Production No.: 309 (Season 3, Episode 9)
Original Air Date: January 28, 2011
"Balance is found in the one who faces his guilt."
Written by Christian Taylor
Directed by Steward Lee
Cast:
Matt Lanter as Anakin Skywalker
James Arnold Taylor as Obi-Wan Kenobi
Ashley Eckstein as Ahsoka Tano
Lloyd Sherr as Father
Adrienne Wilkinson as Daughter
Sam Witwer as Son
Liam Neeson as Qui-Gon Jinn
Pernilla August as Shmi
Dee Bradley Baker as Rex
Tom Kane as the narrator
Synopsis: A mysterious force draws Anakin, Obi-Wan and Ahsoka to a distant planet, and its inhabitants -- a family of exceptionally powerful Force-wielders -- in an attempt to determine whether Anakin is truly the Chosen One. The patriarch of this family, known only as the Father, has spent ages maintaining the balance between his Daughter, who is strong with the light side of the Force, and his Son, who aligns with the dark. The Father reveals his days are numbered, and he seeks Anakin to take his place as the fulcrum of this balance. A series of tests proves that Anakin is capable of controlling both offspring, as the Father does, but Skywalker refuses to take the Father's place.
Returning Characters: Anakin Skywalker; Obi-Wan Kenobi; Ahsoka Tano; Clone Captain Rex
New Characters: Father; Son; Daughter; Shmi Skywalker; Qui-Gon Jinn; Admiral Tenant
Worlds Visited: Mortis
Newsreel:
Secrets Revealed
- This trilogy of episodes dives into concepts of the Force and ancient Jedi prophecy like never before, and represent an unusually deep exploration direct from George Lucas of some of the saga's biggest concepts. While there will undoubtedly be questions about how much that is experienced in the Mortis realm can be defined as "real," the answers will surely depend on your own point of view.
- The Mortis monolith seen at the start of the episode is over five kilometers tall, wide and deep.
- As the keeper of the balance, the Father quite literally sits at the center of a scale-like statue, with gong-like discs emblazoned with icons representing the daughter (to his right) and the son (to his left). Flanking this are statues of their beast forms: the griffin and the gargoyle.
- In addition to notable guest appearances by Liam Neeson and Pernilla August, this episode also stars veterans of Star Wars: The Force Unleashed in key roles. Sam Witwer, who played Starkiller, plays the Son, while Adrienne Wilkinson, who played Maris Brood, plays the Daughter.
- The Father describes his family as anchorites. Lest anyone think this is a proper term for a species or culture, it isn't. This uncommon word, never before spoken in Star Wars, an anchorite is someone who has withdrawn from society to become somewhat of a religious hermit. The only term that so far describes the Mortis beings are "Force-wielders".
- Although the Force-wielders are intentionally depicted as vague and mysterious, their animation models nonetheless have the following definitions: The Father is 2.48 meters tall, the Daughter is 2.13 meters tall, and the Son is 2.2 meters. The Daughter's griffin form stands 2.58 meters tall, while the Son's gargoyle form is 4.79 meters tall. They both have wingspans over 11 meters.
- Slight refrains of John Williams' Episode I score can be heard during Qui-Gon's appearance, as well as the Force theme when Obi-Wan speaks of Anakin
- The Republic fleet officer seen during the newsreel is not named in the episode. He is Admiral Tenant.
