Women in Star Wars: Satin Krys, Pacifist Duchess of Mandalore
The most dangerous weapon in the galaxy is money, Captain.
Television
About a year ago, I started a series on the female characters of Star Wars. Starting with Leia, of course, I discussed most of the characters I wanted to discuss. But this project was shelved before I joined Bo-Katana, and I’m glad it appeared in season 7 of The Clone Wars and season 2 of The Mandalorian. It’s also a good opportunity to talk about one of the most tragic characters introduced in the Clone Wars, Bo-Katana’s sister, Satine, Duchess of Mandalore. Satine first appeared in the second season of the Clone Wars, episode 12, The Mandalore Conspiracy. Bo-Katana later appeared in season 4, episode 14, Friend in Need, although she played a second role. At this point, they haven’t even said their names. One of the biggest missed opportunities in the series was that they didn’t get more screen time together. The sisters have very different political beliefs and personal philosophies and therefore do not get along. They were only aired together a few times in the series, including once when Bo-Katana was in high spirits to confront her sister’s Death’s Watch politics. Overall, the Clone Wars anthology has done him a lot of good. There was room to explore a variety of characters and stories that would have otherwise been overlooked or left for books or games. However, this sometimes inevitably led to stories falling apart when the series was incredulously cancelled by Disney. Not all characters have gone through such development, like Maul or Ahsoka. But wanting more of something is a pretty big drawback. I really like these two characters, and I wish they interacted more given their relationships and personalities.
First introduced is Atlas, who initially has more significant ties to the main characters of the series. Their story begins with a bang; The Mandalore Conspiracy tells of a coup orchestrated by DeathWatch with the support of Count Dooku. The Deathwatch (which seems to have ties to the clan that controls the Mandalorians) is a terrorist organization with its headquarters on the Mandalorian moon Concordia. Obi-Wan arrives to investigate allegations that Duchess Satine Krys is building a secret army to join the Separatists. Here, Prime Minister Almec retires Jango Fett, a famous bounty hunter in armor from the Mandalorian Empire. I wonder if Lucas and Filoni had any idea of this debate that has been going on for years and could have caught fire on the internet. Almek assures Obi-Wan that the path of the Mandalorian warriors is complete under Satine’s peaceful leadership. However, Obi-Wan and Satin witnessed the explosion of the DeathWatch, after which the writer committed suicide. Together they travel to Concordia in search of answers from Governor Pre Vizsla (Jon Favreau), who considers himself the leader of the group. Satin and Obi-Wan share some hostile repertoire, as she insists that the Separatists are not involved in the war and that Mandalore must remain neutral. It seems clear to Obi-Wan that the Separatists must be involved, which makes them nervous. In Journey of Temptation, they find themselves aboard the Republic ship Coronet, where tensions mount as Obi-Wan and Anakin rescue Satine from her desires. There are indeed killer robots on board, which turn out to be the work of Senator Tal Merrick, who mistook Satin for a friend. Merrick takes the Duchess hostage when she tries to escape, and forces her to tell Obi-Wan that she has always loved him. Obi-Wan notes that the conditions are not favorable. However, he replied and told her that he would leave the Jedi Order for her if only she would ask.
Which brings me to one of my favorite moments in the entire series. Merrick knows that the Duchess is a staunch pacifist and wonders who will stand up to him to prove that he is a cold-blooded killer. Satin steals the gun but won’t use it, and Obi-Wan is torn: He wants to save her, but he is afraid to escape by killing the man. All this drama and bickering distracts Merrick from the real threat: Anakin sneaks up behind him and kills him on the spot while Kevin Keener’s musical score plays with the Imperial march. This scene is perfect and has brilliant resolution. The Duchess of Mandalore follows the group to Coruscant, where Satin defends Mandalore’s neutrality in the Galactic Senate during the war. Although she has allies in the Senate such as Padme Amidala, Chancellor Palpatine, and others, she is voting to send help in light of the recent activities of Death Watch. This would place Mandalore under the protection and jurisdiction of the Republic and force it to war. This would be diametrically opposed to Satina’s pacifist leanings. In the name of Count Dooku, Pre Vizla sends an assassin to Satina. However, it only kills Satine’s informant, who has already given her testimony, which she can use to change the senator’s mind.
Satine’s next big appearance will be in the Corruption and Academy episodes. In the first case, Padme goes to Mandalore to learn about the good aspects of Satine’s pacifist society. Instead, they work with Satella’s guards to eradicate the black market network. Satin takes Padme to a newly built hospital, only to discover that it is overrun with sick children who have in fact been poisoned by diluted tea. At the Academy, Padme returns home after the excitement, and Ahsoka travels to Mandalore to teach the children about the corruption and honesty of government officials. It turns too quickly into intrigue when Ahsoka’s students, encouraged by his teaching, discover that it is Prime Minister Almec who is behind the forbidden trade and who is (albeit unintentionally) responsible for the poisonings. Here we meet Satinas Corky’s nephew, he is one of Ahsokas’ students and is leading the investigation. It is also the first of two times that Corky participates in the rescue of his aunt.
