Two warriors meet for the last time.
"You're in the wrong place, Ezra Bridger."
— Obi-Wan "Ben" Kenobi
In response to a vision of Maul, Ezra defies Hera and Kanan and travels to a remote planet where he hopes to prevent the former Sith Lord from carrying out his plan.
Tropes in this episode include:
- Alas, Poor Villain: Maul's death is presented in a sympathetic light. Obi-Wan shows some pity for the former Sith Lord, comforting Maul while he dies and giving some closure for his quest for vengeance by revealing Luke's existence.
- Ambiguous Syntax: Maul's last words are "He will avenge us." Us as in himself and the ones he's lost, or us as in him and Obi-Wan? Or, possibly, both.
- Anti-Climax: Instead of the episode ending in a spectacular, acrobatic duel between two aging warriors, an exhausted Maul is defeated in three moves — and much of the emphasis on the scene involves Maul and Obi-Wan making peace with one another as the former dies. Dave Filoni has stated that the choice to stage it this way was in part a Shout-Out inspired by Seven Samurai and Kyouzo the swordsman's introductory duel. A lot of viewers had figured it out as Maul's anxious posturing is almost exactly copied from that film.
- Bait-and-Switch: In the episode that wraps up the Maul arc, Ezra interpreted "the key to destroying the Sith" as being the Jedi Master, Obi-Wan Kenobi. This episode reveals that he's wrong — it's Luke Skywalker, as a dying Maul discovers. (But long-time fans already know that.)
- Batman Gambit: Obi-Wan assumes Qui-Gon's lightsaber stance, resulting in Maul trying to kill him the same way he killed Qui-Gon, at which point Obi-Wan kills him in seconds. Maul's voice actor confirmed during an interview this was exactly what Obi-Wan was intentionally goading him into.
- Binary Suns: It's right there in the title.
- Book Ends: A duel with Darth Maul ends with the loser dying slowly of his wounds and talking about how a Skywalker will make things right. This is exactly how it played out at the end of the Battle of Naboo. Not only that, the move right before the loser dies is Maul attempting to bash his opponent in the face with his lightsaber hilt, just with a reversed outcome.
- Call-Back:
- The episode ends the season-long arc of Maul searching for Kenobi, first explored in "The Holocrons of Fate", then later "Visions and Voices".
- Ezra hears bits of Obi-Wan's message from the premiere.
- Maul still has a piece of the Sith Holocron from when it was broken in "The Holocrons of Fate", and if you look carefully in "Visions and Voices" you could see the shattered Holocron was missing a corner.
- Tusken Raiders are terrified at the sound of a lightsaber igniting.
- Ezra uses a Magic Compass to track Maul (and/or Obi-Wan) across a planet's surface, just as Savage Opress did during The Clone Wars. At one point, the compass goes out to signal that Ezra is close and needs to land, just as Savage's did.
- Before attacking, the two warriors assume their respective opening stances from the Clone Wars era, then the ones from their first duel on Naboo.
- During the fight between Obi-Wan and Maul, Maul attempts to use the same move that defeated Qui-Gon in The Phantom Menace (forcing his opponent's lightsaber into a position where he has the leverage to push said lightsaber away and hit his opponent in the face with his lightsaber's hilt to open them up for a fatal stab), only for Obi-Wan to counter it (first by locking his lightsaber against Maul's initial strike in the maneuver and maintaining control over his lightsaber's orientation and position, allowing him to duck the hilt and counter-attack) and finish the fight with a slash through Maul's lightsaber and chest.
- Obi-Wan once again cuts Maul's lightsaber in half. Though this time, it's with a downwards slash instead of an upwards one.
- At the end of the episode, Obi-Wan watches Luke running home against the binary sunset in much the same manner he watched Owen, Beru and the baby Luke against the same at the end of Revenge of the Sith, right down to a similar chin-stroking gesture.
- Maul dies in Obi-Wan's arms, just like Qui-Gon and Satine did. Ironically, both Qui-Gon and Satine were killed by Maul himself. In addition, both Maul's and Qui-Gon's last words concern the destiny of The Chosen One.
- Call-Forward:
- Obi-Wan rescues an unconscious teenager from the desert. It won't be the last time.
- As Ben watches a far-off Luke hurrying home, a part of the original Star Wars theme — "Binary Sunset" — is played.
