History Recap / StarWarsTheCloneWarsS5E15ShadesOfReason

* FightsLikeANormal: Despite being a Force user, Maul demonstrates that he doesn’t need to use the force against Pre Vizsla, despite Vizsla using [[CombatPragmatist Combat Pragmatism]] throughout the duel.

* PlayAlongPrisoner: Maul and Savage. Once they decide they want to go out, they do it casually with no effort. It's a wonder that the Death Watch didn't even expect that prison doesn't make the brothers helpless.

%%* CrowningMomentOfAwesome: Beside the concluding fight, Savage Opress destroys the prison cell he and Maul are kept in with the Force by ''flexing his arms''. He also effortlessly takes down three Death Watch members.
%%* DarkestHour

* MasterSwordsman: Darth Maul, obviously, but Vizsla's prowess with the Darksaber is considerable. Note that he fought Obi-Wan Kenobi (a Master of Form III) and won only due to having his soldiers as backup, and fought Ahsoka (a Padawan half his age with [[DualWielding Jar'Kai]] training) to a stalemate in a one-on-one duel. Vizsla is good, but he's nowhere near Maul's calibre, even with [[CombatPragmatist pragmatism]] on his side.

Maul's criminal alliance allows Death Watch to conquer Mandalore and imprison the Duchess, but Pre Vizsla turns on Maul.

* TheBadGuyWins: When you have {{Villain Protagonist}}s fighting each other, this is the obvious outcome...
* BondVillainStupidity: Pre Vizsla earns this trope in this episode. He betrays Darth Maul, but doesn't kill him (despite saying that he would) and sends him to prison instead; Maul breaks out, challenges Vizsla to a duel and kills him.

* TheChessmaster: Maul plays Vizsla like a fiddle the entire story arc, plotting first to unite the syndicates to form an underworld under his control, with Vizsla providing the muscle in exchange for the throne of Mandalore (considering Mandalore leads 2000 neutral systems, handing one over is chump change to Maul); then when Vizsla betrays him and imprisons him, he sees it coming a mile off and [[BatmanGambit incorporates it into his plans]], requiring a visit to prison to break out Almec. Lastly, fighting Viszla directly in single combat, using Mandalorian culture against him, so that Vizsla is screwed no matter what.
* CombatPragmatist: Pre Vizsla rivals Cad Bane in this regard: during his fight with Maul, Vizsla uses every weapon available to him: the Darksaber, blasters, flamethrowers, jetpacks, grenades, rope, and all manner of projectiles. It still doesn't help him...

* DownerEnding: Duchess Satine's government has fallen, Darth Maul kills Pre Vizsla, Bo-Katan is forced to retreat with some of her comrades who don't side with Darth Maul, and Darth Maul becomes the new ruler of Mandalore, with Almec reinstated as a puppet Prime Minister of Mandalore.

* FakeUltimateHero: Maul's plan to get the people of Mandalore on Vizsla's side: the criminals under Maul's command attack Mandalore, and are then "defeated" by Death Watch, who can then claim credit as heroes of Mandalore.

* GoryDiscretionShot: As Maul beheads Vizsla, the camera pans behind Bo-Katan so that the act is hidden from view; there is a brief shot of Vizsla's headless body, with the neck hidden by his armor.
* HonourBeforeReason: Maul preys on this aspect of Mandalorian culture to force Vizsla into a duel for the crown. Should Vizsla refuse, he would be seen as weak by his underlings, and unfit to be their leader. If he accepts and loses, trying to double-cross Maul would be seen as dishonorable, and would suffer an even worse fate than refusing outright.

* MasterSwordsman: Darth Maul, obviously, but Vizsla's prowess with the Darksaber is considerable. Note that he fought Obi-Wan Kenobi (a Master of Form 3) and won only due to having his soldiers as backup, and fought Ahsoka (a Padawan half his age with [[DualWielding Jar'Kai]] training) to a stalemate in a one-on-one duel. Vizsla is good, but he's nowhere near Maul's calibre, even with [[CombatPragmatist pragmatism]] on his side.

* XanatosGambit: Maul has a truly epic one pulled on Vizsla. First he challenges him in front of his inner circle; Mandalorian culture states they must honour the challenge, even if it would not benefit them. Second, he knows that should Vizsla decline to fight and just execute him on the spot, he defies culture and loses the respect of his soldiers, while Maul is safe due to having Savage as backup. Third, during the fight proper he knows that Vizsla will do anything it took to take him out, potentially even resorting to "non-warrior" methods such as his rockets and flamethrower, while Maul just continually fights with his saber and agility. Fourth and finally, when the pair lose their swords, he opts to beat him senseless with martial arts rather than the Force, as it would mean he "honoured" the fight by fighting as a warrior right to the end. For the Mandalorians, that honor is a major contributing factor to their loyalty. By doing so, he ensures they will accept him, as he won the challenge and followed all the resulting rules. The one thing that doesn't go his way is Bo-Katan's loyalty to Vizsla, not Death Watch as a whole.

