Warning! This post contains SPOILERS for Star Wars: Tales of the Underworld episodes 1-3When you first hear that a Jedi Master canonically fell in love during the Clone Wars, one of the questions may be why Anakin Skywalker had to hide his marriage to Pé Amidala in the Tales of the Underworld series, Jedi Master Quinlan Vos was chosen for one of the darkest missions in the entire three-year conflict. While Vos had always been a maverick (not unlike Qui-Gon Jinn), nothing could have prepared him for the unique trials ahead, hard choices he had to make, nor the surprise that he would end up falling in love.

In the animated Clone Wars series, Quinlan Vos appeared in a single episode where he and Obi-Wan Kenobi ed forces to track down Ziro the Hutt. However, Quinlan Vos' Star Wars journey is far larger than just that one episode, including his biggest and most tragic story involving Quinlan Vos' mission to kill Count Dooku, which in turn led to a surprise romance with Asajj Ventress. Here's how Quinlan Vos was able to find love while still being considered a Jedi, and its connections to Tales of the Underworld.

Quinlan Vos Fell In Love With Asajj Ventress

During A Mission To Kill Count Dooku

Originally meant to be told across 8 episodes of The Clone Wars, this major Vos arc instead became the canonical novel Dark Disciple. In it, the Jedi Council controversially tasks Vos with assassinating Count Dooku, a means to end the war as quickly as possible. Seeking out Dooku's former apprentice for aid who had already tried and failed to kill the Count once, Quinlan gradually gained Ventress' trust by posing as a fellow bounty hunter, and they quickly became allies.

Once Vos eventually reveals his mission and true intention to kill the Count, Ventress agrees to teach Vos how to tap into the dark side, the only way they could achieve such a dark victory. Over time, Quinlan and Vos become more than allies and eventually fall in love. Together, they formed a strong bond and attachment to each other in the Star Wars timeline.

Vos Was Going To Do What Anakin and Obi-Wan Couldn't

Leaving the Jedi Order For Love

In the prequels, it was confirmed that attachments are forbidden to the Jedi. This is why Anakin marries Pé in secret, with only a very small few even knowing the truth. Likewise, Clone Wars confirmed that Obi-Wan Kenobi and Mandalorian Duchess Satine Kryze had feelings for each other in their youth. Before her death at the hands of Maul, Obi-Wan told her that had she said the word, he would have left the Jedi Order for her. In both cases, the attachment was either kept secret or was never fully pursued due to the mandates of the Jedi Order.

Conversely, Dark Disciple confirms that Quinlan Vos fully intended to leave the Jedi Order once Dooku was killed. This would have allowed him to be with Ventress, even if it meant leaving the Jedi Path. However, fate had other plans in mind, as their attempt to kill Dooku failed, resulting in Quinlan's capture.

Tortured and manipulated by Dooku, Vos fell further into the dark side, becoming the Count's new apprentice, iral Enigma. However, Vod only stayed by Dooku's side in a bid to eventually kill both the Count and his master, Darth Sidious. Following a series of conflicts where neither the Jedi nor Dooku could fully trust Vos' allegiances, Vos tried once again to kill Dooku. Ultimately, Ventress sacrificed herself to save Vos, taking a direct blast of Force lightning in an act that redeemed her to the light and helped Vos break the dark side's hold on his soul.

Following Ventress' Death, Vos Returned To The Jedi Order

Obi-Wan Got Vos Reinstated by the Jedi Council

After Ventress' died, the final pages of Dark Disciple saw Vos and Kenobi laying her body to rest in the burial pools of Dathomir with her fellow Nightsisters, shedding a tear while telling her he would always love her. This same scene was just adapted for the premiere episode of Tales of the Underworld, which also revealed that Ventress was resurrected using Nightsister magicks. However, the cost was her heart's desire, meaning Asajj could never be with Quinlan.

Believing Asajj was dead and gone, Quinlan reed the Jedi Order. Obi-Wan advocated for his reinstatement by pointing out the Jedi Council's own moral failing by sending Vos to kill Dooku in the first place, and the Council agreed. Regardless, it doesn't change the fact that Quinlan and Ventress' love had been strong enough to not only bring Ventress back to life, but would have also been enough that Quinlan would have eventually left the Jedi Order entirely, unlike Anakin who tried to have it both ways by keeping his attachments hidden.

All episodes of Star Wars: Tales of the Underworld are now streaming on Disney+.