The Clone Wars: The Return [086-089/134] ✦ Watchalong Reaction & Review

I think Maul is the type of character who does like to drag things out, don't forget that Obi-Wan had been hanging for dear life in the plasma generator on Naboo and Maul spent time being arrogant and just ran his lightsaber on the rim of the generator instead of simply force pushing Obi-Wan off of what he was holding onto and therefore causing the, then, Jedi Apprentice to fall down the plasma generator.

Joshua Gideon

Thank you on that jinx! Yeah, Ventress and Kenobi's back and forth is just too good. Love it!

kaiielle

Hey, Kaiielle! REVENGE: RED TITLE CARD again in honor of Maul. KATIE LUCAS again writes the episode. SAVAGE OPRESS brings babbling, cowering SPIDER MAUL to Dathomir to be healed only to find the killing fields left by Grievous. CLANCY BROWN again voices Savage and SAM WITWER again voices Maul. A MOTHER TALZIN makeover! Just pluck the black rot of madness right out of the brain! Her magick soldered together a pair of digitgrade legs and filed down his horns, too! It's almost poignant when Maul is briefed on CURRENT EVENTS and laments that the grand scheme authored by the most powerful being in the galaxy to whom he was apprenticed has begun without him. He finds that the galaxy has PASSED HIM BY and his destiny has been DENIED. That idyllic Raydonian community had no idea what hit them! Maul beheaded all the hostages with one swipe! Several bounty hunter CAMEOS at the Mos Eisley cantina: -- Kyuzo EMBO with his pet anooba, MARROK, at his feet shares a booth with Ventress after last being seen in "Bounty" earlier this season. -- Zabrak SUGI, the honorable bounty huntress last seen rescuing Ahsoka and Chewbacca in "Wookiee Hunt" (Season 3, Episode 22). -- Ssori SERIPAS, her diminutive partner sitting on the bar after last being seen in "Wookiee Hunt" (Season 3, Episode 22) as well. EMBO was voiced by DAVE FILONI himself in "Bounty" but said nothing in this episode. MAUL's plans for captive Kenobi don't involve a quick death. He savors each blow. After 13 years of anguish, only an EXQUISITELY PROLONGED AND HIDEOUS demise will do. The STRANGE BEDFELLOWS you never knew you needed! VENTRESS and KENOBI back-to-back! I love how they trade quips with each other as much as they trade blows with their opponents! Lol. An uncharacteristic FLASH OF RAGE from Obi-Wan over Maul's taunt about QUI-GON! An overwhelmed Asajj and Obi beat a HASTY RETREAT in the cockpit shuttle jettisoning the scrap hauler's cargo container leaving the Zabrak brothers frustrated but plotting. Great jinx, Kaiielle! Lol.

Alex Vazquez

Thanks for the spider maul explanation!

kaiielle

Hey, Kaiielle! BROTHERS: RED TITLE CARD in honor of Maul! KATIE LUCAS again writes the episode. The RETURN of SAVAGE OPRESS last seen in the Nightsister Trilogy of Season 3. CLANCY BROWN, the sci-fi mainstay known best as the Kurgan from "Highlander", voices him again. Kaiielle, the diner you're referring to was on Coruscant run by the Besalisk Dexter Jettster. This is the equivalent of a roadside diner on another planet in the Outer Rim. A floating, mushroom-headed PARWAN can be seen patronizing the diner. MOTHER TALZIN is revealed to be alive after "Massacre" (Season 4, Episode 19)! Her amulet apparently contained a transponder so she could monitor Savage's progress. MAUL's imminent resurgence radiates such malevolence through the Force that DOOKU, TALZIN, ASAJJ, ANAKIN, OBI-WAN and YODA all feel it! A LATTS RAZZI cameo after being introduced last episode. Apparently, she and Ventress hit it off! Even if that poor Sakiyan scrap hauler survived being jettisoned from his own ship, he'd still be stranded on Lotho Minor! It's amazing that so many junkers could eke out a living on Lotho Minor with those walking furnaces and acid downpours! SPIDER MAUL! The show never provides an EXPLANATION for how Maul got from Naboo to Lotho Minor but a comic book called "Clone Wars: The Sith Hunters" and a reference book called "Star Wars: Absolutely Everything You Need to Know" state that Maul basically WILLED HIMSELF not to die using the Force! As he plummeted down the plasma shaft, he grabbed hold of the edge of a duct and hoisted his upper half into it sliding into a wastewater coolant chamber. The chamber regularly emptied into cylindrical drums that were stacked aboard a garbage scow and transported to the nearby scrap world of Lotho Minor where he was dumped. The cylinder ruptured upon impact and Maul crawled forth in the path of one of the trash-smelting walkers which Morley was slithering away from in a panic! Maul brings it down with his lightsaber before passing out from the effort and Morley gratefully drags him into a tunnel by coiling around his thorax. When he regains consciousness, Maul uses the Force to cobble together an arachnoid abdomen out of the available scrap for locomotion. MAUL is pitiable as a madman with wildly overgrown head horns but terrifying with his singular lucid thought: revenge. MAUL is brilliantly voiced by SAM WITWER known for "The Mist", "Battlestar Galactica", "Dexter", "Smallville" and "Being Human". Poor MORLEY. The ANACONDAN kept Maul alive by luring prey into Maul's lair and feeding off the leftovers. Savage rashly killed his brother's benefactor!

