Episode 1: The Path of Fear
TotE opens at the Battle of Dathomir, with young Morgan Elsbeth struggling to escape as her people are slaughtered around her. Nightsister magic is always a fascinating SW aspect to expand upon, and TotE is no exception. The style of fighting and use of witchcraft is familiar and novel at once. Morgan’s situation reminded me of Asajj Ventress in the book Jedi Lost, as she was also a Nightsister who just barely survived the destruction of her people.
The reintroduction of General Grievous in the realm of TCW was also a great addition. It’s just fun to see him do his signature lightsaber spin in animation.
In Morgan’s survival, we discover another unknown quality about Dathomir. Aside from the Nightsisters and the Zabraks, we now have the Mountain Clan, a people kept separate from the conflicts on Dathomir’s surface. When they took in Morgan, I predicted that they would also be killed by the Empire, orphaning her a second time, but what really happened felt somehow darker.
With the death of her mother, Morgan is guided to embrace her dark side, taking dangerous paths to ensure that she will not be left weakened again. It’s an arc that isn’t relatable but understandable. However, in Morgan’s desperation, she draws the attention of the Empire once more. In her failure to comprehend that being unwilling to fight does not mean being unable – and this impressive show of other kinds of Dathomiran magic – Morgan, who has lost her mother, causes a different mother to lose her daughter.
I’m a fan of retroactive foretelling: the kind of prophecies that come when you already know how a character’s story will end. And the Mountain Clan leader’s parting words to Morgan about how her path is set and she pities her – love it. So ominous, so immutable.
Episode 2: The Path of Anger
After the first episode left Morgan as a young child, I was surprised by the large time jump here. We are brought to Morgan as an adult, proposing the construction of TIE Defenders to the Empire. I liked this new information about her being the one behind these ships; it gives her a silent impact on the entirety of Rebels. And her attempts to get the Empire’s attention brings an air of curiosity – with the deaths of her people at their hands, why does she chase after them now?
This episode establishes Morgan’s affiliation with Corvus. Although she seems to have put up a front of caring for its people, it’s made clear – by both herself and Corvus’s inhabitants – that they bear no affection for her. She’s regarded as a dangerous witch and is willing to harm whoever she needs to achieve her goals.
My favorite part of this episode was Morgan being scouted by Thrawn’s agents. Pellaeon and Rukh both encounter and test Morgan, gauging her motivations and leading her to Thrawn himself. Thrawn, only an Admiral at this point, asks Morgan why she is so wrapped up in the Empire. When Morgan gives her answer, it makes the time skip from the last episode to this one fit perfectly.
Morgan tells Thrawn that she is fueled by her anger at the massacre of the Nightsisters and her desire to keep their culture alive. Her revenge drives her, and she is willing to do whatever it takes to achieve it. Thrawn accepts this response and welcomes her into his fold.
Like the first, this was another solid episode. Morgan’s character, while intriguing and talented in The Mandalorian and Ahsoka, is fleshed out fully with her backstory. Her growing partnership with Thrawn – which will one day lead to a loyalty so strong that she will sacrifice herself for his glory – is wonderful to observe at its inception.
Episode 3: The Path of Hate
While the previous episode took place at the birth of Morgan’s rise in the Empire, this one makes another time jump into the era of the New Republic. It takes an outsider’s POV on Morgan and her actions in Corvus, with her citizens nervous but desperate to overthrow her rule. The arrival of a New Republic official to unseat Morgan is a risky game, one that isn’t balanced in their favor.
The cinematography in this episode was fantastic – as it has been for all three episodes, honestly. I loved seeing the bridge where Ahsoka would eventually spar with and defeat Morgan, as well as the iconic beskar spear. And Morgan’s “vision” of her “destiny” – a likely reference to her sacrifice for Thrawn in Ahsoka – gives her character a lovely aspect of future knowledge and acceptance.
Then there’s her best line: “My world has been burning since I was a child. Why should this one be any different?” Her very literal interpretation of these words as she burns Corvus is chilling, and her murder of Nadura illustrates her determination not to lose her last vestige of power. I’ve only watched season 2 of The Mandalorian once, over three years ago, but I vaguely remembered Wing. Giving his character more of a role in these episodes and alluding to his future actions was a nice touch.
And that comlink message! My heart actually skipped a beat when I heard Bo-Katan’s voice; I’d die for this woman. Her phantom presence makes perfect sense – in The Mandalorian season 2, we know Bo-Katan and Ahsoka are in close contact. Bo-Katan must have been the one to alert Ahsoka about Morgan, sending her to Corvus and leading to Morgan’s capture. The implied transition from TotE to The Mandalorian is fluid and seamless.
