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Continuity & Analysis

Star Wars: The Clone Wars - Overlords (2011) [S3E15]
Balance is found in the one who faces his guilt.
"Mysterious message! A transmission has been intercepted far beyond the Outer Rim, deep in
the Chrelythiumn system. Why the call has been made, and from where cannot be established.
But buried in the message is a Jedi distress code that has not been used in over 2,000 years.
Obi-Wan Kenobi, Anakin Skywalker and his Padawan Ahsoka are sent to investigate. Fearing
a Separatist trap, they are to meet with a heavily armed Jedi cruiser...
Star Wars: The Clone Wars - Altar of Mortis (2011) [S3E16]
He who surrenders hope, surrenders life.
"Mystery on Mortis! Sent to discover the origin of a mysterious distress call, Obi-Wan Kenobi,
Anakin Skywalker, and his Padawan Ahsoka Tano are stranded on a distant planet. There, they
discover three beings more powerful with the Force than any Jedi have seen before. The Father
keeps a fragile balance between his Daughter, who allies with the light side, and the Son, who
drifts ever closer to the dark. With his strength failing, the Father asks Anakin to stay and take
his place, preserving the balance between light and dark. But after passing a perilous test,
Skywalker refuses. Now we find our heroes about to depart for their journey home, or so they think..."
Star Wars: The Clone Wars - Ghosts of Mortis (2011) [S3E17]
He who seeks to control fate shall never find peace.
"Stranded! Obi-Wan Kenobi, Anakin Skywalker, and his Padawan Ahsoka Tano are caught in
the middle of a treacherous battle between good and evil. The scales now tip toward the dark
side. Our three warriors must guard against attack as they plan their escape. A great weight
has been placed on Anakin's shoulders, for it is now that he must face who he really is..."




CONTINUITY
These three episodes form a single storyline about the realm of Mortis. The chronological order of episodes is as given
by Lucasfilm, and follows their release order. These episodes take place entering, within, and leaving the realm of Mortis.
This entire storyline takes place over the course of one or two minutes, as almost no time passed in the galaxy during the Jedi's experience in Mortis.

- The entrance to the realm of Mortis, also called the Mortis monolith, is a large octahedron which can open to allow passage for those in temporal space. In this
instance it appears in the Chrelythiumn system, within a Wild Space region of the Outer Rim. Anakin, Obi-Wan, and Ahsoka were lured there by Jedi distress code
not used for 2000 years, which is approximately the beginning of the decline and fall of the Old Republic. Since Rex and the Republic escort don't see or detect it,
its properties, abilities, and function are likely beyond the science of the galactic civilization. It appears in this system because the Father is attempting to lure Anakin
to Mortis, so it is unlikely that this entrance to Mortis can always be found here, or perhaps anywhere in the galaxy, unless it is the will of the Force that it is.

- The ethereal realm of Mortis is seen. As a domain of the Force, the place which seems to be a planetoid registers on sensors as an organic mass, since only life
interacts with and produces the Force. It is an incredible vergence in the Force, as well as a magnet and an amplifier. It acts as a conduit through which
the entire Force of the universe flows. It's nature is typified by the interchanging of light and dark, life and death, creation and destruction. The entire
experience on Mortis, which seems to last days, is described by Rex as their shuttle being "off the scopes for a moment there". Mortis being disconnected from
the flow of time experienced in the galaxy further suggests Mortis is outside of traditional spacetime, perhaps part of the superstructure of the universe.


- The Mortis gods are a trinity of archetypal beings who are powerful Force wielders. They are beings who became so powerful they left the temporal world
to live in Mortis as anchorites. The Father represents the will of the Force, and as such is essentially good and of the light side, but also encompasses the dark.
The Daughter is selfless, and represents the light side, while the Son is selfish, and represents the dark side. The Daughter describes them as "the ones who
guard the power. We are the beginning, the middle, and the end", suggesting that their position in Mortis has brought them godlike power to influence
the Force of the universe, which flows through Mortis. The Son has always tended towards the dark side, but is now choosing to embrace it entirely,
which is the cause of and result of the imbalance in the Force widely felt in temporal galaxy. The ensuing struggle leads the Father to chose to end their
existences rather than risk the Son escaping and bringing unimaginable darkness to the universe.

- The monastery on Mortis is the seat of the Father, which features objects, designs, writing, and images similar to those seen in the World Between
Worlds and places associated with it. The arena features a stylized version of a taijitu, signifying the balance between light and dark, and the realm
of Mortis as a sort of supreme ultimate of the universe, or a great high pole in the Force.