* FightsLikeANormal: Despite being a force user, Maul demonstrates that he doesn’t need to use the force against Pre Vizsla, despite Vizsla using [[CombatPragmatist Combat Pragmatism]] throughout the duel.

--> '''Maul''': Go. Rule my people.

* VertigoEffect: On Bo-Katan when she sees Darth Maul right before he executes Pre Vizsla.

* BadassNormal: Despite being a force user, Maul demonstrates that the don't need to use the force against Pre Vizsla, despite Vizsla using [[CombatPragmatist Combat Pragmatism]] throughout the duel.

* BondVillainStupidity: Pre Vizsla earns this trope in this episode. He betrays Darth Maul, but doesn't kill him (despite saying that he would) and sends him to prison instead; when Maul breaks out, he has Bo-Katan give Maul his lightsaber back (ouch) to fight a fair fight, and ultimately he gets his butt kicked by Maul.

!! This episode provide examples of:

-->''Alliances can stall true intentions.''

* TheBadGuyWins: When you have [[VillainProtagonist Villain Protagonists]] fighting each other, this is the obvious outcome...
* BondVillainStupidity: Pre Vizsla earns this trope in this episode. He betrays Darth Maul, but doesn't kill him (despite saying that he would) and sends him to prison instead, Maul breaks out, he has Bo-Katan give Maul his lightsaber back (ouch) to fight a fair fight, and ultimately gets his butt kicked by Maul.
* ChallengingTheChief: Maul preyed on Vizsla's honour, and challenged him to see who's the most worthy of leading Death Watch and Mandalore.
* TheChessmaster: Maul plays Vizsla like a fiddle the entire story arc, plotting first to unite the syndicates to form an underworld under his control, with Vizsla providing the muscle in exchange for the throne of Mandalore (considering Mandalore led 2000 neutral systems, handing one over was chump change to Maul); then when Vizsla betrays him and imprisoned him, he saw it coming a mile off and [[BatmanGambit incorporated it into his plans]], requiring a visit to prison to break out Almec. Lastly, fighting Viszla directly in single combat, using Mandalorian culture against him, so that Vizsla was screwed no matter what.

* DownerEnding: Duchess Satine's government has fallen, Darth Maul kills Pre Vizsla, Bo-Katan is forced to retreat with some of her comrades who don't side with Darth Maul, and Darth Maul becomes the new ruler of Mandalore, with Prime Minister Almec reinstated as Prime Minister of Mandalore.

* MasterSwordsman: Darth Maul, obviously, but Vizsla's prowess with the Darksaber is considerable. Note that he fought Obi-Wan Kenobi (a Master of Form 3) and won only due to having his soldiers as backup, and fought Ahsoka (a Padawan half his age with [[DualWielding Jar'Kai]] training) to a stalemate in a one-on-one duel. Vizsla is good, but he was nowhere near Maul's calibre, even with [[CombatPragmatist pragmatism]] on his side.

* XanatosGambit: Maul has a truly epic one pulled on Vizsla. First he challenges him in front of his inner circle; and Mandalorian culture states they must honour the challenge, even if it would not benefit them. Second, he knows that should Vizsla decide not to and just execute him on the spot, he defies culture and loses the respect of his soldiers, while Maul is safe due to having Savage as backup. Third, during the fight proper he knows that Vizsla will do anything it took to take him out, potentially even resorting to "non-warrior" methods such as his rockets and flamethrower, while Maul just continually fights with his saber and agility. Fourth and finally, when the pair lose their swords, he opts to beat him senseless with martial arts rather than the force, as it would mean he "honoured" the fight by fighting as a warrior right to the end. For the Mandos, that honor is a major contributing factor to their loyalty. By doing so, he ensures they will accept him, as he won the challenge and followed all the resulting rules. The one thing that didn't go his way was Bo-Katan's loyalty to Vizsla, not Death Watch as a whole.

