Review of the Premiere Episode of Star Wars: Maul – Shadow Lord Series

      Ricky Church reviews the two-episode premiere of Star Wars: Maul – Shadow Lord, titled ‘The Dark Revenge’ and ‘Sinister Schemes’...

      Maul is back to his usual ambitious plotting in the new animated series Star Wars: Maul – Shadow Lord. The two-part premiere enchants with a vivid world, stunning animation, compelling new characters, and deeper insight into Maul’s character in this post-Order 66 setting.

      Set a few months after the conclusion of The Clone Wars and Revenge of the Sith, the series begins on the planet Janix, where Maul seeks revenge against the crime lords who betrayed him following his downfall during the Siege of Mandalore. His journey intersects with two exiled Jedi, including a Padawan whom Maul intends to recruit as his new apprentice while they evade the pursuing law.

      One of the first striking features of the series is its visual style, which boasts a more unique color palette than The Clone Wars, Rebels, and The Bad Batch. The backgrounds resemble watercolor paintings reminiscent of Ralph McQuarrie’s remarkable artwork from the original films, allowing the characters and vehicles to stand out even more. As expected from a Star Wars animated series, the animation is highly detailed, showcasing fluid movements and facial expressions from the characters, as well as the choreography of the action scenes, including Maul's saber techniques and high-speed pursuits through the city. The action varies but tends to focus more on Maul’s usual henchmen and the police, rather than solely on Maul’s Force abilities, giving it a more grounded feel before more formidable foes appear later in the season.

      Sam Witwer once again excels as Maul, adding more depth and nuance than just his brute strength as a Sith Lord. Witwer successfully portrays Maul’s calculating mind and ruthlessness, along with his ability to adapt to circumstances. While Maul’s reinvention following his resurrection and the collapse of his criminal enterprise isn't new, this version shows him to be more patient and cunning—particularly as he aims to circumvent Darth Sidious and the Empire's control. This opens up numerous possibilities for Maul's narrative, even though viewers are aware of how his journey concludes in Rebels.

      Regarding the new characters, Wagner Moura’s detective Brander Lawson is already compelling in the first episode ‘The Dark Revenge’ as a reasonable authority figure who remains unaffected by the corruption of both crime and the Empire. Moura delivers a strong vocal performance that highlights Lawson's integrity, intelligence, and determination, adhering to the rules but only engaging with the Empire when absolutely necessary, while attempting to empathize with Padawan Devon Izara.

      Devon, voiced by Gideon Adlon, doesn't have as much screen time compared to Maul or Lawson, but she makes her presence felt as she distances herself from the black-and-white morality of the Jedi Order while on the run with her master. Adlon infuses Devon with a sharp edge through her delivery, complemented by the animation of her facial expressions. Her interactions with Maul are intriguing as they contrast each other, with Maul representing a different perspective than her master’s faith in the Force and general kindness.

      Other voice talents include Richard Ayoade as Lawson’s droid partner Two-Boots, Vanessa Marshall as Maul’s Mandalorian second-in-command Rook Kast, Chris Diamantopoulos as crime boss Looti Vario, and Dennis Haysbert as Jedi Master Eeko-Dio-Daki. The cast delivers strong performances, imbuing each character with distinct personalities and vocal nuances.

      Based solely on these two episodes, Star Wars: Maul – Shadow Lord provides fans with a profound exploration of this era in Star Wars, featuring engaging characters and storylines in the journey of Maul and Devon together. The writing of both episodes is tightly paced, marked by sharp dialogue, character dynamics, and themes, all complemented by stunning animation that is both intricate and vibrant. Fans of the Star Wars universe and Maul himself will find much to appreciate in the launch of this new series.

      Rating: 9/10

      Ricky Church