While the world waits for The Mandalorian & Grogu to come to theaters on May 22, a classic Star Wars villain, Darth Maul, is returning to the spotlight for a new animated series, titled Star Wars: Maul – Shadow Lord. Episodes of the new series from Dave Filoni and Matt Michnovetz begin on April 6 and continue until this year’s May the 4th celebration. While diehard Star Wars fans could find themselves overanalyzing the new show, lapsed or casual fans could find Maul energizing, thrilling, and worth taking a moment to reconsider their overall outlook on the franchise.
I’ll post my full review of Star Wars: Maul – Shadow Lord on Monday, so be sure to check back with us after the Easter holiday, but for now, I can offer the following reaction:
Meanwhile, other critics appear as jazzed as I am about the new series. Some feel the sting of Filoni’s influence, but that’s par for the course. He is steering the ship after all. As a middle-of-the-road Star Wars fan, my favorite Star Wars offering of the past several years has been Andor and Skeleton Crew. I found myself pulled into Shadow Lord from the jump, delighting in the show’s overall look, characters, and vibes.
Star Wars: Maul – Shadow Lord
Star Wars: Maul – Shadow Lord is a “pulpy adventure that finds Maul plotting to rebuild his criminal syndicate on a planet untouched by the Empire. There, he crosses paths with a disillusioned young Jedi Padawan who may just be the apprentice he is seeking to aid him in his relentless pursuit for revenge.”
The voice cast includes Sam Witwer as Maul, Gideon Adlon as Devon Izara, Wagner Moura as Brander Lawson, Richard Ayoade as Two-Boots, Dennis Haysbert as Master Eeko-Dio Daki, Chris Diamantopoulos as Looti Vario, Charlie Bushnell as Rylee Lawson, Vanessa Marshall as Rook Kast, David W. Collins as Spybot, A.J. LoCascio as Marrok, and Steve Blum as Icarus.
There’s More to Maul’s Story
Thanks to Star Wars: Rebels, we do know how Maul’s story will end, but there are still a lot of elements to be told before he reaches the end of the journey.
While speaking with Esquire, Filoni teased, “Maul is afraid, and power is the only way that he knows to really overcome this fear of his. This fear of being insignificant, of being forgotten, of being a nothing.”
Witner added, “You’ve got to remember this guy was an athlete training for the Olympics and then he never got to go. Or rather, on his first Olympic trials, he botched the landing, right? He’s the guy who peaked too early and is thinking, Oh, I could have been and I should have been… And if he were more wise, he would be able to figure out a way through that. But unfortunately, he was not trained to have that reflectivity.”
Matt Michnovetz, head writer and executive producer of Star Wars: Maul – Shadow Lord, said, “He’s this kind of tragic figure who is constantly doomed to repeat his mistakes. We have some empathy for him, but he’s a bad figure. His moral judgment is not the best. He’s determined to achieve his goals through whatever means necessary: manipulation, devious tactics, cruelty in some cases. But he’s a survivor. You got to hand it to him.”
Are you looking forward to Star Wars: Maul – Shadow Lord? Let us know in the comments section below.
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