- The Cameo: Luke Skywalker is seen in the distance at the very end of the episode. Aunt Beru can also be heard calling him back to the Lars homestead.
- Continuity Nod:
- In A New Hope, Ben mentions that he hasn't heard the name Obi-Wan in a long time. True to that, Maul refers to him only as "Kenobi". Even Ezra only refers to him as "Master Kenobi".
- Maul attempts to kill Obi-Wan with the same move he used to kill Qui-Gon in The Phantom Menace. Unfortunately for him, it ends the opposite way this time around.
- Also during the duel Obi-Wan shuffles through his old Form I/Shii-Cho pose and Qui-Gon's Form IV/Ataru pose. Maul's Really Dead Montage has a clip of them to remind the fans.
- Cool Old Guy: Obi-Wan, as always. Both wise enough to advise Ezra on the correct path and badass enough to take on Maul.
- Cradling Your Kill: Obi-Wan catches Maul after dealing the lethal strike, and holds him gently as he dies in his arms, much like he did with Qui-Gon all those years ago.
- Crossing the Desert: Much of the episode consists of Maul and Ezra searching the desert wastes of Tatooine for Obi-Wan.
- Curb-Stomp Battle: Maul's fight with Obi-Wan is over in three moves; Maul slashes at him twice, is blocked, and Obi-Wan slices not only through the hilt of Maul's lightsaber, but also deals a lethal slash to the former Sith's chest in the same stroke.
- A Day in the Limelight: Aside from the fact that Ezra goes after Darth Maul, this is the first episode where the narrative completely revolves around a supporting character and the Ghost crew are pushed to the sidelines.
- Deadly Dust Storm: Ezra and Chopper get caught in a sandstorm while walking through the open desert.
- Death Seeker: Maul, maybe. He certainly didn't seem that devastated when he realized he was going to die, nor did he put up much of a fight at the end. It wouldn't matter to him either way.
- Dies Wide Open: Maul finally enters the Force, and Obi-Wan pays his last respects.
- Dirt Forcefield: Averted. Ezra, Chopper, and Maul are covered head to toe in sand and dust. The only one who plays this straight is Obi-Wan by the campfire, who's presumably had time to clean up a bit.
- Dramatic Irony:
- Rex says that he also wishes that Obi-Wan was alive, but Senator Organa confirmed his death for the Rebellion when asked. Even though Ezra knows, he still cannot tell anyone.
- Hera claims that if Kenobi were alive, he wouldn't be hiding in some desert backwater... which is exactly what he's doing.
- Due to the Dead: Obi-Wan respectfully closes Maul's eyes after his death.
- Easily Forgiven: It doesn't look like Ezra gets punished for his little unauthorized excursion and the destruction of the A-wing. He did at least bring back Maul's fighter and news of his death, which is good news for the rebels, as it means they have one less threat to deal with.
- Entertainingly Wrong: Obi-Wan believes that the Jedi were a generation too early and that Luke is the Chosen One, rather than Anakin. This is an understandable view given what Anakin has become, and yet...
- "Eureka!" Moment: Maul just before the final duel. He asks Obi-Wan directly why he chose Tatooine of all possible worlds to hide upon (and especially given its role in their respective histories). And then, Maul slowly realizes: Obi-Wan isn't hiding. He has a purpose here. He's protecting something... or rather someone.
- Evil Cannot Comprehend Good: Maul dies believing Luke will avenge those who Sidious wronged. While this is indirectly true (he is the trigger for Sidious' demise), the entire purpose of Luke growing up away from the conflict and without being trained since childhood is so that he could face the Sith without wanting revenge. It's also a nod to how Return of the Jedi's title was originally slated to be Revenge of the Jedi, but was changed because the Jedi aren't about revenge.
- Face Death with Dignity: As he's dying, Maul is reassured by Obi-Wan that the Chosen One does exist, and takes comfort in the fact that he will eventually avenge him by destroying the Sith that have ruined his life. It's especially noticeable seeing how most other villains Maul interacted with — Grievous, Palpatine, Dooku, the Nightsisters — end up not finding any sense of peace at the time of their death, despite their more composed nature compared to Maul.
