 Duchess Satine Kryze tries to keep the Republic from interfering in Mandalorian affairs after attacks by the Death Watch, the splinter group advocating a return to the old warrior ways. But when Satine herself is attacked and framed, she sets off – against the better judgment of her Jedi protectors – to uncover the full breadth of the conspiracy and the faction’s true origins. No longer content to operate from the fringes, the mysterious Mandalorian Death Watch sets its sights on the Duchess of Mandalore in an all-new episode of STAR WARS: THE CLONE WARS airing at 9:00 p.m. ET/PT Friday, February 12 on Cartoon Network.
Bothan spies at Lucasfilm have provided FILMEDGE with high-res animation stills and an action-packed video preview linked below. Satine boldly faces personal and political danger in Duchess of Mandalore, which makes her all the more admirable for the voice artist:
“Satine is struggling with many fires now, and trying to keep them from merging into one large inferno that can't be put out,” says Anna Graves, the voice of Satine in THE CLONE WARS. “She wants peace above all else, and will shout it as loud as she can. Historical pacifists are often met with more hatred and violence, but that seems to push someone like Satine to fight for peace even harder. I think with any culture that idolizes war and violence, some people will naturally rebel against that traditional way of thinking and focus their efforts on peace and tranquility. I'm sure a lot of people agree with her views, but I'm sure there are just as many who don't. Her neutrality in The Clone Wars is such a beautiful cry for love and peace, which throughout history has upset those who idolize power and control.”
 Set against the backdrop of a sweeping conflict which threatens to consume the galaxy, Satine’s struggle is all the more personal, however, as she faces upheaval from within her own constituency. Using violence as their language of dissent, the Death Watch threatens to unravel all of Satine’s efforts, and to undermine the peace she has fought so hard to preserve. But the war itself is a battle of ideologies. Despite their extremism – or perhaps because of it – the radical faction represents a popular opinion among the re-emerging culture:
“I see Mandalore as an old world, full of history and tradition. After years of glimpses into Mandalorian lore, it's exciting to get new facts and faces,” Graves says. “Every fan has their own reasons for loving Mandalore, but Boba Fett opened the door with his intriguing armor and history as a bounty hunter. I know fans will want to hear more about Death Watch — and those who oppose them. To be a small part of that history is so exciting. Add a little Mandalorian-Jedi romance, and that’s good stuff!”
 Yet her past relationship with Obi-Wan Kenobi and their seemingly cross-purpose missions only stoke the personal and political conflicts for them both. Satine's determination to uncover the murderous plots of Death Watch and avoid them plunging Mandalore into war is admirable, but it adds great difficulty to the Jedi's charge in keeping her alive. The warrior splinter faction need only create political unrest and violence to derail Satine's pacifist regime and allow fear and hatred to replace reason. The more Duchess Satine resists this terrorist challenge to peace, the higher profile a target she becomes in the sights of those yearning for conflict and chaos. Fans know all too well that an entire galaxy teetering on the brink of peace or destruction is tragically symbolic for Anakin Skywalker, the Jedi Knight prophesied to bring balance to the Force. THE CLONE WARS mirror Anakin's own internal battle of good against evil, and it is his personal war to defeat his own greed for power if he is ever to resist the Dark Side.
Join FILMEDGE in watching the STAR WARS universe fall under the shadow of turmoil as THE CLONE WARS continues this multi-episode Mandalorian saga. Duchess of Mandalore airs this Friday, February 12th at 9pm ET/PT only on the Cartoon Network. Preview Count Dooku's plot to assassinate the Duchess with Death Watch warriors in this new video clip:
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