MissLucas

Morgan Elsbeth was a skilled fighter back in the Mandalorian too. Ahsoka defeated her but it took some work and she lost one of her lightsabers in the fight. This time ME was additionally juiced up by Nightsister magick (and it seems the Great Mothers are more powerful than the standard Nightsisters from CW) and she was wielding the sword of Talzin.

I think she got Morgan's blade instead? Which will come into play next season as it is a blade powered by magick. I'm still not sure the whole Jedi stuff with Sabine really worked. To sell that (better) we should have had a flashback. The idea that Ahsoka pulled back with the training because she feared Sabine would go on a revenge trip and ultimately end on the dark side sounded like an interesting plot. I wasn't expecting them to resolve all the major plotlines, so I wasn't disappointed with the many open plotlines. It was cute that Chopper recognized Ezra but it was wild that we did not get to see how Ezra escaped and that he did not bother to communicate before reaching the Republican fleet. Too bad Morgan Elsbeth got killed. Diane Lee Disanto was probably the most skilled martial arts actor among the regular cast and I wish they had given her more fight scenes. I'm glad show remembered that Sabine used to be a kick-ass pilot for a brief moment. Looks like we're really going down the Mortis rabbit hole. They clearly crafted the Father's head to look like Baylan and the Daughter statue is missing. The arrival of Morai was more or less a given at that point. No wonder that planet is out of balance. Though the Noti seem to do just fine. Anyhow, good luck recasting Ray Stevenson. Did I like it? Yes, because I loved CW and Rebels. But I can't deny that there were some problems with plotting and character building. Two episodes more might have helped with that. Sabine's character required more backstory. Stoic Ahsoka went on for too long. Baylan talking in riddles all the time just barely worked because Ray Stevenson was awesome delivering those lines. Also: You cast Wes Chatham and never give him more to do than utter lines robotically or show his face? WTF show?!? He is that guy!!!

Ditto and worse - I nearly typed the Force in the episode discussion.

Humorous answer (well, almost). Among the many things this show failed to mention is that Sabine is a talented artist and a terrific engineer. It's perfectly reasonable to assume that she developed something like Leeloo's insta make-up kit and implemented it in her vambrace 😁

Well the Arthurian task made it quite clear that most of them had never bothered to watch the show LOL! Julian rambling on about how much he liked Josh Widdicombe without remembering his name was great - just topped by Lucy throwing the sword into the bathtub. But the episode belonged to Susan Wokoma - that mischievous task was epic. If Tim Key ever steps back from his consulting gig Alex has just found a worthy successor.

I love the Nynaeve/Elaine combo so much! Nynaeve's face when Elaine told her that this time they were doing it her way and later when they met Loial was simply priceless LOL! Can't wait for Egwene's time in the kennels to end - preferably in a blaze of fury that flattens the place for good. Damn it, Barthanes - I thought you were one of the good ones! I do hope Anvaere makes it out of this mess alive. Lindsay Duncan is terrific in the part. Perrin just got an intensive course in Aiel culture. Bit risky to start a physical altercation with a confused wolf present but ultimately even Hopper knew better than to interfere with the Aiel ways. Also: Looks like Aiel subscribe to Drummer's school of makeup - seems fitting. Lanfear's costumes are simply stunning. Well, I kept wondering how long it took to lace those domina boots (couldn't see a zipper) but the 'let's torch a city' look was breathtaking. For me it's the damn collar on Matt's coat. I had hoped it would not show up again this season as the costuming budget has clearly been giving healthy financial injection. This looks nothing like hand-knitted (granted there is a possibility it actually is, skilled knitters can produce very even patterns) but more like the repurposed waistband of a mass produced sweater or at best a piece produced on a knitting machine. Which doesn't fit into what we have seen of the Two Rivers. And I can't come up with a historical point of reference where knitwear was combined with textile in this manner - it just looks way too modern for lack of a better term. Weird costuming pet peeves aside I loved how they opened with a flashback that not only explained how Moraine knew about the Dragon Reborn but also gave us some heartbreaking insight into Moraine and Siuan's relationship. Moraine wanted to go to Cairhiern and introduce her to her family! And then it all went to hell - it really brought home what Moraine sacrificed to the 'cause'. And now even the last piece that tied her to the hopes of her youth - her clandestine relationship with Siuan - has gone. Watching Siuan violating Moraine's newly established bond with the One Power was brutal - both Rosamund Pike and Sophie Okonedo acted the hell out of this scene. Their relationship has gone. On the yay-side: Moraine and Lan are back together! Who is the bald Aes Sedai? The camera lingered on her several times so I guess she's important but I can't place her.