* ChallengingTheChief: Maul preyed on Vizsla's honor, and challenged him to see who's the most worthy one to lead Death Watch and Mandalore.
* TheChessmaster: Maul plays Vizsla like a fiddle the entire story arc, plotting first to unite the syndicates to form an underworld under his control, with Vizsla providing the muscle in exchange for the throne of Mandalore (considering Mandalore led 2000 neutral systems, handing one over was chump change to Maul); then when Vizsla betrays him and imprisoned him, he saw it coming a mile off and [[BatmanGambit incorporated it into his plans]], requiring a visit to prison to break out Almec. Lastly fighting Viszla directly in single combat, using Mandalorian culture against him, so that Vizsla was screwed no matter what.

* CrowningMomentOfAwesome: Beside the concluding fight, Savage Opress destroys the prison cell he and Maul are kept in with the Force by ''flexing his arms''. He also effortlessly takes down three Death Watch members.

* HonorBeforeReason: Maul preys on this aspect of Mandalorian culture to force Vizsla into a duel for the crown. Should Vizsla refuse, he would be seen as weak by his underlings, and unfit to be their leader. If he accepts and loses, trying to double-cross Maul would be seen as dishonorable, and would suffer an even worse fate than refusing outright.
%%* KilledOffForReal: Pre Vizsla.
* MasterSwordsman: Darth Maul, obviously, but Vizsla's prowess with the Darksaber is considerable. Note that he fought Kenobi (a Master of Form 3) and won only due to having his soldiers as backup, and fought Ahsoka (a Padawan half his age with [[DualWielding Jar'Kai]] training) to a stalemate in a one-on-one duel. Vizsla is good, but he was nowhere near Maul's caliber, even with [[CombatPragmatist pragmatism]] on his side.

* VertigoEffect: On Bo-Katan when she sees Darth Maul right before he executes Pre Vizla.
* XanatosGambit: Maul has a truly epic one pulled on Vizsla. First he challenges him in front of his inner circle; and Mandalorian culture states they must honor the challenge, even if it would not benefit them. Second, he knows that should Vizsla decide not to and just execute him on the spot, he defies culture and loses the respect of his soldiers, while Maul is safe due to having Savage as backup. Third, during the fight proper he knows that Vizsla will do anything it took to take him out, potentially even resorting to 'non-warrior' methods such as his rockets and flamethrower, while Maul just continually fights with his saber and agility. Fourth and finally, when the pair lose their swords, he opts to beat him senseless with martial arts rather than the force, as it would mean he 'honored' the fight by fighting as a warrior right to the end. For the Mandos, that honor is a major contributing factor to their loyalty. By doing so, he ensures they will accept him, as he won the challenge and followed all the resulting rules. The one thing that didn't go his way was Bo-Katan's loyalty to Vizsla, not Death Watch as a whole.

* CrowningMomentofAwesome: Beside the concluding fight, Savage Opress destroys the prison cell he and Maul are kept in with the Force by ''flexing his arms''. He also effortlessly takes down three Death Watch members.

Maul's criminal alliance allows Death Watch to conquer Mandalore and imprison the Duchess, but Pre Visla turns on Maul.

* BondVillainStupidity: [[spoiler: Pre Vizsla earns this trope in this episode. He betrays Darth Maul, but doesn't kill him (despite saying that he would) and sends him to prison instead, Maul breaks out, he has Bo-Katan give Maul his lightsaber back (ouch) to fight a fair fight, and ultimately gets his butt kicked by Maul.]]
* ChallengingTheChief: [[spoiler: Maul preyed on Vizsla's honor, and challenged him to see who's the most worthy one to lead Death Watch and Mandalore.]]

* CombatPragmatist: Pre Vizsla rivals Cad Bane in this regard: [[spoiler: during his fight with Maul, Vizsla uses every weapon available to him: the Darksaber, blasters, flamethrowers, jetpacks, grenades, rope, and all manner of projectiles. It still doesn't help him...]]

* DarkestHour
* DownerEnding: [[spoiler: Duchess Satine's government has fallen, Darth Maul kills Pre Vizsla, Bo-Katan is forced to retreat with some of her comrades who don't side with Darth Maul, and Darth Maul becomes the new ruler of Mandalore, with Prime Minister Almec reinstated as Prime Minister of Mandalore.]]
* EvenEvilHasStandards: Bo-Katan refuses to side with Darth Maul after he kills [[spoiler: Pre Vizsla]], claiming she does not see an outsider as the ruler of Mandalore.

* KilledOffForReal: [[spoiler: Pre Vizsla]].

