Explosive
Summary
Don’t let the fact Maul – Shadow Lord is animated put you off as this is awesome stuff and packed with epic lightsaber battles and action. The final episode is some of the best Star Wars yet making this worth checking out.
Plot: After the Clone Wars, Maul plots to rebuild his criminal syndicate on a planet untouched by the Empire.
Review: I went into Maul – Shadow Lord with low expectations, but was pleasantly surprised that it’s one of the best pieces of Star Wars we’ve had in years.
I feel like George Lucas realised later that he killed off Maul too early in The Phantom Menace and that he should have been the main villain for the two other Prequels instead of Count Dooku.
When Maul was first brought back I wasn’t sure how I felt about it as it cheapened the emotional impact of the final lightsaber battle in the film. Over time though and after having watched The Clone Wars and Rebels, Maul has become one of my favourite Star Wars characters.
Cast aside by Darth Sidious after his defeat to Obi-Wan Kenobi he is now essentially a fugitive from the Empire and spends this series working with his Mandalorian comrades evading Imperials. He is also trying to recruit a young Jedi called Devon who he senses has great potential.
I love how Maul is fleshed out more as a character now and isn’t just a villain, but he actually cares about his comrades and is genuinely upset when any of them are killed. He is still a bad guy, but he’s just more interesting and despite his flaws I found myself rooting for him against the Empire.
The pacing in this series is relentless with a genuine sense of threat from inquisitors and more on the hunt for Maul. Supporting characters like Brander Lawson and the relationship with his son add some nice emotional depth in between the copious lightsaber battles. Speaking of which, there is nearly constant action in this show with awesome showdowns and hearing Duel of the Fates again never disappoints.
Don’t let the fact that this is animated put you off as this action packed and has plenty for grown ups to enjoy as well as the young ones. The final two episodes are amazing and I doubt there will be anything in The Mandalorian & Grogu that will match this for sheer intensity.
Overall, Mall – Shadow Lord is a real return to form for Star Wars and one of the best shows Disney has created since the acquisition of Lucasfilm. It is packed with epic lightsaber battles and cool characters making this worth checking out.