- Some Fridge Brilliance as well: The Sith teach that one should fear death and seek to avoid it at all costs. Darth Maul, who spent nearly his whole life as a Sith Lord and followed their teachings even after renouncing the title, has finally rejected the Sith and their teachings once and for all by facing his own death and accepting it, something that not even Sidious could ever do.
- Fire Purifies: The symbolic version as Ezra and Maul journey through a burning desert that tests them spiritually and physically. Ezra finds enlightenment at the end, while Maul is driven mad.
- Foil:
- Ezra and Maul are presented as such; they both come to Tatooine in search of Obi-Wan, but struggle to find him amongst the endless desert. While they eventually find him, the results are opposite, but have similar conclusions: Ezra is assured that, while Obi-Wan isn't the key to destroying the Sith, the greater Rebellion still matters, and leaves peacefully; Maul is half-mad from (amongst other things) his time in the desert, attacks Obi-Wan and is cut down, but is comforted by the belief that the Chosen One will bring about the end of the Sith, and dies at peace.
- Maul and Obi-Wan. Both have spent the years between the end of the Clone Wars and this episode removed from the greater galaxy, having lost everything from their old lives while holding on to a singular purpose (revenge for Maul, protecting Luke for Obi-Wan). In terms of appearance and mental state, they're total opposites (Maul looks demonic, is dressed in black, and unbalanced, while Obi-Wan looks like a normal old man in white and brown robes, and perfectly calm). The subsequent duel further contrasts them: Maul attacks to no avail and loses, while Obi-Wan holds the defensive and quickly wins. Maul's last words attest to their similarities, underlining that they've both lost everything to the Sith and their mutual hope that Luke will make things right.
- Foregone Conclusion: Kenobi obviously has to survive his encounter with Maul intact to be in place for A New Hope. Maul, on the other hand, isn't so lucky. Also, Kenobi will join the rebellion, but it's not yet his time.
- Foreshadowing:
- A dying Maul asks Obi-Wan if Luke really is the Chosen One. When Obi-Wan seemingly answers in the affirmative, Maul contently notes "He will avenge us". This refers to Luke's role in Vader's redemption back to the Light Side, since Anakin is the real Chosen One, but both Luke and Anakin play a role in the downfall of Palpatine and the Empire in Return of the Jedi.
- Obi-Wan tells Ezra that he has all he needs, and Ezra returns with a newfound determination to free his home. In the series finale, "Family Reunion — and Farewell", all the major actors that contribute to the finale have already been put into place by this episode, with the only piece missing being Ezra's decision to ignore his own needs and wants to help Lothal.
- He Knows Too Much: Obi-Wan is willing to try to talk things out with Maul until the Dark Sider begins dropping hints that he knows about Luke. The dawning look of horror on Obi-Wan's face grows into a subdued Oh, Crap! face and a look of resolve, and he immediately draws his lightsaber, knowing now that he can't let Maul live.
- History Repeats: Maul is once more tracking someone down on Tatooine, nearly thirty years after the first instance — though he's having far more trouble finding his target this time round.
- Insult Backfire: Obi-Wan uses several of these to shut down Maul's attempt at taunting him.Maul: Look what has become of you; a rat in the desert.
Obi-Wan: Look what I have risen above.
Maul: I have come to kill you, but perhaps it's worse to leave you here, festering in your squalor.
Obi-Wan: If you define yourself by your power to take life, your desire to dominate, to possess, then you have nothing. [Maul growls angrily] - Irony: Maul's final moments echo those of Qui-Gon and Satine; like those Maul himself had killed, Maul dies in Obi-Wan's arms, being comforted by the Jedi Master in his final moments.
- It's All My Fault: Ezra blames himself when he and Chopper almost die in the desert.
- Jump Scare: Chopper does this to Ezra in the A-Wing after they arrive at Tatooine, having snuck on board.
- Killed Off for Real: Darth Maul, courtesy of Obi-Wan's lightsaber. Following this episode's debut, the official Star Wars website gave the character a Really Dead Montage to emphasize that he's not coming back after this.
- The Last Dance: Having failed in his ambitions as a Sith Lord and Crime Lord alike and having his best years behind him, Maul foregoes all other ambitions in favour of settling things once and for all with Obi-Wan.
- Last-Name Basis: Obi-Wan, in keeping with the Continuity Nod above, is never addressed by his first name.
