Having seen the show, it's not to turn them into Sith but something closer to the Emperor's Hand(s) in the EU. Okay, I guess that makes sense.

Ugh...I can't stand the idea of that "Emperor's Hand" crap tainting the CW cartoons. I bet the Maraphiles are ecstatic. It brings back unfond memories of them scouring ROTS for red-headed babies and little girls, and of course the idiotic claim that the Youngling in AOTC was named "Mari Amithest" as a tip of the hat to the red-gold pestilence.