Fezes Capes are cool! I agree about Sabine or rather this version of Sabine. I've watched Rebels and always liked her but the writing here let the character down. Not only by not giving the viewers any idea of who she had been during Rebels but layering that mystery with whatever happened between her and Ahsoka in the meantime. I fully understand people not liking her. What was needed was either a flashback episode or giving her less importance in the first couple of episodes. In the end she was used as plot prop and the character deserves better.

Agreed. I think we just got the biggest confirmation of the zombie Nighttroopers theory in this episode: Ezra used the Force against the bandits in what I assume is his way of being as much a pacifist as possible - but he had no qualms putting slugs into the Nighttroopers because they are no longer alive. Sabine was not the only one holding back info - though I admit there was a lot of catching up to do. I love to see lighter Ahsoka who laughs - the banter with Huyang before her 'landing' was great. And we got to see why Thrawn has this terrifying reputation. Dude doesn't miss a beat. Although: shoutouts to Zeb and Ventress! I think the title of this episode was slightly misleading. 'Baylan Has Other Plans' would have been more apt.

Lucy is great. She's one of those contestants that make Alex lose it regularly it seems. And her genuine surprise at 'rule-breaking' means that she never watched her husband's run on the show. From this line-up I'm slightly familiar with Sue, Lucy and Julian. Never seen Sam before but after this episode I'm sure to go on a YT deep dive.

That was feasible because Pascal had other commitments. But in this instance it would be really disrespectful IMO. It's not as if Mikkelsen is extremely overweight. I can easily handwave the dad bod as another indicator of Thrawn having difficulties keeping everything in pristine conditions. The ship, the Troopers, and his uniform all show signs of wear and tear.

Up and running on the official Taskmaster YT already. This season is off to a marvelous start!

I fast forwarded through Egwene's scenes - that stuff was hard enough to deal with in the books. Lanfear's domina get-up was a tad too much for me. But her scene with Liandrin was fantastic. And we got some backstory on Liandrin as well. This show is really good at making me care for the bad/evil characters. Well, with the exception of the Seanchan they can go f*** themselves - preferably with their long nails. Rand and Mat was heartbreaking. There are supposedly good reasons to stay away from each other for both of them but it's Mat who manages to do it - for all the wrong reasons but it's still an interesting dynamic played out. I was surprised at Moraine playing the heir card. It's nice that she apologized to her nephew but the one who really deserves an apology is her sister. Though I guess she had her revenge with that line about their mother - it certainly hit a nerve. Lan's plot did really not make much sense. They needed all the major players in Cairhien and that's how they managed that but it was a bit clumsily done.

People far deeper in the lore than me have stated that this is new info. It might even be a mild retcon.

I cut Sabine some slack. She's lost her biological family, had a fall-out with Ahsoka (who she now thinks is also dead) and is clearly no longer in contact with Hera and Zeb who have both moved on. Bringing Ezra back seems to be the one thing in her live she clings to above everything else and Baylan played her like a fiddle.