- Leaning on the Fourth Wall: Obi-Wan tells Ezra that he shouldn't be on Tatooine, and that Maul's interference has altered events. Both lampshade the fact that the show is adding bits to the established canon of the films.
- Let's Fight Like Gentlemen: Maul and Obi-Wan cycle through the three stances used in their previous confrontations:
- Picking up where they left off during the Clone Wars (Form VI/Juyo for Maul with a single blade held in front of him, Form III/Soresu for Obi-Wan).
- Going back to the very start, the duel on Naboo (Maul holding the saber horizontally, igniting the second blade, Obi-Wan in Form I/Shii-Cho).
- Pinpointing the moment it became personal for both of them after Qui-Gon was killed (Maul with the lightsaber behind his back, Obi-Wan using his master's Form IV/Ataru stance).
- Let Them Die Happy: Despite killing two people dear to him, Old Ben allows Maul to be at peace in his final moments by informing him that he is protecting the Chosen One.
- Magic Compass: Ezra uses two pieces of the holocron as this.
- Metaphorically True: Obi-Wan and Ezra discuss this when they meet, noting that Ezra saw what he wanted to see in the holocrons rather than the truth. Also played straight: Obi-Wan never outright says that Ezra's interpretation was wrong, but uses a lot of Weasel Words to make Ezra believe that.Obi-Wan: The truth is often what we make of it.
- Mythology Gag:
- Obi-Wan says he'll tend to the "old wound" that is his feud with Maul, name-dropping the Infinities comicnote about their confrontation on Tatooine, "Old Wounds". This comic was where The Clone Wars got the design for Maul's cyborg legs when it turned out that he canonically survived The Phantom Menace.
- The episode closes with Obi-Wan watching over Luke Skywalker at the Lars homestead, with Aunt Beru calling out his name twice, in the exact same tone and cadence as at the opening of A New Hope.
- Nice Job Breaking It, Hero: Once again, Ezra is manipulated by Maul into helping him, this time by leading him straight to Obi-Wan.
- Old Master: Obi-Wan takes this to the limit in his duel with Maul. First he shifts through several forms to lure Maul into a particular attack, then he cuts Maul down in three strokes. There's no long, drawn out, flashy duel, just the minimum of effort.
- One Dialogue, Two Conversations: It's subtle, but when Obi-Wan and Ezra talk, Obi-Wan is talking about the Chosen One and Ezra is talking about the key to destroying the Sith, neither realizing that they're two different people.
- Ooh, Me Accent's Slipping: Totally averted. Stephen Stanton does an amazing job mimicking Sir Alec Guinness's voice
- Papa Wolf: Obi-Wan doesn't draw his lightsaber until Maul hints that he possibly knows about Luke.
- Pet the Dog: Maul gives Obi-Wan and Ezra time to finish parting ways before he goes in for the kill.
- Present Absence: The sum total of Luke Skywalker's presence is his distant cameo at the end, but he plays a significant role nonetheless, being the reason that Obi-Wan is on Tatooine in the first place and a major factor in his decision to confront Maul. The final exchange between Maul and Obi-Wan emphasises Luke's importance, as Maul believes that he will avenge those who have suffered at the hands of the Sith (which Luke accomplishes about seven years after this episode's events).
- Really Dead Montage: Although not in the episode itself, the Rebels Recon recap and the Star Wars website both showed one of these, as if to say "He's not coming back, folks."
- Repetitive Audio Glitch: Maul uses a piece of Kanan's Jedi Holocron to make it play a distorted audio message of Obi-Wan's warning back aboard the Ghost to lure Ezra into looking for Obi-Wan himself.
- Sanity Slippage: He was already going crazier ever since the ending of "The Holocrons of Fate", but Maul suffering from the realistic part about looking for a single man on a completely desert planet, and that he's so close to doing so, makes it worse. Happens again in the actual duel, where the exhausted and anger-crazed former Sith is easily dispatched by the more patient and well-prepared Jedi Master.
- Say My Name: "Kenobi... KENOBIIIIIIIIIIIIIII!!!!!!"
- Science Fantasy: The story bears elements of a classic chivalric tale: two knights go on a quest across a desert, braving physical and mental trials and using enchanted compasses to find their way, in order to meet a wizard. One is humble and good-hearted and returns home unharmed and enlightened, while the other is arrogant and violent and dies by the wizard's hand.
