Tales of the Empire episode 2 recap: Thrawn and friends

Warning: This article has full spoilers for Tales of the Empire episode 2, "The Path of Anger."

Star Wars: Tales of the Empire episode 2, “The Path of Anger,” focuses on how Morgan Elsbeth met Thrawn, setting up their story in Ahsoka. Let’s recap everything you missed in the second episode.

We open years after the first episode, “The Path of Fear,” with Imperial shuttles over a planet. Inside one, Morgan, who is a Magistrate now, is pitching her idea about the TIE Defenders to a group of people. Friendly reminder, these ships were Grand Admiral Thrawn’s main project in Star Wars Rebels. A snooty Imperial officer isn’t quite on board, but Morgan is ready for questions. Her idea to build these ships on the planet of Corvus, which is full of resources.

If that planet sounds familiar, that’s where Din Djarin and Ahsoka Tano fight Morgan in the Season 2 episode of The Mandalorian, “The Jedi.”

She argues that this planet has plenty of raw materials to build the ships there. However, these Imperial officers aren’t interested in what she says. They don’t want to move forward with the TIE Defenders, but they’re excited to invade Corvus and that star system to strip it of all its resources, thanks to Morgan bringing the planets to the Empire’s attention.

One Imperial officer does think her plan is interesting, and that is Gilad Pellaeon. A quick reminder of who he is in canon: He’s an associate of Thrawn’s. He was first mentioned in the Rebels finale and appeared in The Mandalorian, part of the Imperial Shadow Council. Pellaeon has been a long-time character, coming from Star Wars Legends and first appearing in the 1991 novel Heir to the Empire by Timothy Zahn which was his first appearance alongside Thrawn.

Anyway, he thinks the design of the TIE Defender is fascinating. Pellaeon wants to get to know Morgan better because his superior likes to find people with “a particular vision.” He asks why she wants to give these ideas to the Empire. Morgan gives a standard answer about the great glory of the Empire. That doesn’t seem to be the right answer, though, and Pellaeon leaves.

Later, Morgan arrives back on Corvus. Wing (also from The Mandalorian episode “The Jedi”) confronts her that she promised the people of Corvus work. The townspeople trusted Morgan, and now the Empire is coming for their resources without giving them any of the prosperity she promised them. They become more belligerent, accusing Morgan of deceiving them. She retreats into her compound while the people grow angry outside.

That night, she watches the people from a distance as they gather. Morgan doesn’t understand as she helped them grow their town and fortifications. She decides these are not her people anymore.

Suddenly, a shadow leaps out at her! It’s Rukh, the Noghri bodyguard of Thrawn from Rebels. The assassin gets into a brutal battle with Morgan, and the two trade blows! Their fight captures the townspeople's attention, but Wing refuses to send the guards to help Morgan.

After a tense match, Morgan disarms Rukh and demands to know who sent him. Pellaeon waltzes in at that moment, impressed with her skills. He thanks Rukh for his time and for proving that Morgan is who they are looking for. Both Rukh and Pellaeon leave…

And there is only Thrawn left, who is an Admiral at this point. He greets her as a Witch of Dathomir and is impressed with her ambition. Pellaeon told Thrawn all about her TIE Defender idea, and he’s interested in it. A project like this would help against the growing Rebellion. However, Thrawn sees how the Empire only views profits over lives, leading to the Empire crumbling in the long run.

Morgan wants to know why she should care about any of this. He asks her again why she wants Imperial favor. She wants revenge and can offer anger to the Empire. Thrawn accepts this offer, leaving part of his fleet with her to begin her TIE Defender operation.

And the people of Covus realize that with Morgan’s victory, they have lost their home to the Empire.

This is where Episode 2, “The Path of Anger” comes to a close.