“Maul: Shadow Lord” is not only a visually spectacular achievement, but a surprisingly profound dive into the mind of a character that always finds new ways to be interesting.
Minor Spoilers ahead.
One of the bigger concerns ahead of the premiere was the show’s ability to balance. The show tries to balance multiple storylines. Maul, at the start of the series, is making moves to rebuild and strengthen his criminal empire. During his quest, he comes across a Jedi Padawan and a survivor of Order 66, Devon. As we see in Maul’s obsession with pulling Ezra Bridger away from Kanan Jarrus, we see it with Devon. Devon and her Jedi Master Eeko-Dio Daki struggle with their new way of life, hiding from the Empire. Beneath the surface, however, lies a deeper struggle: The Light and Dark Sides of the Force.
Maul’s inner turmoil is the heart of the series
Maul is as fearsome as he’s always been since his debut in The Phantom Menace. The action and visuals are as beautiful as they’ve ever been. But where “Shadow Lord” truly shines is when the story takes a break and looks inside Maul’s mind. One of the triumphs of this show is the further development of the former Sith Lord. For years Maul’s main appeal was his fercocity and his ability to generate fear. For almost 15 years he’s known as an attack dog before meeting his end, paving the way for future films. However, since Maul’s return in “Star Wars: The Clone Wars”, he has been recontextualized. After “Shadow Lord”, Maul is no longer a mindless agent of darkness. He is a living being with feelings and regret. Maul carries pain, fear, and a relentless drive, for better and worse.
The Empire is back and more dangerous than ever
The Empire is terrifying in “Shadow Lord”. From the arrogant Imperial officers to the Inquisitors that harass the titular character, all are formidable. The show feels specifically designed to rehabilitate the reputation of the Inquisitors, and the show does so with flying colors. After decidedly anticlimactic performances in “Tales of the Jedi” and “Ahsoka” Season 1, Shadow Lord does them justice. Marrok in particular has benefited greatly from his appearances in the show. It’s starting to become hard to believe that these are the same Imperial agents that go out in a figurative (and literal) puff of smoke.
Brander Lawson and Janix
The Janix police storyline starts off with considerable promise. The concept of a local law enforcement officer becoming chafed at the idea of the Empire is intriguing enough. Brander Lawson’s droid partner Two-Boots and his struggle to follow protocol is an interesting dilemma. Janix feels alive, and Brander Lawson’s struggle with ceding jurisdiction to the Empire makes for a strong backdrop. Unfortunately, Lawson’s storyline doesn’t quite hit the stride, and by the time it’s all over, his is the weaker storyline of the show. Wagner Moura does an admirable job voicing the character, and Brander’s relationship with his son Rylee is a fresh take on a father-son dynamic. However, it’s admittedly difficult to look at Lawson and see what makes him such a unique character. There are times when Lawson seems poised to become a multi-faceted character, but regrettably, it doesn’t land.
Devon Izara is a slam dunk character
Jedi Padawan Devon Izara is the strongest Star Wars character debut since Din Djarin’s in 2019. She struggles to choose between the road her Master Daki puts before her, and the road that Maul offers. There are shades of Ahsoka Tano within Devon’s character, but she is a decidedly different kind of person. It’s fascinating to see how a young Jedi, still reeling from the Great Purge, tries to reconcile with the choices before her. Devon and her story invites further opportunities for an in depth look into a struggling young Jedi’s mind.
“Shadow Lord” is an all-around impressive addition to Star Wars
“Maul: Shadow Lord” keeps the temperature up the entire season, a welcome change from other shows. It’s a fast paced, beautifully animated and action packed 1st season that wraps up the major storylines neatly enough. There’s plenty of red meat for those who are hoping for wild lightsaber duels and Sam Witwer’s voice screaming as Maul charges an enemy. Where the show is really able to shine, though, is Maul’s moments with himself.
“Shadow Lord” makes the audience reevaluate everything we know about Maul and why he does what he does. Once it becomes clear, all of Maul’s ambitions make sense, and the show does an excellent job providing that context. Shadow Lord finishes up on an open-ended note, but there is a sense of conclusion. There are several ways they can go for Season 2. While some story beats could have been stronger, “Maul: Shadow Lord” is a worthy addition to the Star Wars franchise. The show’s ability to flesh Maul out even more than he already has been is very impressive, and the fiery finale puts a nice bow on it all.
All Episodes of “Maul: Shadow Lord” are now airing on Disney+.
