Star Wars: Clone Wars, “Phantom Apprentice“, Review!

It was revealed in Part I of the Siege of Mandalore that while Bo-Katan was taking care of Prime Miniser Almec that Ahsoka went down to the tunnels.  She was in an ambush set up by Maul and Rook Kast.  We get the same opening as Part I, but this time with eerie music out of a horror movie.  I will say that I miss the moral at the beginning of the episodes.  It was such a later part of the show and I think would give insight that Ahsoka is developing and growing up in a time of war.  We have Ahsoka with her dual lightsabers humming as she is surrounded by Mandalorians aiming their blasters at her.  

Then, Maul talks to her, voiced by Sam Witwer.  His even voice doesn’t carry a threat or calculation.  The close-up of his face looks like the red parts are made by markers.  Maul doesn’t know much about Ahsoka.  She activates her gauntlet to have Rex find her.  Maul says he was looking to confront Obi-Wan and Anakin.  He says his calculations predict that the Jedi and the Republic will not be in control.  Palpatine destroyed Maul’s homeworld of Dathomir, but spared his life so I’m not certain what role Maul was supposed to play.  He mentions Darth Sidious.  

STAR WARS: CLONE WARS -- “Phantom Apprentice” -- Disney/Lucasfilm.

Clone troopers blast the Mandalorians and Maul activates his double-bladed lightsaber with Ahsoka fending off his attacks with her lightsabers.  She loses track of Maul and reports back to the Sundari throne room.  Bo-Katan updates the situation over a map of Sundari.  A hologram of Obi-Wan explains about Darth Sidious whom he learned about from Count Dooku.  He also says that Anakin has killed Dooku.  Obi-Wan’s orders is to hunt General Grevious on Utapau.  So we know the time placement of this episode.  Obi-Wan tells Ahsoka the Jedi Council has given Anakin a mission to observe Supreme Chancellor Palpatine.   Obi-Wan hoped that Ahsoka would talk to Anakin.  She is frustrated since leaving the Jedi behind.  

It is strange that Anakin has just left Ahsoka.  His apprentice grounded him so I would think that it would be some time, a year or more, when Anakin would be on his own without Ahsoka that would lead to his turning to the Dark Side.  Rex interrupts them to take Ahsoka to the aftermath of an attack.  Maul has cut through her troopers in an ambush.  She sends Rex to reinforce C-Deck and talks to a survivor, Sterling, who says that Maul took the ARC Trooper, Jesse.  Maul has Jesse, he has a distinctive Republic tatoo on his head, while Gar Saxon and Rook Kast watch.  He rants that he was “cast aside” from The Plan.  The Sith Rule of Two seems to have Sidious and Darth Vader and Maul hanging around?  He sends Gar Saxon to deal with Almec.  

Maul uses the Force to take information from Jesse about Ahsoka Tano.  Very much like Kylo Ren with Rey.  Gar Saxon puts on his helmet as he leaves behind Jesse’s screams.  At the prison facility, Bo-Katan, Ahsoka, and Rex go to the cell of Almec.  She wants to know Maul’s plan.  He says Maul doesn’t want to escape and is obsessed with a vision.  Almec notes that Maul wanted Obi-Wan and someone else.  He is shot twice by an assassin.  Gar Saxon.  Almec’s last words are Skywalker.  Bo-Katan chases after Gar Saxon in the facility’s lifts.  He knocks her under one that shorts out her jet-pack.  Gar Saxon escapes.  He reaches the meeting that Maul is having with the leaders of his syndicate.  

STAR WARS: CLONE WARS -- “Phantom Apprentice” -- Disney/Lucasfilm.

Rook Kast tells him Maul told them to go into hiding.  The leaders are Marg Krim, Ziton Moj, and Dryden Vos.  Marg was seen in the Martez Sisters arc and Dryden Vos was in Han Solo: A Star Wars Story.  Ziton Moj, is part of the Black Sun criminal organization, he is a Falleen.  The reptillian race had phermones that could influence people like the Purple Man.  Prince Xizor, non-canon, ran Black Sun and both were in the Shadows of the Empire (1996) novel.  Ziton Moj, the Black Sun, and the Falleen became canon with the episode “Eminence” (2013).  This is when Maul formed the various groups into the Shadow Collective. I wonder if we will see Ziton Moj in The Mandalorian.  

Maul speaks to the Mandalorians saying that they should not be hiding in tunnels, but take the surface as warriors.  The clone troopers are directing Mandalorian citizens on platforms.  Bo-Katan does not like the occupation.  Ahsoka assures her that the troopers will leave once they capture Maul.  On the throne, Maul agrees, with Jesse in binders.  Bo-Katan fires her blaster, but Maul deflects the bolts and has her in a Force grip.  He releases her and Jesse.  Rex takes him away as the sky outside is filled with explosions!  Bo-Katan goes to lead the battle.  Maul says he certain that Darth Sidious will take over from the Jedi and then offers Ahsoka the Dark Side alliance that will defeat Sidious.  There is madness and menace in his monologue here.  

One of the questions I’ve had is who is more effective?; the Mandalorians, quick and deadly, or the clone troopers, relentless and loyal.  The battle shatters the throne room window, epic, and Maul still has his offering hand out.   Ahsoka offers her help if Maul answers a question.  Maul answers what is his intention towards Anakin Skywalker; he is key as Sidious’ apprentice and as proof he explains that the siege was to bring Anakin and destroy him.  Ahsoka activates her lightsabers.  The duel is one of the best lightsaber fights with Ray Park and Lauren Mary Kim (the stunt double for The Armorer in The Mandalorian) motion capturing Maul and Ahsoka.  This episode has a climax that has the two lost apprentices fighting with each other.  A good episode, but it could be stronger.  

Four Lightsabers out of Five!    

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