Damn, I missed her - must rewatch!!! He! That was my first question too! Well, after I had realized the thingy was wearing clothes. I spent some time wondering why Sabine kept trying to communicate with yet another animal. They looked like caskets so me and since Thrawn talked about his losses I assumed he wants to bring his fallen Troopers back home. Dude has style - evil style but still style. Well, I loved it. The visuals of the Whale cemetery were breathtaking! The first shot of the landscape with the Howlers silhouettes on a hill were exciting - I thought they were wolves so Ezra should be okay. And it's great for the show to finally get out of the Volume for a while. Thrawn's entrance... was quite something. I love the battered look of his Troopers. The three Fates Night Mothers are creepy AF although I had to giggle the 'reeking of Jedi' thing. I was also hoping Enoch would not turn out to be Ezra - that would have been weak writing *phew* But with that look and that not-ominous-at-all name I'm sure he turns out to be someone important - or he turns into another smoke-monster. Speaking of looks: it took me way too long to realize that they styled Shin Hati as space Joan of Arc *sheesh* I wonder if it was done just to match her to Baylan's dark knight look or if there's more to that desiciosn. This was a good episode for Shin. She looked taken aback at Baylan breaking his word to Sabine - sure he found a way to justify his actions but I'm not sure she was completely convinced. Love the little comic relief with the crestfallen Howler. And Sabine taking care of the bandits in a fusion of Mandalorian and Jedi style was cool even though there was no Force nor helmet involved. My theory is that Baylan suspects the Night Sisters of manipulating/corrupting some massive source of the Force for their own agenda/dark magick. So, obviously he's looking for that source himself although I'm still not clear on his plans. I got a little teary-eyed when the Noti pointed at Sabine's pauldron. I mean it was pretty clear where the plot was heading but it was still moving. And Ezra!!! The reunion was all I wanted it to be. The exact mix of emotions and snark that defined their relationship. But yeah, Ezra will have thoughts on the price Sabine paid for the ticket to Peridea. Hopefully the episode also helped folks to better understand Sabine's actions.

Late to the White Cloak discussion: I always pictured them as a cross between the Inquisition and the Knights Templar (bit ironic but nevermind). The whole white cloak thing kinda forces your brain into that direction anyway.

I've seen plenty of interpretations - that's either a sign of great writing or of murky writing, YMMV. I'm going by the title of Shadow Warrior for a Jungian interpretation. Ahsoka had to do some shadow work - i.e. facing her shadow. In that context the shadow is a combination of traumas, guilt and fear that resides within. For Ahsoka it was her guilt about leaving the Jedi Order, leaving Anakin and later leaving Sabine. But also her trauma and guilt about the things she experienced in the Clone Wars. The Clones that perished under her command - someone pointed out that during the scene where Ahsoka comforts the injured/dying Clone Trooper the score references her last scene in the Clone Wars series where she is standing among the graves of all the Troopers she had not been able to save. Add to all that her conflicted feelings about her legacy as a Jedi and as Anakin's Padawan - cleverly picked up by Baylan Skull - and it's no wonder she ended up conflicted and out of balance, both figuratively and literally in that fight. Part of shadow work is integrating the shadow after having faced it - faced being the key word, not killed. Ahsoka drops the lightsaber in the end and chooses to live and move on. Someone on YT pointed out that the scene where the WBW vanishes and Ahsoka sinks into her reflection or vice-versa is a visual representation of that integration of the shadow. But hey, I've also seen interpretations that the lesson was a metaphysical buttkick by Anakin to his Padawan and it comes down to 'Snap out of it and go back to fight!'

This is still my pet peeve about Filoni's universe. After Luke and Ahsoka's first meeting was just handwaved away in Bobba Fett's show I had hoped we would at least get to see Ahsoka meeting Obi-Wan in his show or in the third season of the Mandalorian in another baffling detour - in a flashback or flashforward, I'm not picky. I just wanted to see her talk to somebody in the know about Anakin.

