Star Wars: The Clone Wars - The Phantom Apprentice Review

TCW "The Phantom Apprentice"

"The dark side has never been stronger..." - Maul

Driven by an atmosphere of high-octane foreboding, "The Phantom Apprentice" is The Clone Wars at its best. Ahsoka's confrontation with Maul, set against the backdrop of a burning Mandalore, is not only a clash of lightsabers but an insight into Maul's unique perspective on current galactic events. Maul's almost stagey dramatic monologues are sibilantly brought to life by Sam Witwer, while original actor Ray Park performs motion capture for Maul. The choice to utilize Park pays off, as his movements are very noticeably "human". Not to discount the actor performing motion capture for Ahsoka, but Maul's moves are more ostentatious.

Maul elevates villain monologues to an art because of the tragedy of his character: for all his raging ambition, he is trapped by hate and cast aside as a pawn of his master. He sees well enough that truth, that he and Dooku were mere tools for Darth Sidious, as Maul says, "always one step behind". And when Maul says the line quoted up top, it is not with bluster but with a mix of dread and aspiration. We are far away from the silent devil of The Phantom Menace.

With attention to the wider Star Wars story, it is nicely surprising how far into Revenge of the Sith this arc has already overlapped. The episode's climax unfolds more or less in parallel with Obi-Wan's mission to Utapau. With knowledge of Order 66, the imminent rise of the Empire, and Sidious' plans for Anakin, Maul has a familiar proposition for Ahsoka. Just like Vader to Luke, and Kylo Ren to Rey in events yet to come, it's the classic Star Wars "join me". This is part of the appeal of Star Wars: the episode throws new light on events that have been established for years, and stories told in the orbit of the prequel trilogy still have the capacity to surprise.

Canon connections:
- Kevin Kiner uses the Emperor's Theme, the Imperial March, and a motif from Duel of the Fates.
- Excuse me while I freak out that Dryden Vos is in the episode!

A self-consciously dramatic episode, "The Phantom Apprentice" thrillingly dances in the shadow of the wider Star Wars story. 10/10.