In Season 1, Episode 4 of the Disney Plus series Tales of the Empire, titled “Devoted,” the narrative unfolds in Coruscant as Barriss Offee (Meredith Salenger) witnesses the 501st Legion of clones’ attack on the Jedi Temple from her prison cell. Devastated, she is reminded by her clone guards that she is lucky not to be a Jedi anymore, or else she would have been executed on the spot. Later, Lyn Rakish (Rya Kihlstedt), a Jedi friend of Barriss, meets her and recruits her into the Inquisitorius: a dark side coven led by Darth Vader in the hunt for any surviving Jedi.
Lyn Rakish, now going by Fourth Sister, takes Barriss to Fortress Inquisitorius in the Mustafar system, which is still under construction. There, Barriss meets two other Jedi Knights she recognizes: Ahmar (Zeno Rbonison) and Dante (Nicolas Cantu). All three were brought in to become Inquisitors because they lost faith in the Jedi Order. Despite this, Ahmar disapproves of being forced to become an Inquisitor and attempts to escape but is killed in the process. As a result, only Barriss and Dante are left.
The Grand Inquisitor trains and tests Barriss to use the Dark Side, and she succeeds. Dante (Jason Isaacs) also succeeds under the Fourth Sister. Both pass the test and are given one final task: a fight to the death. Only one can survive and become an Inquisitor; the other dies and is forgotten. Dante tries to kill Barriss, but she kills him with a Force Choke. In the aftermath of the test, Barriss is recruited into the Inquisitorius as one of its sisters and joins the rest of the present Inquisitors in kneeling to their new master: Darth Vader.
The Grand Inquisitor tests Barriss Offee
Season 1, Episode 4 of Tales of the Empire, titled “Devoted,” directed by Saul Ruizand penned by Nicolas Anasatassiou, sets the thematic tone, exploring the concept of loyalty and devotion in the context of Barriss’ transformation.
Barriss Offee’s witnessing of the 501st Legion’s attack on the Jedi Temple serves as a pivotal moment in her narrative. Her confinement within a prison cell mirrors her internal conflict and isolation from the Jedi Order, emphasizing her disillusionment with their ideals. The clone guards’ reminder of her fortune in no longer being a Jedi highlights Barriss’ sense of betrayal by the very institution she once served faithfully. This betrayal stems from her disillusionment during the Clone Wars, where she witnessed the corruption and hypocrisy within the Jedi Order, ultimately leading to her act of sabotage and framing of Ahsoka Tano.
The introduction of Lyn Rakish, now known as the Fourth Sister, symbolizes Barriss’ descent into darkness. Lyn’s transformation into an agent of the dark side mirrors Barriss’ own journey towards embracing the shadow aspects of herself. The Fortress Inquisitorius, still under construction, serves as a physical manifestation of this transition, representing Barriss’ incomplete transformation and the construction of her new identity as an Inquisitor.
The presence of other Jedi Knights, Ahmar and Dante, who also lost faith in the Jedi Order, reflects Barriss’ sense of camaraderie among those who have similarly been disillusioned. Ahmar’s failed attempt to escape and subsequent death symbolizes the consequences of resisting this transformation, highlighting the inevitability of Barriss’ path towards darkness.
The Grand Inquisitor’s training and testing of Barriss represent her initiation into the dark side. Her success in harnessing the Dark Side power signifies her acceptance of her new role as an Inquisitor, while Dante’s parallel journey under the Fourth Sister emphasizes the duality of their paths.
The final test, a fight to the death between Barriss and Dante, symbolizes the ultimate sacrifice required for Barriss to fully embrace her new identity. Barriss’ use of Force Choke to defeat Dante signifies her willingness to embrace the darkness within herself, completing her transformation into an Inquisitor.
In the aftermath of the test, Barriss’ recruitment into the Inquisitorius and her submission to Darth Vader as their new master symbolize her complete surrender to the dark side. The episode’s conclusion serves as a poignant reminder of the consequences of betrayal and the complexities of loyalty in a galaxy torn apart by war.
Rating: 9/10