After the Clone Wars, Maul (Sam Witwer) looks to rebuild his criminal empire on Janix while also seeking a new apprentice to mould to his will.
Streaming on: Disney+
Episodes viewed: 8 of 10
After getting sliced in half following a legendary introduction and duel (of the fates) in Star Wars: Episode I — The Phantom Menace, you’d be forgiven for thinking that Darth Maul’s story was done after six glorious minutes. But that was just the beginning. Arguably no Star Wars character who debuted in live action has benefitted more from the medium of animation than the universe’s most famous Dathomirian. Each appearance in The Clone Wars and Star Wars: Rebels added new layers and edges to his unpredictable journey. And now Dave Filoni (who masterminded the aforementioned series) has finally seen fit for the iconic villain to take centre stage for the first time in Maul: Shadow Lord. It’s a choice that pays dividends.
Maul contains multitudes, and we see a great many of them over the course of the season. Maul the schemer takes precedence early on as he looks to take revenge on his enemies. Maul the teacher is one of the strongest storylines, his not-quite-allies-but-not-quite-enemies dynamic with young Jedi Padawan Devon Izara (Gideon Adlon) one of the backbones of the season. Through them, the political undertones that have always been a part of Star Wars become more explicit too, with dialogue like, “What does it mean to be a Jedi? Guardian of peace and justice in a time of lawlessness,” and, “You don’t realise the fragility of these institutions until they’re ripped away,” nodding to the US’ current political moment. Later, Maul the betrayed comes to the fore in a moment of startling vulnerability that leads to well-earned tears.
When the time comes to draw lightsabers and do battle, Maul is often an overwhelming threat.
That takes nothing away from his menace, however, and when the time comes to draw lightsabers and do battle, Maul is often an overwhelming threat. Each swing of his lightsaber emphasises his brutality, and the red glint of his weapon has rarely felt so imposing, with the messier, grungier art style accentuating the darkness of this world. When the Jedi and Inquisitors join the fray, the animation rises to the challenge in spectacular fashion.
Under the direction of Brad Rau (The Bad Batch), the vocal performances are uniformly strong. As overwhelmed police captain Brander Lawson, Wagner Moura gets better as the series progresses, bringing a weariness and ultimately asense of desperation and fear that feels convincing and authentic. Richard Ayoade adds some welcome levity as Lawson’s naive robot partner Two-Boots, and Adlon infuses Devon with a youthful, determined vigour.
But primarily, this is Sam Witwer’s show. From calm seduction to venomous menace and even some surprising vulnerability, it’s another great showcase of why his vocals for the titular Maul are so definitive. And with Season 2 already green-lit, we’ll thankfully be getting more of him — and the show — sooner rather than later.
Though not quite essential, Maul: Shadow Lord is a compelling and at times thrilling chapter in the villain’s ever-evolving story.