- Secret-Keeper: Ezra and Chopper become two of the few aware Obi-Wan is alive, but keep this from the rest of the rebellion in compliance with Obi-Wan's wishes. It's also indirectly stated that Bail Organa is one as well, since he told Rex that Obi-Wan was dead in spite of being one of the last people in contact with him before he exiled himself to Tatooinenote .
- Shoot the Dog: In keeping with the pacifist ideals of the Jedi, it's clear that Obi-Wan would rather avoid fighting and killing Maul if possible, and he doesn't even show any desire to fight Maul when he finally tracks him down and threatens him directly. However, once Maul deduces Luke's existence, Obi-Wan realises he can't allow him to live, and ignites his lightsaber for a duel. Even then, he makes his foe's death as quick and painless as possible.
- Slasher Smile: Maul sports one as he cuts down the Tusken Raiders.
- So Last Season: Happens to a villain. Maul attempts to kill Obi-Wan with the same move he used to kill Qui-Gon (namely bashing his lightsaber hilt into his face to stun him for a killing blow). Obi-Wan is now not only leagues more experienced than he was when they fought in the Clone Wars, he's more experienced than Qui-Gon was at the time as well, and easily defeats the move and kills Maul in a single stroke.
- Special Edition Title: Instead of the upbeat Rebels theme, the end credits plays the Force theme, to drive home what a big deal this episode is.
- Surprisingly Realistic Outcome:
- Maul knows that Kenobi is on Tatooine, but not precisely where he is. Since he has a whole planet to search and only knows that he's in the desert (on a Single-Biome Planet that consists of nothing but desert, in fact), he's had no success in actually tracking him down. All Maul had was sensing Obi-Wan through the Force.
- After his A-Wing is destroyed, Ezra takes off into the desert in search of Obi-Wan. But without water or protection from the suns, he eventually passes out from heat exhaustion, not long after Chopper runs out of battery power.
- By the time Maul and Obi-Wan duel, Maul has been mentally and physically deteriorating for months in the desert, and who knows what deprivations before that. On the other hand, Obi-Wan is far more experienced than he or Qui-Gon were during any of their previous duels, as well as physically relaxed and emotionally centered. As such, Obi-Wan is able to kill him rather easily.
- As we learn in the Kenobi series, Obi-Wan is at peace in a fashion experienced by perhaps no other Jedi in the canon. He knows his successes, he knows his failures, he knows his place, and he knows his opponent. He is in the moment. He is one with the Force.
- Maul attempts to use the same move he used to kill Qui-Gon against Obi-Wan. Obi-Wan is far more experienced than Qui-Gon was at the time and had become the best defensive lightsaber duelist in the Jedi Order (according to Mace Windu), while Qui-Gon's particular style had rather poor defensive capabilities. Obi-Wan effortlessly defeats the technique.
- The duel itself. Actual sword fights tended to last only a few seconds, not extended, choreographed battles. While some fans decried the duel ended too swiftly and anti-climatically, it is probably the most realistic depiction of a sword (or lightsaber) fight in the whole of Star Wars.
- Surprisingly Sudden Death: The fight between Obi-Wan and Maul is decided in all of two seconds, and after Maul discovers that he's been fatally wounded, he doesn't live for much longer after that.
- Sword Cane: Maul once again disguises his lightsaber as a cane, but this time, he actually needs a walking stick due to crossing the desert for months.
- Talking Is a Free Action: Maul is about to move in to fight Obi-Wan, but the latter is able to still give Ezra some sound advice without any pressure whatsoever. This is justified; Maul was actually waiting for Ezra to leave.
- Thirsty Desert: Tatooine nearly kills Ezra and Chopper when they wander out too far from protection.
- Time-Shifted Actor: While James Arnold Taylor is still heard as young Obi-Wan in the hologram, Stephen Stanton portrays Old Ben, since his version sounds closer to the late Sir Alec Guinness.
- Title Drop: The very first shot of the episode is of Tatooine's suns.
- Trailers Always Lie: In the midseason trailer, it appeared that Obi-Wan was waiting for Maul to come out to him, implying that he went out into the desert to make sure Maul wasn't near Luke. In the episode, instead, Obi-Wan was the one who had to be lured out by Maul so that he could help Ezra and Chopper; Obi-Wan was waiting near the campfire for Ezra to awaken instead.
