Sam Witwer (Maul) described the Star Wars: The Clone Wars final story arc as the “best ever.” Thus far through two episodes, he’s not wrong. We are finally getting to see the Siege of Mandalore…. Better yet, we’re seeing the show cross over with Episode III: Revenge of the Sith. In addition to direct ties to that film, it also links directly with Solo: A Star Wars Story (more on that later). But that’s not all. Episode 10, “The Phantom Apprentice,” provides a big Clone Wars connection to, and significant foreshadowing for The Mandalorian, as well.
The Mandalorian, as we know, is the first-ever, live-action Star Wars television show in franchise history. It’s been making its own headlines lately, too. Disney and Lucasfilm announced a new docu-series about the show set to begin on Star Wars Day. Likewise, we learned that pre-production on Season 3 has already begun, as well. But it’s a big Clone Wars connection some might have missed that’s caught our attention.
Clone Wars connection to The Mandalorian
In “The Phantom Apprentice,” Maul realizes that the time for Order 66 has come. In a dramatic monologue to Gar Saxon and his Mandalorian followers, Maul describes how they must seize power amidst the coming chaos. What he says next, however, provides a big Clone Wars connection and some serious foreshadowing for The Mandalorian:
It is not the way of your people to hide here in the gutters.”
The statement is intended to inspire Saxon’s people to battle…. But it perfectly describes exactly what would happen to the Mandalorian people following the Empire’s Great Purge years later.
In The Mandalorian, Din Djarin and his Mandalorian Covert do exactly that; hide in the gutters/sewers of Navarro. Their people decimated, the remaining clan loyalists must conceal themselves for survival. Despite Maul’s proselytizing, this Clone Wars connection becomes ironically prophetic:
“This is the way” of the Mandalorians in the end, after all.
Star Wars: The Clone Wars airs Fridays on Disney+.
Disney Gallery: The Mandalorian begins May the Fourth.
