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We first met Morgan Elsbeth in The Mandalorian when Din Djarin and Ahsoka Tano encountered the villainous Magistrate on Corvus. The latter's series later established Morgan's role there as part of her attempts to bring Grand Admiral Thrawn back from a neighbouring Galaxy, but who is she really?
Star Wars: Tales of the Empire sets out to answer that question and begins by taking us to Morgan's childhood on Dathomir. Episode 1 returns to the Clone Wars and begins with the planet coming under attack from General Grievous and his droid army.
Morgan's mother is killed and the Nightsisters are wiped out; luckily, the Mountain Clan rescues the teen and offers her a place among them (with the Nightsisters dead, their power is broken and their spells fade).
She befriends some of the village's girls, convincing them to help her gather weapons she can wield against the droids still roaming the planet. Soon outgunned, those friends - not that Morgan ever seems to care much for them - are killed, including the clan leader's daughter.
She sees that Morgan is only out for vengeance and strongly hints at the dark path awaiting her before leaving with her child's body.
In episode 2, we jump into the future to find Morgan attempting to sell starship designs - Thrawn's future TIE Defenders or something very much like them, to be precise - to the Empire.
They're not overly interested and, by now, Morgan has established herself as Corvus' Magistrate by promising its people wealth and prosperity. Captain Gilad Pellaeon takes an interest in her and, back home, she's attacked by a Noghri (Star Wars Rebels' Ruhk).
After fending off his attack, Thrawn emerges from the shadows and reveals the whole thing was a test. He's only an Admiral at this point in the timeline and explains that the greed bubbling up within the Empire will one day cause it to fall apart. He intends to ensure its survival and, after admitting she only sought Imperial favour for revenge, an alliance is formed.
In the third chapter, we're somewhere between Return of the Jedi and The Mandalorian. The New Republic pays Corvus a visit and a former inhabitant of the planet offers Morgan a fair trial if she steps down and relinquishes control.
The people are now forced to work day and night as she builds the machines capable of saving Thrawn, and Morgan eventually kills the ambassador before burning the forests surrounding the town. All while vowing to save the Galaxy from ruin, of course.
Fortunately, a distress call is sent out which is heard by Bo-Katan Kryze. Filling in some of the gaps, she likely tells Ahsoka about what was happening on the planet before later sending Din and Grogu there to find the Jedi.
What did you think about Tales of the Empire's exploration of Morgan Elsbeth's past?