“Twilight of the Apprentice Part 1”

Journey to Malachor

The episode opens with CT-7567 “Rex” corresponding with Ahsoka Tano aboard the Phantom. Rex offers to come join her on her mission but Tano declines his offer. He remarks that experience always outranks everything (a callback to their very first conversation), with Tano replying that if that were the case, then she definitely outranks him now. Their communication ends with Rex wishing Ahsoka the best. After ending their conversation, Ahsoka returns to the ship’s hangar to rejoin Kanan Jarrus and Ezra Bridger. When Ezra asks Kanan why Rex was so worried, Kanan explains that the planet Malachor was considered off-limits to the Jedi in the olden days. Tano then remarks that “there is always a bit of truth in legends.” Ezra then enquires as to why Master Yoda would send them to Malachor if it was off-limits.

Shortly thereafter, the Phantom exits hyperspace outside Malachor. Kanan suggests that Malachor has something that would help them to stop the Inquisitors. Tano then interjects that they are searching for knowledge that would help them defeat the Sith. As the Phantom descends into Malachor’s atmosphere, the astromech droid C1-10P “Chopper” detects another ship. The Jedi and Tano then realize that they are not alone and that someone else is also interested in Malachor’s secrets. Kanan tells Chopper to track the vessel. After passing through several clouds, Ezra spots a large group of towering monoliths.

As the Phantom approaches the structures, Kanan tells Chopper to get a fix on the second ship’s location while the Jedi and Tano inspect the site. Ahsoka finds that the monoliths have inscriptions written on them in an ancient tongue which she is capable of deciphering. Despite Tano’s orders, a mesmerized Ezra touches one of the monoliths; causing the three of them to fall through a cavern. While Ahsoka is able to use the Force to land to safety, both Kanan and Ezra are disoriented by the fall. Underground, the group come upon a massive structure, with Ahsoka identifying it as an ancient Sith temple. When Chopper contacts Ezra to warn them that they might fall through the surface, Ezra sarcastically thanks the droid for his warning. Chopper also tells Kanan that he has picked up the trail of the other ship.

As the Jedi approach the Sith temple, Ahsoka explains that they are there to seek forbidden knowledge that would enable them to defeat their enemies. On the way, the Jedi and Tano stumble upon an old battlefield littered with fallen lightsabers and the statue-like remains of long-dead combatants. Ahsoka recalls that thousands of years ago, there was a battle on Malachor where the Jedi attacked the Sith temple. When Ezra asks her about the outcome, Tano surmises from the ruins that nobody won that battle. Kanan then interrupts them, saying they need to keep moving.

Ezra then states that their quest is a riddle and gets into an argument with his master, when they suddenly spot one of the “statues” moving. The figure charges at them and Ezra ignites his lightsaber in self-defense. The armored figure then ignites his own red double-bladed lightsaber, revealing himself as an Inquisitor known as the Eighth Brother. The Inquisitor is surprised to encounter the three of them and hurls a trio of explosives at them, destroying the ground beneath Ezra and causing him to fall through into an underground tunnel, separating him from his companions. Stating that he’ll be fine, both Ahsoka and Kanan then go in pursuit of the lone Inquisitor.

Meeting Old Master

While trapped underground, Ezra hears a voice in the darkness call out to him. Ezra draws his lightsaber in self defense, prompting the stranger to tell the boy that he means him no harm. The stranger then tells Ezra that he has been stranded on Malachor after his starship had crashed. When pressed, Ezra reluctantly tells the stranger that he and his friends are on a quest. The stranger then responds that he is also seeking knowledge about the Sith and suggests that they work together. The stranger offers to lead him to the Sith temple but adds that he is too old to enter the temple by himself. Alone and lost, Ezra reluctantly agrees to accompany the stranger into the Sith temple. The stranger introduces himself as “Old Master” with Ezra sarcastically replying that his name was Jabba.

Back on the surface, Ahsoka and Kanan pursue the Eighth Brother across Malachor’s charred and barren surface. During the pursuit, Chopper contacts Kanan to tell him that he has found the Inquisitor’s ship; which turns out to be a TIE/ad v1 starfighter. Kanan tells the droid not to let the Inquisitor get offworld and warns Chopper that disobeying him would cost them. Meanwhile, Ezra and the Old Master continue their journey to the Sith temple. Ezra tells him that he needs to get back to his friends. The Old Master understands his predicament since he considers the Inquisitors as powerful opponents. He then reassures Ezra that the Inquisitors and their Sith masters are his enemies.