There is a lot of speculation about Corky, especially about his origins. Bo-Katana is the only sister named Satin, and she is nothing like her mother, not to mention the lack of love between them. Some wonder if Corky is Obi-Wan’s secret son with Satina, presumably conceived when he and Qui-Gon Jinn protected her from Mandalo’s suicidal rebellion years ago. At first glance, this theory seems cool and explains why Satin is much closer to the boy and that Bo-Katan isn’t interested in him, and that he actually looks a bit like Obi-Wan. But that’s never been confirmed, and I’m not sure I think that’s such a good idea. I see Satine and Obi-Wan’s love for her as a counterpoint to Anakin and Padmé. Anakin is not the only Jedi who is in love. This shows that Obi-Wan fought the same problems and indirectly tells us how much stronger he is. Whether we as viewers agree with the Jedi Code or not (and I think most don’t), Anakin has accepted it and is intentionally violating it. Obi-Wan even mentions that he would leave the Order for Satine. Even if they were together, he would rather leave the Order than live a lie, take an oath of allegiance and constantly break it. I can’t help but think that if Obi-Wan secretly had a child and then abandoned him, it would weaken all thoroughness and the character itself.
Satin also appears briefly in season 4, episode 14, A Friend in Need, where there is a neutral meeting between Republican and Separatist senators. This episode actually serves as an introduction to Bo-Katan, which we’ll save for next time. Although Satin does not appear in episode 14 of season 5, Eminence, it is about her. Pre Vizsla, the treacherous governor of Concordia, allied the Death’s Watch with Maul and his apprentice Savage Opress. It’s also where Maul defeats the crime syndicates and stores his Death Watch soldiers. This is the first time Bo-Katan has shown any personality against Maul’s growing presence and power within the organization. She tells Pre that the Sith are no better than the Jedi and cannot be trusted. The short-sighted leader cares only about overthrowing Satin and bringing Mandalore under the control of the Death Watch. This leads directly into Shades of Mind, in which Maul, Savage and the various gangsters they’ve recruited launch an attack on the Mandalorian capital of Sundari. It’s a ruse so Pre and his supporters can personally arrest them to show that only coercion and force can protect people. It works, and soon Death’s Watch has people on its side. Satine is thrown in jail along with Almek and forced to listen to his conversion speeches about their bankrupt government and how his black market plan keeps them in power.
Meanwhile, when Maul talks about Mandalore-led takeover of other neutral systems, Vizla points out that he doesn’t care. For him, it was still about Mandalore and a return to their warrior habits. Maul and Savage are also in jail for a while, but Savage opens the cell and they decide to elect a new Prime Minister for Mandalore. Satin tells them how corrupt and greedy Almek is, and that they should not trust him. For Maul, however, it’s an affirmation; he can control Almec and have a puppet government, as long as Almec gets what he wants. They get Almec out of jail, and Maul challenges Pre to a duel, which he accepts honorably. It was a breathtaking fight, but Maul eventually beheaded Vizsla, took the black sword and enraged Bo-Katan, who insisted that the outsider would never rule Mandalore. After fighting with her, she and a few Death Watch soldiers blew up Satin. They also brought Corky, who assured Satina that Bo-Katan was there to help this time. Satin sends a message to Obi-Wan asking for help, but just after she does, she is captured again. It was also part of Maul’s plan, because he knew something. I’m sure someone will come for the Duchess. Then, of course, she would call Obi-Wan, Maul’s archenemy, to help and trap him. Besides, since Mandalore was a neutral system, Maul knew the Jedi Council wouldn’t help and forced Obi-Wan to come alone. In Lawless, Obi-Wan takes control of a ship from Anakin and rushes to Mandalore. He steals a Death Watch uniform, breaks into the prison and frees Satin, but only temporarily. Anticipating this, Maul’s forces, along with Obi-Wan, capture the Duchess. In the throne room of the Mandalorian Empire, Maul mocks Obi-Wan and says that this is the moment he has been waiting for: revenge at last. While Obi-Wan is defeated and defenseless, Maul hits Satine with the lightsaber right in front of him. With one last breath, Satin pledges his love to Obi-Wan while the war rages outside the palace. Bo-Katan helps Obi-Wan escape, and when he boards the ship, he realizes that she must be the sister of Satine she spoke of. They say a sad goodbye together.
Satin is an interesting character with different beliefs than most Star Wars characters. She’s idealistic, but she’s way ahead of characters like the Jedi and Padmé. She hates violence and corruption. But more than that, it shows his willingness and ability to step into the breach and challenge criminals and his own government. At first glance she seems like a sophisticated woman, especially compared to her sister, but she gets her hands dirty when things go wrong. She can be diplomatic, as we see in the Senate and in her personal friendship with Padme, but quickly becomes shrill and troublesome when unhappy. After all, he is a good man, but not a good person. She will do her best to protect her friends and the people of Mandalore, as long as she sticks to her peaceful goals. However, it is generally reluctant to compromise or show mercy to offenders. I love this character, but he’s the kind of person I don’t like in real life. She is very direct and does not have the kindness and willingness to meet people in the middle that Padme shows. But her warm temperament and stubborn nature make her a more genuine person. I really wish Satin had more scenes with Bo-Katan before his death, and more episodes with Obi-Wan, for that matter. Satella’s ideals proved too optimistic to work in practice, and forcing an entire system to live up to his personal beliefs was probably not the best way to go about it. Is the robust Bo-Katan better suited to the throne? Next time we’ll get back to their misadventures.
frequently asked questions
Who is Obi Wan’s girlfriend?
Duchess Satine of Kalevala, leader of Mandalore during the Clone Wars, was a controversial figure.
Who killed Satine Krys?
Maul led the Shadow Collective with his brother and former apprentice, Count Dooku, a fierce oppressor. Satin was then killed by Darth Maul in front of Obi-Wan Kenobi just before the battle of Sundari.
Is satin a Mandalorian?
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