The Epic Unveiling: Darth Maul's Mandalorian Super Commandos Make Electrifying Debut in Live-Action

Warning! This article contains SPOILERS for Ahsoka episode 5.

Summary

In episode 5 of Ahsoka, the live-action series, the Mandalorian super commandos under Darth Maul's leadership are introduced. They are portrayed with their recognizable horned helmets and a menacing design.

During Ahsoka's flashback in The Siege of Mandalore, it is depicted how Maul ultimately lost control of Mandalore. This occurred when he encountered resistance from Bo-Katan and Ahsoka.

The appearance of Mandalorian super commandos in Ahsoka episode 5 is significant as it marks their first live-action portrayal. This suggests that their future appearances may be limited due to their short-lived existence and subsequent transformation into Imperial super commandos.

In a surprising flashback during Ahsoka episode 5, showrunner Dave Filoni introduced Darth Maul's Mandalorian super commandos to the live-action format. Maul's super commandos originally made their debut in Star Wars: The Clone Wars season 5, over 10 years ago in 2013. With their distinctively horned helmets and intricate painted designs, Maul's super commandos stand out as some of the most visually impressive Mandalorians in the entire Star Wars franchise. While other Mandalorians in live-action, such as Moff Gideon and the Armorer, also wear horned helmets, Maul's super commandos were among the first in the canon to embrace this aggressive aesthetic.

During her vision in the World Between Worlds, Ahsoka Tano experiences a flashback to the Siege of Mandalore, which marked the conclusion of the Clone Wars. This pivotal battle saw Ahsoka, Rex, and the 501st joining forces with Bo-Katan Kryze to overthrow and capture Mandalore's leader, Darth Maul. Prior to the battle, Maul, who had been discarded by Palpatine as an apprentice, made a cunning move to attain some semblance of power before Palpatine's inevitable takeover. This involved his shrewd alliance with Pre Vizsla's Death Watch, a Mandalorian extremist group that had long opposed the pacifist principles of Mandalore.

Darth Maul's Mandalorian Super Commandos Explained

In Ahsoka episode 5, there is a sighting of Mandalorian super commandos attempting to defeat a young Ahsoka. As per the usual Sith strategy, Maul did not personally conquer Mandalore in The Clone Wars season 5. Instead, he utilized his crime syndicate to fake attacks on Duchess Satine's peaceful government. Subsequently, Maul allowed Pre Vizsla's Death Watch to apprehend him and his followers. This deceptive plan was executed to make it seem like Pre Vizsla would be placed on the Mandalore throne, while Maul remained the puppeteer behind the scenes. However, Maul's ultimate goal was to commence building his Empire by conquering Mandalore. Unfortunately, Vizsla betrayed him and was satisfied with maintaining control over Mandalore.

Prior to the Siege of Mandalore, Maul confronted and defeated Pre Vizsla, rightfully earning possession of the Darksaber. Although many Mandalorians supported Maul's claim and allowed him to ascend to the leadership of Mandalore, others, like Bo-Katan and her Nite Owls, separated themselves and fought against Maul. They argued that someone who was not from Mandalore could never govern the planet. The Mandalorians who remained faithful to Maul transformed into the same super commandos that were witnessed in Ahsoka episode 5. To proudly exhibit their new allegiance to the deposed Sith Lord, many of them adorned their armor with horns and red paint.

Why We Haven't Seen Mandalorian Super Commandos In Live-Action Before

Surprisingly, apart from Ahsoka's flashback, the Siege of Mandalore showcases several connections to characters in Ahsoka. A significant figure during the Siege was Gar Saxon, one of Maul's highly skilled Mandalorian super commandos, and interestingly, he was voiced by the late Ray Stevenson long before his portrayal of Baylan Skoll. Although the horned Mandalorian super commando in Ahsoka's flashback was not specifically Gar Saxon, it is worth noting that he was recognized for customizing his helmet with some of the lengthiest horns in the canonical universe. Furthermore, Ursa Wren, who happens to be Sabine's mother, valiantly fought alongside Bo-Katan against Maul's super commandos throughout the Siege.

Making their live-action debut, Ahsoka episode 5 introduces us to the formidable Mandalorian Super Commandos- an astonishing group of Mandalorians. Despite their coolness, they have been notably absent from previous live-action Star Wars material. This is predominantly due to the limited coverage of content from The Clone Wars in live-action projects. Additionally, their scarcity can be attributed to the short period they existed. Mandalore was under Darth Maul's rule for less than a year, resulting in the capture or demise of numerous Mandalorians who chose to align with him during the Siege led by Ahsoka and Bo-Katan.

Bo-Katan's attempts to seize control of Mandalore with the assistance of the 501st were ultimately thwarted as the Republic transformed into the Empire. Many of Maul's former super commandos underwent a transition to become Imperial super commandos instead, including Gar Saxon, portrayed by Ray Stevenson, who then assumed the role of Mandalore's Governor around 6 BBY. In Star Wars Rebels, Sabine Wren actively engaged in a fight against Saxon to bring him down. Nevertheless, following Maul's capture and humiliation during the Siege of Mandalore, the majority of his remaining super commandos abandoned their distinctive horned designs before the introduction of Disney's TV shows.

Unless Disney decides to revisit the brief period of Maul's rule over Mandalore, it is likely that Ahsoka episode 5 will remain one of the few instances where Maul's horned Mandalorian super commandos appear in live-action. Though their screen time was limited, witnessing a younger Ahsoka taking them down was still an exhilarating experience. With the guidance of Anakin Skywalker, Ahsoka seems to have triumphed over her ordeal in the World Between Worlds. Having moved past the Siege of Mandalore, she now embarks on a journey to rescue Sabine Wren and Ezra Bridger in Ahsoka episode 6.

Ahsoka releases new episodes Tuesdays at 6pm PT / 9pm ET on Disney+.