Alex Vazquez

The Bossk/Boba friendship is a neat one! And yes, good first gig for Ventress. Awesome seeing her do the right thing too.

kaiielle

Hey, Kaiielle! BOUNTY: I love this railway heist episode! KATIE LUCAS continues writing Ventress' story. When you chat Ventress up in a bar you take your chances! Poor OKED just had a thing for bald chicks. Lol. The RETURN of BOSSK and BOBA FETT last seen in "Deception" earlier this season. Wherever there's Bossk, Boba Fett can't be far off. I like the LONG FRIENDSHIP between these two which was probably deepened by their time in the joint. EMBO, the deadly Kyuzo bounty hunter with the multi-purpose headgear, makes a quick cameo after last being seen in "Crisis on Naboo" earlier in the season. He has a new pet anooba named MARROK! Anoobas were introduced in the Citadel Trilogy of Season 3. The INTRODUCTION of DENGAR into "Clone Wars". Dengar was seen in live-action in "Empire Strikes Back" with Bossk and Boba Fett being tasked by Darth Vader with tracking down the 'Millennium Falcon'. Dengar is voiced by SIMON PEGG of the "Cornetto Trilogy"! The INTRODUCTIONS of Theelin LATTS RAZZI and the awesome-looking droid HIGHSINGER with a 360 degree death-swivel! All these hunters have been organized by teen Boba Fett into a crew called "THE KRAYT'S CLAW" after the Krayt dragons of Tatooine. The SPACE ELEVATOR is an amazing engineering feat! The concept has been a staple of literary sci-fi and featured in the HALO universe. The BELUGANS have BALEEN in their mouths just like the cetaceans from which they evolved which would make it kind of difficult for Lord Otua to kiss his new bride, Pluma Sodi. Weird attraction for him to be so lascivious about. PLUMA SODI is voiced by MEREDITH SALENGER who normally voices BARRISS OFFEE and is known for films like "The Journey of Natty Gann", "April Morning" and "The Kiss". Pluma plucked Ventress' heartstrings at just the right time in her life! Those KAGE warriors led by Krismo Sodi were like NINJAS! I like how BOBA is torn between compassion and professionalism. VENTRESS doubles her money, does the right thing, deals fairly with her associates and emerges with a new purpose. Not a bad first gig.