- Obi-Wan has a meeting with Qui-Gon, who is able to manifest himself only due to the power of the vergence in the Force that Mortis is. He has not
yet found the ability to communicate directly to Yoda or any other Jedi in the temporal galaxy, as he was not bodily preserved in the Force after death.
Qui-Gon knows of the Force wielders, and likely a great deal more now that he exists only in the Force. Anakin's vision of his mother and Ahsoka's
vision are certainly the Son taking forms to influence and deceive, but Qui-Gon's counsel is sincere and is almost certainly him. Qui-Gon's
appearance to Anakin is equally authentic, and is wise counsel, but in this instance also serves the interests of the Son, leaving some question
whether Qui-Gon was there at all, at least according to Anakin in 'Voices' (S6E11). Assuming that it was indeed Qui-Gon, this was his second
breakthrough in communication with living Jedi, after his showing Yoda a vision during meditation in Clone Wars 'Chapter 21'.

- The Mortis gods know about the prophecy of the Chosen One, and are also seeking him, suggesting the will of the Force, the visions the Force
shares with beings through the midi-chlorians, and the scope of the power of the Force are all far beyond even power of the Mortis gods.

- This is the first instance of Ahsoka carrying around a second lightsaber, which will become her standard armament and trademark of her personal
fighting style. Ahsoka's sabers have always been green during her time in the Order, characteristic of spirituality and connection to the Living Force.


In this episode and others, Ahsoka's second saber appears to be green-yellow or yellow, at least against certain colors
and backdrops, and yet in other episodes and instances seems to be the same color green as her regular saber. So which
is it, two green, or one off-color green, or one yellow? The idea that lightsabers come in every spectrum of light comes
from legendary sources, and while it is an unnecessary complication that would require explaining why almost every
Jedi uses the exact same colors of blue and green, it isn't outside of the realm of canon. It is possible different color
crystals of different sizes can be arranged in the saber to produce a color, or more unique and implausible theories as
have been put forth by comic books, graphic novels, books, and other non-canon material. The most straightforward
explanation that doesn't raise a host of continuity issues and questions is that the animators chose to make one saber
a slightly different color because it makes the action much clearer to the viewer when two sabers are moving rapidly.
It doesn't seem to have been a deliberate attempt to introduce a unique instance of an off-color saber into canon, but
even that is uncertain. There are a great many people who are absolutely convinced that this saber is yellow. It is also
possible to find instances where Ahsoka's regular saber appears to be green-yellow or even yellow.


- The fundamental duality of the Force is natural, but the dark side in nature should not be confused with the unnatural ways the Sith use the dark side.
In nature the dark side is a necessary and balanced component of life and the Force which doesn't interfere with the processes of growth, creation,
progress, and betterment which tend to make the universe more positive than it is negative. When a Force wielder like the Son or a Sith uses the dark
side in an unnatural way it sends imbalance through the harmonious currents of the Force. The greater the misuse of the Force, the greater the chaos
and disruption in the Force, leading to an imbalance on a galactic or potentially cosmic scale. The dark side in nature exists as a necessary reciprocal
element, and has no will of its own any more than the light side has a separate will, both are expressions of a single harmonious will of the Force.


- The Son, when in the form of a strange creature, says that "the chains are the easy part, it's what goes on in here that's hard", while pointing to his
head indicating that what goes on in the mind is hard compared to the physical world. This is the same phrase that an insane but brilliantly
insightful Maul would speak as part of his ramblings in 'Brothers' (S4E21).

- The cathedral of the Son is another location on Mortis, located where the dark side part of the world is, an area that includes the well of the dark side,
a location even stronger with the dark side than the rest of the dark region. The cathedral functions as the Son's residence and a counter position to
the monastery which is attended by the Daughter devoted to light, and residence of the Father devoted to the Force, and thus ultimately to light as well.


- Ahsoka is killed, and is brought back to life by the Daughter, who perishes shortly after. Ahsoka now carries the daughter's energy with her, in many
ways personifies her spirit, and is followed around by her spirit animal, the owl-like convor who Ahsoka later refers to as Morai, although this convor
is not seen on screen at any point during the Clone Wars. It is unclear how and if Morai appears and disappears, and if she still dwells in Mortis.
Ahsoka more than Obi-Wan or even Anakin directly takes on the role of the Mortis god she approximates, although in a temporal capacity.

- The Mortis gods' subordinance to the will of the Force is again made clear by the Father describing Anakin and his destinies, who remarks that
"the Force will decide. Both our destinies are clouded." The Mortis gods are beholden to the will of the Force, and their destinies depend on
their choices like anyone else. They are wise enough to accept this, at as the Father indicates he is "merely letting the will of the Force take shape."
He also points out that anyone's destiny can change very quickly, since one's mind and heart make the decisions which shape one's path.

