When The Phantom Menace hit theaters in 1999, Star Wars fans were in for a treat when Darth Maul showed up on screen. Not only was he a visually cool character, but he brought out a dual-sided lightsaber, which had never been seen before in live action. He was a cool-looking character who was “killed” during one of the best lightsaber fights of any Star Wars movie. We had thought that we’d seen the last of Darth Maul.
We were wrong.
Maul was thought dead. That was until the animated series Star Wars: The Clone Wars brought him back in season 4, episode 21. Surviving being cut in half may have seemed impossible, but Dave Filoni did a great job in explaining why someone like Maul would survive such a mortal wound. After all, wasn’t it a perfect explanation that a Sith would survive due to pure hatred alone? His need for revenge has influenced every step he’s taken since his fight with Obi-Wan and unlike many one-sided villains, he has the intellectual prowess to see this revenge through. Since his revival, Maul’s story has become one of the richest, most complex, and satisfying storylines in all of Star Wars, with his story concluding in the animated series Rebels season 3, episode 20.
It was really exciting when Disney/Star Wars announced that they were coming out with an animated show centering around Darth Maul and his time after Clone Wars‘ epic finale and before his time in Rebels. Star Wars: Maul – Shadow Lord focuses on Maul’s time running a criminal syndicate, which has been such an interesting turn in Maul’s story, but completely believable. Maul no longer had a place within the Sith, so he instead carved out his own path. And if that isn’t the Sith way, I don’t know what is.
Star Wars: Maul – Shadow Lord‘s two-part premiere hit Disney+ and it’s laying a foundation for a compelling Star Wars story. First of all, the animation is absolutely stunning. As a huge fan of the progression of the animation style that began with the Clone Wars series, the upgrade in the Maul show is gorgeous. Not only does it look like a natural progression of the animation style they’ve been using, but there’s multiple set pieces that literally look hand-brushed. Personally, the animated realm is where Disney Star Wars shines brightest and if you combine the amazing artwork with Sam Witwer’s absolutely phenomenal voice acting, you’d understand why a show like this needed to be animated as opposed to live-action.
The two-episode premiere has set the groundwork for some really amazing stuff that would combine Star Wars canon with aspects of Star Wars legends. In the premiere, we’re introduced to Devon Izara – a former Jedi Twi’lek on the run after the events of Order 66. The show doesn’t waste any time in putting Devon in Maul’s sights. Maul is clearly priming Devon for an apprenticeship and urges Devon to shake away the teachings of the Jedi in order to survive in a world where the Empire rules all. Devon may be a new character, but we can’t help, but feel that the concept of her character was probably influenced by the Legends character Darth Talon – a red-skinned Twi’lek Sith who exists in the post-Return of the Jedi world.
Let’s name off a few things about the premiere that are just cool as hell:
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- Using the “Duel of Fates” theme music for Maul’s introduction? Chills.
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- Sam Witwer’s voice acting? On point as always.
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- Seeing more Dathomirian Zabrak? Amazing.
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- The new Twi’lek? Compelling.
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- Exploring the crime syndicate, bringing the Pykes back, and following a law enforcement character just trying to do good in this world? It has a lot of potential.
While the two- part premiere wasn’t long, it was packed enough to make us want more, without overcrowding the episodes. What does Maul plan to do on his path for revenge? Will Devon remain true to her Jedi teachings or will she fall to the Dark Side? Can Brander Lawson keep his hands clean when dealing with powers he cannot comprehend? All we do know is that Shadow Lord has been renewed for a second season, so wherever Maul’s story goes in season one, there’s more yet to come.
Star Wars: Maul – Shadow Lord delivers a darker, more authentic take on the Sith, capturing what makes them compelling at last.
Star Wars: Maul – Shadow Lord delivers a darker, more authentic take on the Sith, capturing what makes them compelling at last.
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