- Tranquil Fury: When Maul implies that he knows of Luke's existence, Obi-Wan looks angered and immediately reaches for and activates his lightsaber, but immediately controls his anger to focus on killing Maul as quickly as possible.
- The Unchosen One: Obi-Wan suggests to Ezra that he isn't the key to defeating the Sith, or at least isn't meant to join up with the rest of the Rebellion (at least not at this time), also telling the boy that he has a different role to play in the coming events. Maul implicitly either wanted to see if he or Obi-Wan is the key to defeating the Sith if one defeats the other; even then, Maul and Obi-Wan know that Luke is the true Chosen One... which is actually wrong, because Anakin/Vader was always the Chosen One.
- Underestimating Badassery: According to Maul's VA
and visible in his attitude towards Obi-Wan, Maul believes Obi-Wan is a washed-up failure in hiding. Not until he's mortally wounded in a flash does he realize he was completely wrong. - Villain Forgot to Level Grind: Maul confronts Obi-Wan for the first time since the Clone Wars. Unfortunately for Maul, he's not only weaker than he was back then due to being psychologically broken by Sidious killing everyone he ever cared about, torturing him and leaving him for dead years ago, but Obi-Wan is much stronger mentally due to age and experience while coming to terms with his past and having hope for the future. The end result is Obi-Wan killing him rather quickly by anticipating and feinting Maul to finally countering with a slash to the chest.
- Weak, but Skilled: Obi-Wan isn't as powerful physically as he was when he was younger and he hasn't been in a serious duel for years, but he's much more composed than Maul was when they last fought. Obi-Wan picked up on Maul's mental state quickly and was able to outmaneuver him by anticipating Maul's attacks, baiting him, using a feint and countering him at the last instant.
- We Will Meet Again: Maul promises "his apprentice" Ezra they will see each other again soon as Ezra leaves him and Obi-Wan to their duel. They won't be seeing each other again. Even Ezra realizes this was just an empty threat, and tells the others upon his return to Chopper Base that they won't be seeing Maul again despite not having seen Maul die (though given how slow dewbacks are, it's quite possible that he saw it by looking back or overheard it and drew the necessary conclusions).
- Wham Episode: Maul and Obi-Wan "Ben" Kenobi encounter each other once again for the first time since the Clone Wars, with Maul's arc coming to an end. In addition, Ezra reclaims the portion of the Sith Holocron that he was missing and gives up on hunting the Sith.
- What the Hell, Hero?: Obi-Wan gently helps Ezra realize that he's allowed the hunt for the Sith to distract him from his true goal, and tells him to go home to his family where he belongs.
- Where It All Began: The episode takes place on Tatooine, where the entire franchise began back in A New Hope. It's also the place where Maul first encountered Qui-Gon and, by association, Obi-Wan. Their battle stances before Maul attacks reflect their final duel on Naboo, after Maul killed Qui-Gon and before Obi-Wan cut him in half.
- Wounded Gazelle Gambit: Maul tricks Ezra into going into the desert alone, knowing Obi-Wan won't be able to resist helping him when he starts to succumb.
- Worf Had the Flu: Maul's easy death at the hands of Ben is attributed to him being mentally and physically broken while Ben is in complete control.
Word of God has clarified even had they went all the way, Maul still would have lost, but the actual gap in strength and skill between them was pretty close, meaning he could have put up a decent fight had he been at full strength and not fallen for Ben's goading. - Wrong Genre Savvy: Obi-Wan tells a dying Maul that Luke is The Chosen One. However, he's incorrect — Anakin was always the Chosen One. Obi-Wan presumed that the Prophecy was misread and that Anakin's son would fulfill his role, but this is ultimately a result of his judgment being clouded, since he had long since given up on Anakin.
- Wrecked Weapon: Obi-Wan slices Maul's lightsaber in half during their final duel. As well as Maul's chest.
- Wuxia: In keeping with Star Wars tradition, the episode features two feuding seasoned warriors finally finding closure in a duel which is symbolic of all that happened during their life-long grudge.
- You Are Not Alone: Chopper chooses to accompany Ezra to Tatooine.