This was before the Night of a Thousand Tears. It's the Siege of Mandalore when Darth Maul together with a zealot faction of Mandalorians had kicked off a civil war on Mandalore - notice that Ahsoka finishes off a Mandalorian wearing a Maul inspired helmet. Ahsoka joined forces with Bo Katan and they managed to defeat Maul and his followers at the end of Clone Wars right before Order 66. The Night of a Thousand Tears happened later.

If I'm offered the choice between being wrapped Laocoön style in purgil tentacles or safely tucked away behind giant baleens for a hyperspace jump I'll chose the later. Also: Thrawn's ship would not have fitted inside a purgil. Lady Tano sure knows how to accessorize - her headpiece also changed. I wonder if someone has already analyzed the new design. Is Hera really in trouble? There should be several recordings of Elsbeth Morgan's giant hyperdrive ring built with elements from the New Republic. Are TPTB just going to ignore that or handwave it away?

Well, I'm glad I managed to remain un-spoiled for this one. Seeing a Clone Wars/Rebels real life version of Ahsoka was quite something (and Rex!). And now she's Ahsoka the White - was that mystic poncho and the light grey tunic stashed away in her Jedi starship? I saw Hayden Christensen for the first time in 'Life as a House' - so I always blamed his performance in the prequels on writing and directing. Glad to see that he finally got to play a version of Anakin that gave him more to work with. Ahsoka hitching a whale ride was not exactly a surprise but I had expected Hera to join her. Though the reasoning Hera gave for staying behind makes perfect sense. It will be interesting to see how much time of the remaining episodes will be dedicated to the plot in Peridia (and if Thrawn manages to pull off his comeback of course). Huyang/Tennant had some unexpected emotional moments. First at the cliff holding Sabine's helmet but also later when Hera asked about Ahsoka's master. I don't know how they pulled that off but it was as if he looked surprised by the realization that she did not know about Vader/Anakin. "Intense" - indeed! So now that they really brought home the fact that Ahsoka was essentially a child soldier whose CO/father figure turned mass-murderer we might get less complaints about her stoic demeanour. Especially as it seems she has left that behind at the ground of the ocean. Shoutout to Captain Carson Teva for holding off the Republican fleet and bringing some comic relief while doing so!

I knew who Selene is but did not make the connection to the cold open until the end - well played show, well played. I immensely enjoyed Lady Damodred dishing out the lay of the land to 'I have important Aes Sedai stuff to attend to - no time for sisterly talk' Moraine - that was such a fantastic scene. Maybe my favorite of the whole series so far. And the costumes in this show *swoons* Nynaeve's Accepted gown with the colorful embroidery at the wrist was lovely. And on a side-note: seeing an Accepted digs must be a great incentive to march through the Arches. Moraine's blue get-up adapted to Cairhiern's quasi-baroque styles was awesome. And Leane's top with the elaborate pleats deserved more screen time. Heck, even Rand's tattered coat looked great in its own way (though no match for that red-and-gold frock coat from last week).

Yeah, asshole senator would certainly not use Jacen as leverage during a court-martial against Hera.

Well, I'm glad Sabine remembered she's a Mandalorian. That force push fake-out that ended with Shin getting punched in the face made me laugh. Speaking of laughter I also think in this episode was the first time we've seen Ahsoka laugh. Oh, and I also laughed at Morrak just turning out to be a bit of smoke after all the crazy theories about his identity. I guess he was created by Nightsister magic. Less funny: We got some glimpses of what happened between Ahsoka and Sabine. Sounds as if Ursa, Tristan and Alrich all perished in the Night of a Thousand Tears and Sabine blames Ahsoka and probably herself. No wonder things were shitty between them and no wonder Baylan got to her. Dude is smooth even without a lightsaber. Huyang gets the Cassandra award of the episode. Splitting up is clearly not working for Sabine and Ahsoka - even though I understand why it happened. Damn, the Phoenix Squad had a lot of red shirts this time. I have no doubts Chopper will have his revenge. That "Hello, Snips" was perfect even though I was spoiled. But I'm also missing Morai.