Review of the Season 1 Finale of Star Wars: Maul – Shadow Lord

      Ricky Church reviews Star Wars: Maul – Shadow Lord episode 9 ‘Strange Allies’ and episode 10 ‘The Dark Lord’…

      So, here’s a question for longtime Star Wars fans: do you recall leaving the theaters after your first viewing of The Phantom Menace and discussing how awesome Darth Maul was with your friends, debating who would win in a fight between Darth Maul and Darth Vader? Who could have predicted that, 27 years later, that inquiry would be answered in an extraordinarily epic manner in the season finale of Maul – Shadow Lord, which stands out as one of the best stories the franchise has offered.

      The first season of Maul – Shadow Lord has been the most serialized Star Wars animation produced by Lucasfilm, with each episode building upon the previous ones far more than Rebels or The Bad Batch did. This structure has made the series incredibly enjoyable to watch, as it largely revolves around character development amidst the action. The philosophical exchanges between Maul and Devon, along with reflections on Maul’s traumatic past in the prior episode, set the stage for ‘Strange Allies’ and ‘The Dark Lord,’ which delivered numerous satisfying conclusions to the storylines established throughout the season. The reluctant alliance between Maul’s and Devon’s factions was intriguing, allowing characters who had never interacted before to explore their dynamics while also enhancing character development.

      This character development included the Lawsons mending their strained relationship with some heartfelt father-son moments, reminding viewers of the stakes for those without the Force to assist them. Meanwhile, Devon found himself torn between Daki and Maul's intentions for her. They functioned as the angel and devil on her shoulders, with Maul still focused on turning Devon, while he and Daki adopted a frenemy dynamic in their partnership—Maul even defended Daki to Rook and placed his trust in Daki's instincts as the Inquisitors approached. Together, the three of them formed a surprisingly strong unit, leveraging each other's skills and styles to push back against Marrok and Crow. Additionally, it was a clever nod for Maul to adopt the Starkiller lightsaber pose as an Easter egg referencing Sam Witwer’s initial Star Wars role.

      Then ‘The Dark Lord’ commenced, and it certainly did not disappoint. Many fans have speculated on whether Maul's abilities would measure up to Darth Vader’s, and the finale made it clear that while Maul is highly skilled, Vader is undeniably superior in both the Force and lightsaber combat. The animators did an impressive job adapting Vader's fighting style during the often 3v1 battle, utilizing his strength to deliver devastating blows while leveraging the Force for an advantage. Perhaps the most striking aspect of Vader’s presence was his complete silence, relying on his physicality to demonstrate just how outmatched Maul, Daki, and Devon were. In this portrayal, Vader seemed less like a Sith Lord and more akin to Jason Voorhees or Michael Myers—coldly pursuing his prey and evoking fear without uttering threats or insults as most Sith typically do. The fear expressed by Maul, as he began to grasp who they were up against (given his correct prediction to Ahsoka in The Clone Wars finale), underscored the peril they faced, with even he feeling fear.

      The animation throughout the two episodes was nothing short of remarkable. Animation is challenging enough with just two fighters, yet the execution of six combatants—three of whom wielded double-sided lightsabers—seemed almost impossible. However, their movements, choreography, and cinematography successfully delivered on the tension of the Maul versus Vader showdown. Even with the knowledge that Maul would survive, the suspense lay in his reactions to the battle as well as the potential fates of Daki and Devon. Daki has faced danger throughout the season, not just due to his age and health, but also because he possessed something Maul desired. Despite their moments of frenemy camaraderie against Vader, it was not surprising that Maul betrayed Daki to escape and seize the perfect opportunity to sway Devon to the dark side, although he appeared briefly remorseful for doing so. The attention to detail in facial expressions and animated body language effectively conveyed the characters’ emotions. Combined with the voice work of Witwer and the rest of the cast, this series showcases some of the strongest animation in Star Wars media to date.

      Naturally, with Vader's arrival, the stakes were high, and ‘The Dark Lord’ resulted in significant losses among the series’ characters. Daki, Icarus, and Rook faced peril, with even Spybot not escaping the wrath of Vader and the Inquisitors. These losses resonated powerfully, particularly Spybot’s tragic demise, which highlighted the omnipresent danger the characters faced, even in the absence of Vader.

      There was even speculation regarding the fate of Wagner Moura’s Captain Lawson, who was last seen sacrificing himself to