Sacrifice (The Clone Wars - S06E13) - Animated Series

Series: Star Wars: The Clone Wars

Title: Sacrifice

Season: Six

Episode: 13

Original Air Date: March 7, 2014 (Netflix)

Runtime: 23 minutes

Credits: Review & Text: Mike Taber; Page layout & Design: Chuck Paskovics

Facing all that you fear will free you from yourself.

This is it. The final episode of Star Wars: The Clone Wars, and what an ending it was. I desperately want more episodes of Star Wars: The Clone Wars, but “Sacrifice” was the great way to end the series. This episode was poignant, engrossing, and impactful. “Sacrifice” was an amazing conclusion to Yoda’s personal journey over these past few episodes, made great use of Darth Sidious, featured a fantastic guest appearance from a Star Wars legend, and its final minutes were pure perfection.

Yoda arrived on the ancient Sith world of Moraband at the beginning of the episode. Moraband had a really strong design and it fit in very well in the Star Wars universe. I know there is some controversy surrounding the name of the planet though. In the Expanded Universe the Sith home world has traditionally been called Korriban but it was switched to Moraband at the request of George Lucas for this episode. I understand some people are upset about the change but it didn’t bother me at all when watching the episode. Yoda instructed Artoo to wait with the ship and he began the final leg of his journey. Yoda arrived at one of the Sith temples and encountered a giant serpent and ghostly Sith warriors outside the temple. Meanwhile, a tactical droid informed Count Dooku that Darth Sidious has ordered him to Coruscant. Yoda entered the temple and discovered the tomb of a long dead Sith Lord, Darth Bane. A specter of Darth Bane appeared to Yoda. Darth Bane had a very cool design and was voiced by none other than Mark Hamill! While we all know Mark Hamill as Luke Skywalker, he’s also a very talented voice actor and he gave a great performance in his brief appearance as Darth Bane. It was also great to finally see George Lucas’s take on Darth Bane, a character he originally created. I just wish we spent a little more time with Darth Bane. His appearance felt a little rushed. Yoda recognized that Darth Bane was nothing more than illusion and Bane disappeared back into his tomb.

Dooku arrived on Coruscant and met Darth Sidious who sensed they could strike a deadly blow against the Jedi Order. As Yoda traveled farther into the Sith temple, he once again encountered the Force Priestesses. Serenity warned Yoda that while all of his trials have been there doing, they have no control over where he was about to enter. It’s a place where the Sith sacrificed Jedi. Serenity also warned that the Sith of Yoda’s time will find him there. Back on Coruscant, Darth Sidious informed Dooku that Yoda has arrived on Moraband. He planned to exploit the strong bond between Yoda and Dooku to see things they otherwise could not. I’m glad they brought up the strong bond that once existed between Yoda and Dooku, sometimes I feel like that gets looked over. Dooku’s fall to dark side must have hurt Yoda as much as Anakin’s fall will later hurt Obi-Wan. Sidious used a drop of Dooku’s blood and an old art of the dark side to reach out to Yoda through the Force, a power known as dark illusion. While this power set up some of the best scenes in this episode, it felt more in line with Mother Talzin’s powers than Sidious’.

On Moraband Yoda encountered a very malnourished Sifo-Dyas who promised him answers. Yoda refused the offer and Sifo-Dyas transformed into Darth Sidious. Blue energy then surrounded and engulfed Master Yoda. Yoda awoke on a gunship with Anakin, Captain Rex, and other members of the 501st already on board. Yoda was very confused but Anakin said they tracked Dooku and his master to an abandoned industrial sector on Coruscant. Yoda agreed they must not be allowed to escape and even executed if necessary. They arrived at the facility and right away Dooku electrocuted Captain Rex and the clones with force lighting. Sidious warned Yoda that he could not stop what was to come and just then Anakin executed an unarmed Count Dooku, just as he will in Revenge of the Sith.

Yoda and Darth Sidious engaged in a duel on a catwalk extending from the tower. Anakin tried to help Yoda but Sidious quickly defeated him. Yoda absorbed the force lighting Sidious hurled at him but it caused a discharge of energy, just like their duel in Revenge of the Sith. Sidious cut the platform and Yoda had to use the Force to save Anakin while trying to deflect force lighting. Sidious snarled, “Why not let him go. Let him die and you can stop all that I will do.” Yoda responded, “No, the future is not yours yet. Tempted I will not be. Sacrifice all I am ready to do.” Yoda was willing to be completely selfless and sacrifice everything. Yoda allowed himself to be electrocuted to save Anakin. Yoda cut the platform and in an absolutely brilliant scene Yoda and a cackling Sidious fell to certain doom. Sidious disappeared during the fall with only his cloak remaining. Sidious had failed to break Yoda’s spirit, his illusion was over.

Yoda awoke on Moraband and Serenity informed him, “The one you know as Qui-Gon Jinn will commune with you and guide your training. Like us you shall learn to maintain your consciousness after death. Enlightenment. Spirit. Balance. There is another Skywalker.” The screen faded to white and we heard various sounds from the Original Trilogy including Vader’s breath and Yoda’s final words. Yoda saw the future, including his own death. He now understands what must be sacrificed to bring balance to the Force. At least that how I took it. Yoda returned to Coruscant and met Mace Windu and Obi-Wan Kenobi under the great tree at the Jedi Tempe. Yoda said there wasn’t much to tell of his journey but he did say, “No longer certain that one ever wins a war I am. For fighting the battles, the bloodshed already lost we have. Yet, open to us, a path remains that unknown to the Sith is. Through this path, victory we may yet find. Not victory in the Clone Wars, but victory for all time.” The camera then panned up and focused in on one of the flowers on the great tree. It was a beautiful yet poignant way to end the series.

What Worked

• The final scene back at the Jedi Temple was a perfect way to end the series
• “There is another Skywalker”
• Mark Hamill’s Darth Bane
• Yoda’s duel with Darth Sidious

What Didn’t Work

• No major complaints

External Links:

• StarWars.com Episode Guide
• Wookieepedia Episode Summary