ANALYSIS
The Father says that the Chosen One, is much more than either the Jedi or the Sith religion, as he and his children are. Anakin passes the Father's test and
proves that he is indeed the one who was prophesized, but considering his immaculate conception and birth, there was little doubt about this. The Father
tells Anakin that he can fulfill his destiny by choosing to stay and hold the Daughter and Son in balance, which would lead to the defeat of the Sith and
a restoration of balance in the Force in all worlds. If he returns to the galaxy his selfish choice will lead to immense suffering and loss, however ultimately
will still lead to the defeat of the Sith. Anakin's destiny is certain, more certain than for most beings, but the exact route which he takes to arrive at that
destiny depends on his choices. The Father indicates that choosing to stay is the right choice, but understands that there are other routes to Anakin's
destiny. Anakin very much needed this confirmation, telling Obi-Wan "if I don't get the Father's blessing to leave, it will haunt me forever", however
the Father clearly knows that Anakin's route to his destiny will likely be a disastrous one for the Galaxy due to Anakin's passion and deep feelings.

Mortis is a conduit through which the Force of the universe flows, meaning that what happens in Mortis effects the galaxy, and vice versa. The imbalance
in Mortis is said to be fueling the escalation of the war in the temporal galaxy, although it is possible that hundreds of years of the secret and subtly
growing power of the Sith has had an effect on Mortis as well. The Son's decent towards the dark side is a major factor in the imbalance in the Force,
and the now more rapidly growing power of the dark side and the Sith, as well as the cloud in the vision of the Jedi. It may be no coincidence that
the Jedi distress code is from 2000 years earlier, which was the beginning of the end of the Old Republic, leading into an era that would see the Jedi
Order severely diminished and disorganized, just as is now happening to the Republic and the current Jedi Order. This millennial cycle in the Force
and in galactic history has been repeating itself in an increasingly grand scale in galactic history, culminating with the birth of the Chosen One.

The Son gives Anakin a vision of his future, where he sees that he will have to destroy the Jedi to end the Clone Wars, or they will drag on indefinitely.
This alone is enough for him to choose to join the dark side immediately, so he can destroy the Sith now, and still the Jedi, thus ending this war and
preventing the Galactic Civil War and its aftermath. The fact that Anakin chose the dark side when Padme wasn't in danger, the Council wasn't
manipulating him or holding back his advancement at the moment, and Anakin wasn't being forced to choose between the Republic and the Jedi,
shows how ready Anakin is to betray his friends and their teachings to do what he feels is right for him and the greater good of peace. Anakin
states emphatically that "I will never join the dark side willingly," not long before he willingly joins the dark side for the first time, which will
again be repeated with a much more lasting results in Episode III, as his desire to defeat the Sith is used to corrupt him again. Anakin is
a temporal version of the Son, drifting ever more towards the dark side, just as Obi-Wan is like the Father, holding his students tendencies in
balance, and Ahsoka is like the Daughter, always reaffirming her commitment to the light side. Ahsoka is directly given some of the Daughter's
energy, the Mortis gods pass away, and Obi-Wan and Anakin will eventually become beings who live on in the Force after their death. While
they are not directly taking on the roles of these 'gods', they are certainly taking on some of the functions of these archetypal figures. Just as
the Mortis gods were the result of Force wielders eventually becoming too powerful for the lower realms of the universe, Qui-Gon, Yoda,
Obi-Wan, and Anakin living on as Force ghosts may represent part of this evolution, or the precursor to future growth of strength in the Force.

Anakin and Obi-Wan's confrontation beside the lava after Anakin chooses to join the dark side is a very clear foreshadowing of the events of Episode III.
Anakin says that he has "seen that it is the Jedi who will stand in the way of peace," which is the same reflection which leads him to quickly conclude
the Jedi must be eliminated to bring peace in the form of order. The Jedi desire peace, but never above equal rights and justice, and they will fight for
these principles if necessary. The fact that the Jedi were willing to tolerate so much inequality and injustice in the Republic is likely why their ethics
were so compromised in the centuries and decades leading up to the Clone Wars. Their desire for the general peace and usual justice the Republic
provided meant they had to uphold that order despite is sometimes unpleasant features. The Jedi would rather this war continued for decades, like
many previous galactic wars involving the Jedi and the Sith in ancient history, rather than except to rule of the Sith. While Palpatine may not yet be
quite strong enough from a legal standpoint to prevent Republic authorities from siding with the Jedi if they chose to move against him, he has
essentially made it inevitable that the Jedi will turn on the Republic, and organize wars to have it destroyed rather than let the Sith rule the galaxy.
The Father removes the memory from Anakin to put him back on his natural trajectory towards one of his destinies, even though his most likely destiny
is to essentially make the same choices less than two years later. Although the circumstance were not at all ideal, Anakin did bring balance to Mortis,
and as the Father observes, he will do it again for the galaxy, but he warns Anakin to "beware your heart." If Anakin had chosen commitment to
the light side over his fears and desires in Episode III, he could have defeated Dooku and Palpatine without two decades of galactic misery.


FURTHER ANALYSIS
Report Pending