A fury of light and dark, Maul: Shadow Lord is a visual feast that marks an epic return for one of the prequel era’s most intriguing antagonist.
Maul Shadow Lord Review
One of the most intriguing antagonists of the prequel era has always been Maul. His design was fierce and his double-sided lightsaber was super cool. While he was kind of here and gone in the movies, The Clone Wars brought him back and gave him an interesting character arc and the post credit scene of Solo (make Solo 2 please) alluded to more. When this show was announced I was excited to see what else they could bring to the table. Turns out there is plenty of Maul’s life left to be explored. Naturally, we know where this is going, but it is absolutely a blast to dive back into Maul’s world with the promise of more already on the horizon.
Maul: Shadow Lord is a visual feast of lightsaber duels and light vs. dark as Maul seeks revenge on those who have wronged him. Sam Witwer effortlessly steps back into the role with all the fuel and fire needed to showcase this era of Maul’s story. The Kiner’s score is phenomenal with pulsating sounds and clever uses of John Williams’ Duel of the Fates. This is a story that didn’t need to be told but you will be happy that Dave Filoni and crew decided to tell it. And no, you don’t need to be a Maul superfan to love this one, this one is for all Star Wars fans.
Set a year after Order 66, Maul (Sam Witwer) is looking to rebuild and claim what is rightfully his among the crime syndicates with the help of some Death Watch Mandalorians and Nightbrothers. He sets up shop on Janix, a planet that is operating without direct Imperial interference. Rather, it is protected by a dedicated police force, including former bounty hunter turned detective, Brander Lawson (Wagner Moura). Also on Janix, Devon Izara (Gideon Adlon) a young Jedi is hiding out with her master, Eeko-Dio-Daki (Dennis Haysbert). The two are forced to beg on the streets and live in the shadows. They all are on a collision course, with their lives intersecting whether they like it or not.
The show takes place almost entirely on Janix, which can be described as Coruscant’s slightly less affluent brother. It’s structured similarly, but more gritty with a cyberpunk flair. It’s a place where fugitives can lie low and a guy like Lawson can call home. There is some crime on Janix but ultimately, the worst thing that could happen would be the Empire showing up. And that is something Lawson is adamant to prevent happening. Maul’s appearance complicates things and all the characters are thrown into a relentless push-and-pull. The enemy of my enemy is my friend right? Maul may be a killer but he’s also not wrong when he confronts Devon about her ideals.
What makes Maul interesting, especially after his fall from the side of Sideous, is that he refuses to surrender to anyone whether it is the law or the Sith Lord himself. His path may be destined for ruin but he won’t traverse it willingly. In Shadow Lord, Maul is a menacing presence, delighting in his enemies’ downfalls as he watches from the shadows… until it’s time to show up and kick butt with his lightsaber of course. Witwer is a force as Maul, which should come as no surprise. This time around, Witwer brings us into the inner turmoil of the character’s mind, with all the seething rage, emotional beats, and wise advice. His anger is still present, but he’s also far more patient than he has ever been. Taking time to play a game of chess rather than run in, lightsabers buzzing.
The supporting cast puts in work as well, Richard Ayoade is fun as the well-meaning but by-the-books droid Two-Boots. I swear his voice was made to be a droid. Haysbert’s Daki is calm and cool no matter what happens, with empathy for his young Jedi and those he meets for days. You’re in good hands with… sorry had to. Moura’s Lawson is likable and essentially the one the audience can relate to the most. He is a decent guy who really just wants to avoid the Empire because he knows they are trouble. Adlon is able to keep Devon from sounding either too whiny or just angry. Maul is after her not to be his apprentice per se but rather to use her as a tool against the Empire.
The Star Wars animation projects that have followed The Clone Wars all take their own approaches to adapting the stylization created there. Star Wars Visions changed the game, blending the anime world with the galaxy far, far, away. Each studio delivered their own unique takes not only with their world building but also with the style. Shadow Lord benefits from the Visions era. It still looks like a Clone Wars offspring but the explosive fight scenes are driven with that same kinetic flow as the Visions series (specifically seasons 1 & 3). Dynamic fights punctuate the episodes with things really turning out once the Inquisitors come to town. I also enjoyed the emphasis on black and red whenever we were seeing things from Maul’s perspective.
Verdict
Honestly, it goes without saying that Maul: Shadow Lord is a must watch for Star Wars fans. The iconic villain is back with a vengeance, biding his time and moving his pawns until the time is just right. Old Sideous would be proud if he hadn’t cast Maul aside. Shadow Lord truly has what we want from an animated Star Wars show- incredible visuals, epic lightsaber duels, an energetic score, and memorable characters. With a promise of another season, it will be interesting to see where this one ends (they only send the first 8 episodes for review). I know he can’t die to Darth Vader, but I would actually love to see Shadow Lord put Maul on the path to cross blades with him, like he did in Star Wars Tales #9 “Resurrection.” Either way, I need more asap. So I hope season 2 is ready in time for Star Wars day 2027.
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