Nearly 27 years after his first (and disappointingly short) appearance, fans have a new way to get to know an iconic antagonist; Darth Maul. Disney’s newest Star Wars spin-off series released on April 6. It follows Maul in the time between the events of “Revenge of the Sith” and “A New Hope.” During this period between the Jedi Purge and the rise of the rebellion, the Galaxy is in a state of disarray. 

Towards the end of the “Clone Wars” series, Maul allied with a Mandalorian rebel group known as Death Watch. After an inevitable betrayal by group leader Pre Vizsla, and Maul’s victory in their ensuing duel, Maul claimed his place as the head of the clan. He and his followers then went on to form the Shadow Collective, a unified group of crime syndicates.

“Maul: Shadow Lord” focuses on Maul as he attempts to make Devon, a young apprentice to the Jedi Master Daki, a very Oogway-esque character, his apprentice instead. Both are fleeing after the execution of Order 66: the Empire’s command to kill all Jedi. Devon and Daki are discovered hiding on Janix, a small empire occupied planet in the Mid Rim Territories. They find themselves in the crossfire as Maul gets revenge on the crimelords who betrayed him and his comrades. After the Jedi and Maul’s group have a run-in with Brender Lawson, a rebel sympathizer and police captain, the protagonists are forced to work together in order to escape.

A high point of the series is the animation and fight scenes. The animation is extremely fluid and smooth, the art is cleaner than in other Star Wars series, and the lightsaber combat depicted in “Maul: Shadow Lord” has come a long way since the days of Clone Wars and Rebels.

With the alliance between ex-Sith-Lord Maul and the Jedi outcast, there isn’t always a clear vision of heroes and villains, however, there is an obvious antagonist throughout the story. The Empire and its Inquisitors exist as the main opposition to Maul and the Jedi. The Inquisitors are force users who work for the Empire hunting Jedi at the whims of Darth Sidious, also known as Emperor Palpatine, the main villain of the original trilogy. They consist of both recently discovered force sensitive people and previous Padawans who fell to the dark side. “Maul: Shadow Lord” features two of these Inquisitors who both serve as a dangerous threat to Maul and the Jedi.

Another key highlight of the show is the character design. Of course, Maul stands out with his Dathomirian markings and devilish horns, but that doesn’t mean the other characters fall short. Specifically, the Inquisitors have a truly incredible design. Their all black abstract armor and cloaks, when combined with their double-sided red lightsabers, instill a sense of fear on the viewer every time they are on the screen. The Jedi, although less abnormal than the Inquisitors, maintain a solid design, with Devon being a Twilek and Daki being a reptilian, yoda-like humanoid, and embodying the classic Master Jedi role.

One integral part of any Star Wars media is the droids. “Maul: Shadow Lord” has two that stand out: Two Boots and Spybot. Two boots is a police droid similar to C3PO with the same uptight attitude. He is partnered with Lawson and was the one who initially alerted the Empire, causing the whole ordeal. However, as the story progresses he is forced to choose between helping the Lawsons and following orders, and chooses to go against his programming, growing into a fan-favorite character. On the other hand, Spybot is a mischievous droid who assists Maul in fighting and, of course, spying. Spybot is great comic relief and honestly one of the best characters in the show, especially after its sacrifice in the final few episodes.

Now, one can not properly critique a show centered around one of the franchise’s most beloved characters without addressing how the writers tackled Maul’s revival and they certainly did not disappoint. Through his witty comebacks and nonchalant, yet powerful, demeanor, Maul embodies the Sith-lord fans remembered. His actions are smooth and calculated, and each action he makes always has a greater purpose. It’s quite fascinating how the writers use his character to progress the story. Nearly every integral storyline decision, such as the death of Daki, directly connects to Maul’s actions and personal ambitions. With a small force-shove, he leads Daki to his death at the hands of Darth Vader, which in turn results in Devon’s conversion to the dark side to serve as Maul’s apprentice. It’s clear that Maul maintained his gift of plotting strategic attacks. If anything, it makes this cold, powerful sith lord all the more intriguing to the audience. 

His team also makes up an interesting component of the show. His brothers, Savage and Feral, initially seem like manic killers with their machine guns and clear enjoyment of conflict. While part of this initial impression does demonstrate their character, each action they take comes out of a love for their brothers. This loyalty is displayed through Rook Kast, Maul’s Mandalorian lieutenant who views him as the rightful ruler of Mandalore. She keeps the other Mandalorian soldiers in check, and although she might disagree with Maul’s tactics at times, she never fails to execute them. Unfortunately, Maul’s team loses a bit of their personality as the story begins to center on the relationship between Maul and the Jedi.

Additionally, Devon’s character plays a primary role in the storyline. However, her most interesting development is the parallel between her character and Anakin Skywalker. Skywalker, now Darth Vader, endured a similar journey to Devon, finding his way to the dark side. While he may not have been pursued by Maul, he was slowly converted by Emperor Palpatine. Maul coerces Devon to see the injustices within the Jedis’ ways just as Palpatine had done to Skywalker. While both Devon and Skywalker attempt to stay faithful to their Masters, they turn to the dark side in order to achieve one thing: revenge. Through small details within the finale, it’s clear that this parallel is intentional. As Vader fights Daki and Maul, he chooses to attack with extremely aggressive movements. Unlike Maul’s more calculated, choreographed combat style, Vader showcases a cruder form of lightsaber combat, chopping with his saber like an ax rather than swinging like a blade. While ungraceful, it’s a clear demonstration of his power. After Devon watches Daki’s death, her fighting style changes. From once being the dance-like motions she had embodied from her master, she now attacks with a newfound strength that comes from her rage. With similar emotionally-charged motions, Devon is able to defeat the inquisitor, solidifying her victory and her conversion to the dark side. The similarities between the two characters create a sense of familiarity as this cycle repeats itself, as both characters’ transformation stems from heartbreak and betrayal, not traditional yearn for power. 

Unlike other spin-off series, this show highlighted a unique perspective of a family going through divorce. For the first time in Star Wars history, the writers included moments of the reality of this transition through the Lawson family. While the story was not centered on this aspect, small scenes validated the experience of both Brender and Riley. From Brender’s guilt for not feeling present enough in Riley’s life to the parents’ obstacles as they learn to co-parent, the show discusses this sensitive subject while giving viewers who may need it an outlet to connect with these characters. 

While bringing back one of the franchise’s most iconic villains can be a dangerous choice (as seen in the flop that was Boba Fett’s spin-off show), Disney pulled it off. From fantastic combat scenes to heart-wrenching character growth, the show was a major success. This is a must watch for any Star Wars fan. Additionally, those simply looking for a well animated, family friendly show that maintains a strong storyline would greatly enjoy this show. While some background information from past productions may be helpful, it is not required to enjoy the experience Maul: Shadow Lord offers.