Episode 2.14 – “Duchess of Mandalore”

Duchess Satine aims to convince the senate that Death Watch does not represent the views of all the people of Mandalore and that they should not intervene and deny her people the right to resolve this crisis on their own.  Satine fears that Death Watch will be hailed as liberators if the Senate interferes in planetary politics because they will offer the people defense from the Republic, allowing the planet to remain “neutral.” (until of course they realize DW is plotting with the Separatists) Meanwhile, Count Dooku plotting with Death Watch, tells the Governor Prez Vizsla of Concordia to send an assassin to coruscant.

At a meeting of the Senate, a message from deputy ministry Jerrick is played before the body. Jerec had been killed in a recent bombing on Mandalore. To Satine’s surprise and dismay, Jerrick advocates intervention of Republic in Mandalore. Satine shouts her confusion to the body and attests that the recording must be a fake because Jerec was a staunch advocate of the government. She protests the looming intervention on the grounds that Madalore will become a military target

Obi-Wan and Satine have a brief discussion in the hallway in which heated words are exchanged as Satine accuses him of being overly violent and he tries to excuse Republic intervention. Satine leaves to meet a contact, a move Obi-Wan considers rash, but is sabotaged on the way when her speeder’s controls are compromised. Satine and a few of her body guards manage to jump to safety before the speeder crashes into a building.

Because of the attack on Satine’s speeder, Palpatine calls a meeting of the Senate to vote on military intervention in Mandalore earlier than planned. Satine learns from Padme that the Senate has voted to send troops to Mandalore the following day. While walking with Padme, Satine meets up with Obi-Wan who expresses his concern for her, and Satine admits she didn’t want to worry him. Obi-Wan says that Satine must be cautious because the attack proves her enemies are in Coruscant, but Satine rebukes him saying, “Counting on the Republic is a mistake,” and asserting her intention to meet up with her contact.

Satine meets her contact who gives her a datacard, disc has the right recording of Jerec. A member of Death Watch shoots him from above then attempts to aim for Satine but police droids arrive. Mistaking her stun gun for a weapon, the police droids identify her as the suspect. Satine flees and disables some of the droids in the process. Then, she contacts Obi-Wan because he is the only person she can rely upon to help her.

Obi-Wan and Satine meet up in some rather obvious disguises (big dark cloaks are apparently not suspicious in the Republic). Satine hands the disc to Obi-Wan and instructs him to take it to Padme. He convinces her to turn herself in to distract the guards so that he can sneak in unnoticed because he is under suspicion as her friend. On their way to the Senate, they are attacked by the member of Death Watch who attempted to assassinate Satine earlier. Obi-Wan senses the danger when a smoke bomb is dropped and knocks (an appalled) Satine out of the way. Then, Obi-Wan attempts to disarm the Mandalorian who disarms him instead. They tussle on the ground for a little while, but the balance is changed when Satine tosses Obi-Wan his lightsaber. He then Force-throws the Mandalorian who flies away (my backpack’s got jets…).

Padme brings up the Occupation of Mandalore to be revisited by the Senate, but Palpatine defends it saying that it provides security for the Republic by crushing any element that will compromise its security. Then, Padme plays the true speech for the Senate and the troops are called off because Jerec calls for the Mandalorians to stand up against Death Watch themselves as a united people.

Governor Prez Vizsla realizes he can’t hold the planet without Count Dooku’s forces who will not intervene since the Republic is not. However, Count Dooky says they have other ways of achieving their goal. In the end, Obi-Wan praises Satine saying, “it was your unshakable faith in your people and your determination that brought about this result.” Then, they wonder aloud who is behind all this. This seems an odd statement because the battle droids in “Voyage of Temptation” indicate that Count Dooku is in league with Death Watch. A more appropriate question would’ve been “Why?”

I enjoyed this episode, but it seemed more like a filler episode than an exciting conclusion. Ben and I are in a disagreement as to whether this is the last we will see of Satine. Dooku said that he had alternate plans, but, given the Senate’s decision to not be involved, it seems like this will be an interplanetary crisis. However, I don’t think it’s out of the question for Satine to reappear if this is the last episode centered around her and Mandalore. I give this a 3.5/5 Lightsabers.