Alex Vazquez

Hey, Kaiielle! MASSACRE: Zombies vs. Robots! Sorcery vs. Science! Flesh vs. Steel! This episode is wild! The Nightsisters haven't been seen in live-action since the 1985 made-for-TV movie "Ewoks: Battle for Endor" but, if the Sisterhood ever deserved the live-action treatment, this installment of "Clone Wars" is it! The RETURN of ASAJJ VENTRESS last seen fleeing her botched attempt to assassinate Dooku with SAVAGE OPPRESS in the Nightsister Trilogy of Season 3! This episode is a major milestone for her as she finally settles down only to be uprooted horrifically once again. George Lucas' daughter, KATIE LUCAS, continues chronicling Ventress' journey as the writer of this episode. The RETURN of Mother TALZIN last seen directing SAVAGE OPPRESS on a quest to find MAUL in the Nightsister Trilogy of Season 3. General GRIEVOUS finally gets a devastating showcase to match his deadly prowess in the non-canon 2003 "Clone Wars". In the canon video game "FALLEN ORDER", there is a section set on Dathomir in which this holocaust is recounted by surviving Nightsister MERRIN who remembers an armored warrior brandishing lightsabers! The DEATH of KARIS, the hooded Nightsister who teamed with Ventress to assassinate Dooku on Serenno in the Nightsister Trilogy of Season 3. The INTRODUCTION and DEATH of OLD DAKA, eldest of the Nightsisters and powerful enough to resurrect their mummified dead! The INTRODUCTION and DEATH of LUCE, the mohawk-sporting Nightsister with the skull-face tattoo who seizes a pair of enemy blasters which she unloads on the droids rapid-fire! She is shot in the back helping a wounded Ventress to escape declaring that doom has befallen the clan. JAMIE KING of "Sin City" and "Black Summer" as well as the voice of AURRA SING portrays LUCE. The RETURN of the DEFOLIATOR weapon after last being used against the pacifist Lurmen way back in "Defenders of Peace" (Season 1, Episode 14). Grievous never PLAYS FAIR! As soon as Ventress severed one of his limbs, he reneged on the terms of the duel and ordered the droids to blast her! If TALZIN hadn't savored every boil and howl of agony she inflicted on Dooku but had rather delivered a killing blow with that voodoo doll, it might have turned the tide! Although TALZIN's motivation to eliminate Dooku in this episode is clearly a tactical one dictated by exigent circumstances, no definitive answer as to why she was ever willing to betray a man who had once done her a service has been given. Is it simply that the wrong done to Asajj demanded satisfaction from the Sisterhood or is there perhaps another reason? In my own chronology, I prefer starting Season 4 with this as a STANDALONE episode to kick things off with a bang and to allow a shattered Ventress some time to wallow disconsolately in her loss and wander aimlessly to the Outer Rim before finding new purpose in the events of "Bounty".

Alex Vazquez

It's been on my list to play for a while but I'm not sure when I'll get around to it.

kaiielle

Great point!

kaiielle

Not sure if it's been recommended but Jedi Fallen Order is a great game and Dathomir is one of the planets you can go to. Since you really like Dathomir (and Star Wars in general) you should definitely check it out sometime. There's also a Son of Dathomir comic series with Maul and Dathomir

Andrew Sitek

Maul obviously wants Kenobi dead, but a quick death would be too "good" for Obi-wan. He wants Kenobi to suffer like he suffered so it's all about torture. Maul isn't nearly as patient as Sidious, but when it comes to Kenobi now, he's patient like he said at the end of the episode. He wants Kenobi dead, but he acknowledges now isn't the time so they're regrouping.

Andrew Sitek

I know the Sith Code from Star Wars: KOTOR! There's been a couple sections where I've had to memorize/know the code so that was fun. Thanks for sharing the Jedi one too! Bounty was a super fun episode, but I think the final one was still the best for me!

kaiielle

Miff

Yes, a huge cliffhanger indeed! So excited to get into Season 5!

kaiielle

Revenge - One of my favorite episodes in the show. Love loved how they left that as a cliffhanger when the show was running. Waiting for season 5 knowing Maul is on the loose again and wants to kill Obi Wan was exciting. You know you love a show when you can’t wait for the next season and this was it for me. Thanks again for sharing the reactions. And so it begins….

Absher

She's definitely grown on me now, and yes! Total GOT vibes and I loved it.

kaiielle

Also, Jamie Lannister did that hate/love thing for me in GOT

Absher

Bounty- Great to see young Boba again. Always down with Bossk as he my main in Battlefront 2. Again, love watching the character growth in Ventress. Kinda diggin Bobas droid in that one.

