decides that he’s going to co-opt some of Hondo Ohnaka’s pirates as a first step. Obi-Wan shows up to stop him, but Maul and Opress escape again.

This episode is important because it’s the beginning of Maul’s plan to form a powerful crime empire.

S5E14: “Eminence” | S5E15: “Shades of Reason” | S5E16: “The Lawless”

Out of fuel and drifting in space after their escape from Obi-Wan, Maul and Opress are rescued by none other than Death Watch. (See, I told you this was leading somewhere!) Building on his plan from the episode “Revival,” Maul proposes building a crime syndicate to help Pre Vizsla take over Mandalore once and for all. Pre Vizsla agrees.

Soon, Maul’s newly formed Shadow Collective is planning attacks on Mandalore, all so Death Watch can swoop in and “save” the planet from Maul’s violent invaders. Duchess Satine is deposed, and Pre Vizsla is primed to assume leadership of Mandalore.



The only problem is that Pre Vizsla and Maul are working at cross purposes. These conflicting objectives collide when Maul challenges Pre Vizsla to single combat — and wins! Maul takes possession of the Darksaber. Bo-Katan leads a splinter group of Death Watch away from Mandalore after refusing to recognize Maul’s leadership. And Duchess Satine manages to get a distress call to Obi-Wan.

A new civil conflict breaks out on Mandalore. Those Death Watch loyal to Maul skirmish with the lawless warriors led by Bo-Katan. Prime Minister Almec, meanwhile, is freed from prison and restored to his post as a puppet leader under Maul.

Since Mandalore is still neutral, Obi-Wan must travel there alone to rescue Satine. He is also finally forced to confront the Sith lord he thought he killed years ago. Maul slays Satine, and Bo-Katan helps Obi-Wan escape. Bo-Katan reveals that she is Satine’s sister.

Maul is seemingly victorious, but his rule of Mandalore is short-lived. After sensing a disturbance in the Force, Darth Sidious arrives to capture his former apprentice. Sidious kills Savage Opress and overpowers Maul in single combat, taking Maul as his prisoner. More importantly, the Darksaber seems to disappear at the end of the duel. This is the last time that it will appear on-screen in Clone Wars.

S5E17: “Sabotage” | S5E18: “The Jedi Who Knew Too Much” | S5E19: “To Catch a Jedi” | S5E20: “The Wrong Jedi”

This arc of four episodes is purely optional, though you may want to watch it because there’s a lot of background information here for understanding the events that occur in season 7. There’s also an appearance by Asajj in her continued career as a bounty hunter.

That having been said, there’s nothing here related to Mandalore, and it may be enough for you to simply know that Ahsoka decided to leave the Jedi Order after being wrongly accused of murder and becoming disillusioned with the path of the Jedi.

S6E1: “The Unknown” | S6E2: “Conspiracy” | S6E3: “Fugitive” | S6E4: “Orders”

This arc of four episodes is even more optional than the previous four and is summarized succinctly near the end of season 7. However, if you want to learn about how some people began to suspect that the control chips implanted in all clones might have a sinister purpose related to Order 66, these are the episodes to watch.

Graphic Novel – Darth Maul: Son of Dathomir



This in-canon graphic novel is adapted from an unproduced arc from Clone Wars’ abbreviated sixth season.

A little bit of background: Clone Wars was cancelled after season 5, with only part of season 6 finished when the cancellation was announced. The completed 13 episodes went on to become “The Lost Missions,” which aired on Netflix.

At the same time, Lucasfilm released two print products from scripts that never went into production. The first was this graphic novel. The second was the book Dark Disciple.

While Son of Dathomir never aired on television, I would urge you to read it since it’s important to the Mandalore storyline. It also provides connective tissue between the events of “The Lawless” and Maul’s return in season 7.

After his defeat at the hands of Darth Sidious, Maul is brought to the planet Stygeon. Sidious, having realized the grave threat that Mother Talzin still poses, formulates a plan to destroy the head of the Nightsisters once and for all. For this, he will need help from both Count Dooku and General Grievous.

