The first two episodes of Maul – Shadow Lord are officially out. Here are my thoughts about the season premiere.
The article contains major spoilers from this episode and references events from previous episodes.
If you are feeling lost watching this show, or reading our review and not remembering details of events for context, check our our complete guide to everything you should watch and read before watching Maul – Shadow Lord.
Maul is back for revenge
Out of all the characters in Star Wars who hold grudges, Maul is probably at the top of the list. After his defeat on Naboo, Maul managed to survive thanks to his will and the dark side of the Force.
Everything that happened after Savage Oppress found him in Lotho Minor had a single purpose: Revenge.
First, against Obi-Wan Kenobi, then his former master, Darth Sidious, and now it’s the turn of the former associates of the Shadow Collective.
Kenobi and Sidious were protected by the Republic and the Jedi Order. Even without those two obstacles, Maul didn’t have enough strength to defeat them on his own. He wasn’t even powerful enough to defeat Ahsoka Tano.
But some crime lords and their grunts? Maul can handle them without much trouble. He already did once with a fraction of the followers he has now. In these first episodes, he has proved to be more than capable of that.
To make things better for him, he’s on a system that is “independent” from the Galactic Empire, at least until things escalate to a point where local law enforcement realizes they are not prepared for a villain of this caliber.
From peacekeepers of the galaxy to beggars
Seeing the Jedi Master being hungry was so heartbreaking. Not that long before the events of the series, the Jedi still had a home in Coruscant and the Jedi Temple.
While the Jedi Order slowly became an extension of the Republic’s political elite, many of the Jedi still served to protect the people of the galaxy.
Now they have to work in dangerous shipyards, live in caves, or beg for some food on the streets. There are obviously worse things that a Jedi can experience during the reign of the Empire, especially with Vader and the Inquisitors out there.
Nonetheless, that was still a very sad moment. The worst thing is that I’m almost certain that the Jedi Master will die at the hands of Maul in order for him to take on a new apprentice.
A new side of Maul?
The most intriguing thing about the series so far is how Maul seems to be in control of his own emotions. In the Clone Wars, we could always see how angry and frustrated he was.
Even when things went according to plan, there was always something that he didn’t say verbally, but was expressed through his voice or facial expression.
So far, I have not seen any of that. Maul is in control of both the situation and himself. Though that might be because he hasn’t faced any real challenges yet. The season is still in its very early stages, but at least I hope that when he faces defeat (because he eventually will), we get to see him face it in a different way.
I have to point out how funny it is that Maul seems to be obsessed with having an apprentice. He tried that with Savage Opress, tried to convince Ahsoka in their encounter during The Siege of Mandalore, and the same with Ezra in Rebels.
This will be his fourth attempt (not in chronological order), and just like everything he does, it’s also destined to fail.
But what I’m more interested in is the future of Devon Izara. She is still very young, with a lot of potential to develop into a great character. Especially since we have no idea what happens to her in the future. She could die in the season finale or maybe go on a separate way.
One of the things I liked the most about this new Jedi is how both her master and Maul told her opposite things. Master Eelo-Dio Daki told her to be patient, while Maul encouraged her to leave.
Devon is clearly conflicted about Master Daki’s approach to their “new lifestyle”, but not enough to immediately accept Maul’s challenge. Master Daki is experienced, but he hasn’t tried adapting, while Maul has become the prime example of adaptation.
I do believe that Devon will favour the dark side eventually, but regardless of what she chooses to do, the process of it is definitely going to be very interesting to watch.
Star Wars animation taken to the next level
I absolutely love how this series looks. The bright colors are so vibrant, and the contrast with the lack of lighting in many scenes makes the action scenes more intense without sacrificing visual clarity. Even the textures of things like the Mandalorian’s helmets and suits look a lot better.
It’s been a few years since we got a full animated series with lightsabers on it. With Maul and the Inquisitors eventually going at each other, I am expecting these fights to be the visual highlights of the series.
Pretty sure the last epic lightsaber battle we got was the duel between Ahsoka and Maul in the final season of The Clone Wars. That is a tough one to beat, but with Maul involved, it’s definitely going to be something memorable.
Final thoughts
Maul – Shadow Lord is basically a bad guys vs other bad guys story. Something similar has happened in Star Wars a few times, but never in a way where the story revolves around it.
While it has elements that are the core of animated Star Wars, it also feels more intense. The emotional and the violent aspects, to be specific. That’s probably because this series is aimed at people who grew up with the Clone Wars, or at least that is how I feel about it.
I always try not to get “too excited” about the Star Wars series (with a few exceptions), but I can’t help doing it with Maul – Shadow Lord. Sam Witwer is arguably one of the most dedicated actors in the franchise and someone who always respects George Lucas’ vision.
It’s still too soon to compare it with the other animated series, but so far, this looks very promising.