When Ezra asks the Old Master whether he was a Jedi, the man replies that he was a Force-wielder a long time ago. After Ezra questions if he was a Sith, the Old Master replies that the Sith were the enemies who had ripped him from his mother’s arms, murdered his brother, used him as a weapon, and then finally abandoned him. The Old Master also denounces the Sith for taking away his former status. Ezra is able to sympathize with the Old Master’s predicament since the Empire had taken away his home and his parents. When the Old Master asks Ezra whether he wants revenge, the young apprentice replies that he wants justice. The Old Master then claims that the Sith temple contains the knowledge necessary to destroy the Sith.

Back on Malachor’s surface, Chopper flies into the Eighth Brother’s TIE fighter only to encounter the Inquisitor’s red blades. Despite the Inquisitor’s opposition, he manages to force himself into the cockpit. Shortly after, Kanan and Ahsoka catch up with the Eighth Brother and Chopper manages to use the fighter’s laser cannons to knock the Inquisitor to the ground. Kanan and Tano then disarm the Brother and take him prisoner. Kanan then praises the astromech droid for getting things right this time.

Meanwhile, Ezra and the Old Master approach the temple, which the Old Master describes as both a place of worship for some and an engine of destruction to others. When Ezra asks how they’ll get in, the Old Master explains that two must lift the stones guarding the temple since that is the way of the Sith. When Ezra enquires on his extensive knowledge of the Sith, the Old Master tells him that to defeat his enemy, he must understand them, a sentiment that Ahsoka had earlier stated to Ezra. When Ezra points out that his master disagrees with the Old Master’s philosophy that one must practice their beliefs, the stranger responds that he would be doomed to fail in that case.

As Ezra struggles to open the stone door, the Old Master implores him to give in to his anger and passion, something that was forbidden by the Jedi. Using their anger, Ezra and the Old Master are able to open the temple’s first door. However, they find that the temple has a row of stone doors. This process exerts a lot of energy from Ezra, who asks how many more doors they have to open. The Old Master then urges Ezra to give in to his rage and anger in order for them to succeed. Having gained each others’ trust, Ezra then tells the stranger his real name. In response, the stranger tells him that he was now called “Maul.”

The Sith temple

Back on the surface, Kanan and Ahsoka interrogate the captured Eighth Brother while Chopper watches. This being the fourth Inquisitor that Kanan and his companions had encountered, Kanan asks the Inquisitor whether there were more like him, the Eighth Brother replies that there were more than enough to handle him, Ezra, and Ahsoka. The Inquisitor tells Kanan and Ahsoka that he is hunting a “shadow” on Malachor, which turns out to be the former Sith apprentice Darth Maul.

Meanwhile, Maul leads Ezra to the center of the temple where they see a Sith holocron resting on an altar. Maul tells Ezra that only someone willing to risk oblivion would be worthy of the power of the holocron. Since the altar is separated by a deep chasm, Ezra tells Maul to throw him to the altar, stressing that this was something his master had taught him. Taking Ezra’s advice, Maul throws Ezra towards the altar. Ezra manages to reach the Sith holocron but the ground begins to shake as the temple starts to open up.

Back on the surface, Kanan and Tano approach the temple with the captive Eighth Brother where they see it opening. While distracted, the Inquisitor takes the opportunity to use his wrist communicator to contact the other Inquisitors. Kanan then sends Chopper away to prepare the Phantom for departure. Meanwhile at the Sith temple, the altar begins to rise and Maul tells Ezra to jump. As Kanan and Ahsoka enter the temple, Kanan notes that Ezra is most probably involved in the recent movements. Back at the altar, Maul uses the Force to levitate Ezra to safety and takes the Sith holocron.

Meanwhile, Kanan and Tano receive warning from Chopper that they have company. Shortly after, the Fifth Brother and the Seventh Sister arrive with their red-bladed spinning lightsabers and free the Eighth Brother. Together, the three Inquisitors attack Kanan and Ahsoka. Not long after, Maul and Ezra arrive to find Kanan and Tano fighting the Inquisitors. Ahsoka quickly recognizes Maul, as do the Inquisitors. Maul, for his part, chuckles in amusement and remarks “What fun!” at the sight of the dark siders.