Maul isn’t imprisoned long before members of Death Watch come to his rescue. After fleeing from Stygeon, Maul reunites with the rest of his loyal Mandalorians on Zanbar. Prime Minister Almec returns the Darksaber to Maul, telling the former Sith that it was found in the courtyard after Maul’s duel with Sidious.

From there, a series of crosses and double-crosses take place as Maul seeks his revenge and Sidious seeks out Mother Talzin. And a few important reveals occur in the book’s fourth and final chapter.

First, we learn that “Mother” isn’t just Talzin’s title. She is actually Maul’s biological mother! Second, General Grievous succeeds in killing Talzin as she provides cover for Maul’s escape.

With his last tie to Dathomir cut, Maul retreats with the remaining members of Death Watch to cause more mischief elsewhere in the galaxy.

S7E5: “Gone With a Trace” | S7E6: “Deal No Deal” | S7E7: “Dangerous Debt” | S7E8: “Together Again”



At first, this arc of episodes doesn’t seem to have much bearing on Mandalore. After leaving the Jedi Order, Ahsoka wanders aimlessly around Coruscant until her transport breaks down. Stranded on the edge of the undercity, she meets Trace Martez and her street-smart sister Rafa. Always on the hunt for credits, Rafa lines up a job transporting spice. Ahsoka reluctantly agrees to travel with the sisters.

Of course, the job goes sideways and the trio soon find themselves prisoners of the Pyke crime syndicate on Oba Diah. Escape attempts are made, deals are brokered, and it soon becomes clear that the Pykes aren’t the only ones keeping tabs on Ahsoka. You see, there’s also a trio of hooded figures in very familiar armor hanging around. Not only that, but the person overseeing the Pykes is Darth Maul, last seen after the death of Mother Talzin.

Ahsoka and the Martez sisters eventually break free and return to Coruscant. They haven’t even been home for five minutes when one of the hooded figures reveals themselves to be Bo-Katan. There’s trouble back on Mandalore, and the former Death Watch warrior wants Ahsoka’s help …

S7E9: “Old Friends Not Forgotten” | S7E10: “The Phantom Apprentice” | S7E11: “Shattered” | S7E12: “Victory and Death”

This arc is not only the last one dealing with Mandalore, but also the series finale. And it’s a good one. These four episodes, in my opinion, showed the potential of what Clone Wars could have been at its best. By abandoning the fortune cookie intro and taking a masterful risk with the score, these last episodes are some of the best in the whole series.

“Old Friends Not Forgotten” opens with Ahsoka and Bo-Katan reaching out to Obi-Wan for help. Though the Republic has been forbidden to interfere with Mandalore because of the planet’s neutrality, Ahsoka finally convinces Obi-Wan to send a detachment of clone troops to help apprehend Darth Maul, who has resurfaced on Mandalore. Before departing, Anakin gives back Ahsoka’s lightsabers from when she left the Jedi Order. This is the last time they will see each other.

Back on Mandalore, the hunt for Maul begins in earnest. As Maul’s faction of Death Watch battles Bo-Katan’s splinter group and the Republic forces, audiences finally get to see the so-called Siege of Mandalore.



What’s really masterful here is how these last episodes intertwine with the events of Revenge of the Sith, which is happening simultaneously. Ahsoka faces off against Maul in an epic duel that ends in Maul’s capture. They board a ship to deliver him to the Jedi Council.

Unfortunately, the command is given to initiate Order 66 before Maul can be returned to Coruscant. Ahsoka manages to disable Commander Rex’s control chip (this is where the info from season 6 comes into play), and the two escape after Maul causes considerable chaos on the ship. Ahsoka, Rex, and Maul go their various ways, setting up the roles they will play in Rebels and after.

Notably, Maul has possession of the Darksaber at the end of the Son of Dathomir graphic novel, but it does not appear in this arc of episodes.

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I have to say that this project really improved my opinion of the Clone Wars animated series. Some of the episodes here are weaker than others, and the show overall is not as strong as Rebels in my mind, but I did enjoy watching many of these story arcs. And I feel like a lot of details from both Rebels and The Mandalorian make a lot more sense now.

So how did I do? Did I miss any? Let me know in the comments. Otherwise, happy watching, and may the Force be with you!