* OffWithHisHead: Following the climactic fight,[[spoiler: Maul takes the Darksaber and exceutes Pre Vizsla in this fashion]].
* VertigoEffect: On Bo-Katan when she sees Darth Maul right before he executes [[spoiler: Pre Vizla]].
* XanatosGambit: [[spoiler:Maul has a truly epic one pulled on Vizsla. First he challenges him in front of his inner circle; and Mandalorian culture states they must honor the challenge, even if it would not benefit them. Second, he knows that should Vizsla decide not to and just execute him on the spot, he defies culture and loses the respect of his soldiers, while Maul is safe due to having Savage as backup. Third, during the fight proper he knows that Vizsla will do anything it took to take him out, potentially even resorting to 'non-warrior' methods such as his rockets and flamethrower, while Maul just continually fights with his saber and agility. Fourth and finally, when the pair lose their swords, he opts to beat him senseless with martial arts rather than the force, as it would mean he 'honored' the fight by fighting as a warrior right to the end. For the Mandos, that honor is a major contributing factor to their loyalty. By doing so, he ensures they will accept him, as he won the challenge and followed all the resulting rules. The one thing that didn't go his way was Bo-Katan's loyalty to Vizsla, not Death Watch as a whole.]]

!! Tropes

* TheChessmaster: Maul plays Vizsla like a fiddle the entire story arc, plotting first to unite the syndicates to form an underworld under his control, with Vizsla providing the muscle in exchange for the throne of Mandalore (considering Mandalore led 2000 neutral systems, handing one over was chump change to Maul); then when Vizsla betrays him and imprisoned him, [[GenreSavvy he saw it coming a mile off]] and [[BatmanGambit incorporated it into his plans]], requiring a visit to prison to break out Almec. Lastly fighting Viszla directly in single combat, using Mandalorian culture against him, so that Vizsla was screwed no matter what.

* TheBadGuyWins: When you have {{VillainProtagonist}}s fighting each other, this is the obvious outcome...

* TheBadGuyWins: It's an entire episode filled with these.

* ChallengingTheChief: [[spoiler: Maul planned on Vizsla's honor, and challenged him to see who's the most worthy one to lead Death Watch and Mandalore.]]
* CombatPragmatist: Pre Vizsla rivals Cad Bane in this regard: [[spoiler: during his fight with Maul, Vizsla uses every weapon available to him: the Darksaber, blasters, flamethrowers, jetpacks, grenades, rope, and all manner of projectiles]]

* MasterSwordsman: Darth Maul, obviously, but Vizsla's prowess with the Darksaber is considerable.
* OffWithHisHead: [[spoiler: Pre Vizsla]].

* BondVillainStupidity: [[spoiler: Pre Vizsla earns this trope in this episode. He betrays Darth Maul, but doesn't kill him and sends him to prison instead, Maul breaks out, he has Bo-Katan give Maul his lightsaber back (ouch) to fight a fair fight, and ultimately gets his butt kicked by Maul.]]

* ChallengingTheBoss: [[spoiler: Maul planned on Vizsla's honor, and challenged him to see who's the most worthy one to lead Death Watch and Mandalore.]]

* CrowningMomentofAwesome: Beside the concluding fight, Savage Opress conjures his inner Starkiller by destroying his prison cell with the Force by ''flexing his arms''

* MasterSwordsman: Darth Maul, obviously, but Vizsla's prowess with the Darksaber is considerable

* TooDumbToLive: [[spoiler: Pre Vizsla earns this trope in this episode. He betrays Darth Maul, but doesn't kill him and sends him to prison instead, Maul breaks out, he has Bo-Katan give Maul his lightsaber back (ouch) to fight a fair fight, and ultimately gets his butt kicked by Maul.]]
* VillainProtagonist: After all, our main characters in this episode are bad guys.

* DownerEnding: [[spoiler: Duchess Satine's government has fallen, Darth Maul kills Pre Vizla, Bo-Katan is forced to retreat with some of her comrades who don't side with Darth Maul, and Darth Maul becomes the new ruler of Mandalore, with Prime Minister Almec reinstated as Prime Minister of Mandalore.]]
* EvenEvilHasStandards: Bo-Katan refuses to side with Darth Maul after he kills [[spoiler: Pre Vizla]], claiming she does not see an outsider as the ruler of Mandalore.
* KilledOffForReal: [[spoiler: Pre Vizla]].

* OffWithHisHead: [[spoiler: Pre Vizla]].
* TooDumbToLive: [[spoiler: Pre Vizla earns this trope in this episode. He betrays Darth Maul, but doesn't kill him and sends him to prison instead, Maul breaks out, he has Bo-Katan give Maul his lightsaber back (ouch) to fight a fair fight, and ultimately gets his butt kicked by Maul.]]

* VillainProtaganist: After all, our main characters in this episode are bad guys.