By: Morgan Korn
Maul: Shadow Lord is an exciting new series for Star Wars fans. The series takes place during 17 BBY, around a year after Order 66. The show follows shortly after The Clone Wars series as Darth Maul continues to lead his crime syndicate, Crimson Dawn. Darth Maul is a fallen Sith Lord and enemy of the Republic. After the fall of the Jedi Order and the rise of the Galactic Empire, Maul is challenged with balancing the work of the syndicate while evading the Empire.
The series introduces Devon Izara, a Jedi Padawan who survived Order 66 and the fall of the Jedi Order. Tired of running, Devon eventually accepts Maul as her new master and falls to the dark side. Together, Devon and Maul orchestrate crime and chaos from behind the scenes while balancing their identities. Constantly on the run, the two grow closer through their struggles with the Empire.
The show arrives at an interesting time for the Star Wars franchise. With The Mandalorian and Grogu, fans have a lot to look forward to this year. The show also marks a return to animation for Star Wars. After the poor reception of Obi-Wan Kenobi (2022) and The Acolyte (2024), perhaps Disney thought it was time to give live-action shows a break. In my opinion, this is a smart decision considering the massive success of Star Wars: The Clone Wars and Star Wars Rebels. I especially enjoyed The Clone Wars because it expanded the Star Wars universe. Unlike some of the recent dialogue in the live-action series, this show deepened our understanding of the franchise.
Sam Witwer also returns as the voice of Darth Maul. Witwer, known for his deep passion for and investment in the character, has expressed great excitement for the series. During an early interview about the show, Witwer called this version of Maul the “most psychologically satisfying version of the character.” This is Witwer’s fourth project portraying Darth Maul, and it is safe to say he is one of the people most immersed in the character.
The series is available to watch exclusively on Disney+, with episodes releasing in pairs each week. As both an audience member and a longtime fan of the franchise, I eagerly recommend the finale and the continuation of this exciting series.