Absher

Massacre- wow what a cool episode! Love the GOT vibes in this one. Getting serious Melisandre/Night King vibes out of Mother Talzin and the army of the dead. So cool. Also love Ventress as always. Her character continues to grow on me.

Absher

I haven't looked up anything and I decided not to! I will wait and be patient lol

kaiielle

Part 3- Notice how Maul said “So it began without me” regarding the Clone Wars. That implies that Maul was privy to part of his master’s plans all the was Back during the Phantom Menace. And you mentioned that you thought Maul would’ve been more hasty in taking his revenge. Like Maul isn’t Patient. Interesting you mentioned that because it makes sense right, Maul is FUILED BY RAGE and HATE, Passion, not Composure. All I’ll say is that that Juxtaposition makes sense more later. This ARC definitely feels kinda weird to me, it definitely is an ARC with Ventress being in a continual Path throughout it, but we effectively have 3 different main Characters in it and they are all Sith Lords/Assassins 😅😂. Definitely be careful when looking up anything about Maul, Nightsisters, Ventress and Savage after these episodes. There search results will almost certainly spoil some stuff. Your Reactions are great as always! WE GOT A SHOUT OUT GUYS!!! Season 5 is truly a sight to behold so get ready! Also

Justin

Part 2- I don’t know if Zabrak were introduced first in the Phantom Menace with Maul or not, but the look of them and Maul himself definitely were. George Lucas inspired Maul after Satan😈. Literally😅 The Diner that Anakin and Ahsoka just stop and Eat at was not the One with Daxter Jetster in Attack of the Clones. That one was on Corrisaunt. This one was 🤷‍♂️, but not Corrisaunt. It was great Seeing Boba and Bossk and Embo(in the Background) again. DENGAR is another Empire Strikes Back Bountyhunter actually. The Main Ninja that Boba and Ventress Fought was played by Matt Lanter. Grievous was actually a bit scary this time around. It is sad that Grievous is a bit of a chump😅😢.

Justin

OK HEAR WE GO!!!!!!!! Part 1- If you LOVE Ventress you should read/listen to “Dark Disciple” AFTER CLONE WARS. It is a book about Ventress. It was AWESOME seeing Star Wars Zomies AGAIN! First on Geonosis, now on Dathomir! The Nightsister actually Use the Force, the Green Magic is just a different useage/manipulation of the force. And Jam said it already but Maul has been using the force to hold his broken Spider Legs and his mind together for the last Decade. Anakin is 19-20 in the Show I believe. Because he is 18 during Attack of the Clones and 21 in Revenge of the Sith.

Justin

Oh that's so cool!

kaiielle

Maul was the reason I started watching this show back in the day! It's crazy how one character kinda changes everything. Sam Witwer is amazing in every scene as Maul. “The chains are the easy part, it's what goes on in here that's hard" same line the son said in the Mortis arc and being voiced by the same person. The scene on the junk planet where Maul is going insane talking to Savage is in a behind the scenes video they did about the last two episodes if this arc and they have video of Sam in the booth acting like a mad man as he does the lines. The animators kinds of mimicked his movements in the scene. Maul is holding his lower half together with the force. You can see parts of them floating. That's why they fall apart when Talzin puts him to sleep. To quote Anakin “This is where the fun begins!".

Jam

Agree with all of this! Flirty/sassy Obi-Wan is my favourite. I love it so much!

kaiielle

Maul was such a great villain in The Phantom Menace and it was a shame he "died" so early in the trilogy. So bringing him back like this was just perfect. Ventress is such an interesting character and her teaming up with Kenobi now, is so cool. And yeah, the somewhat flirtatious banter between them even when they are on the same team is always great.

Rune

Yes, his voice acting is great! Ahh, I can't wait!

kaiielle

So, so good!

kaiielle

I love this arc so, SO much. Sam Witwer BRINGS IT with his performance as maul, it’s genuinely phenomenal. The voice acting in this show is some of the best ever put to screen, especially later on in the series. Like you said, we’re REALLY getting into the meat of the series now, and I cannot wait for your reactions to the last few seasons, they are INSANE. Loved this reaction as always! Definitely one of your best (:

Sean H

Such an awesome arc!

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