Nothing gets me excited for Star Wars quite like their animated series’. Maul: Shadow Lord continues the story of Darth Maul, bridging the gap between The Clone Wars and where we find him in Rebels. Much like those series’, this is another piece of awesome Star Wars content.
The quality of the storytelling in Star Wars animated series’ has been consistently stellar, so finding out we’d be getting a series focused entirely on Maul got me more than excited. It follows Maul’s efforts to rebuild his criminal syndicate on a planet untouched by the Empire, where unexpected opportunities arise. With the conclusion of this debut season, I can safely say this is one of the best seasons of Star Wars TV we have ever received. It delivers across a deep, character-rich story, great tension and phenomenal lightsaber combat. The great thing about this series is that while dealing with adult themes, it caters to kids but doesn’t treat its audience like kids. It’s fun, lightly comedic, intense and at times quite terrifying as it highlight’s Maul’s wielding of the dark side to manipulate those around him.
The narrative across this season seems relatively straightforward from the outset; Maul finds a potential Padawan and sees an opportunity to give himself an edge in rising back to power. That may be the crux, and it certainly tracks in that direction, but the steps it takes to get there are beyond anything I expected or anticipated. The first two episodes are the weakest, but that’s simply due to the series finding its footing while introducing the new characters situated on Janix. From episode three onwards it’s a non-stop adventure rich in action and suspense, navigating one action sequence to the next while not losing focus on being a character study of Maul. There’s a number of minor character shifts spread throughout the season that add depth and complexity to the story, making for a gripping ride that had me intrigued by how we’d inevitably get from A to Z.
Over the course of the season it delves into Maul’s psyche and develops him even further towards where we see him in Rebels. To an extent he is the same Maul we’ve always known, but it’s awesome to see some of his more human side (for lack of a better word). Being the main character for once, he’s the subject of nearly every moment, with some time spent touching on his past and a lot of time spent highlighting his intelligence (however misguided it can be at times). Every second of the season is spent building towards the final two episodes, which are both exceptional works of art. Those episodes are not only a phenomenal culmination of Maul’s journey, but they thrust his story in a new direction that promises something new for the character. The finale elevates the season as a whole and has me already anticipating a second season.
Undoubtedly the highlight of this series is the action and lightsaber combat. The lightsaber duels in this season, of which there are many, are some of the best in animated Star Wars… potentially even all of Star Wars. The combat is refreshingly dynamic and exhibits mesmerising choreography that had me floored. Just when I thought I’d seen the best lightsaber moment of the season, there’s another waiting an episode later. That happens at least three times. There’s stacks of duels, and they all have a unique element that prevents it feeling repetitive. The animation style is clean and beautiful, lending itself to crisp cinematography both in and out of saber duels.
One last thing is for certain; this series doesn’t work without the presence of Sam Witwer. His performance as Maul has so much passion and grit behind it that every line of dialogue is as captivating as the last. The conviction in his performance is what makes Maul a terrifying yet also likeable presence. He straddles this fine line with utter perfection.
In the end, Maul: Shadow Lord is a triumphant debut, highlighting one of the most iconic Star Wars villains and giving him the platform to be the protagonist and the villain. It’s both an action-packed thrill ride and a wonderful character study. While you can foresee the ending of the season from the outset, it’s the steps it takes along the way that are surprising and a joy to watch. If you’re a fan of animated Star Wars, this is going to be right up your alley. For some, it may even be the best ever season because the quality is just that high.
9/10
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