- Created by Dave Filoni
- Developed by Dave Filoni and Matt Michnovetz
- Based on Star Wars by George Lucas
- April 6, 2026 to present
- Disney+
Voice Cast
- Maul-Sam Witwer
- Devon Izara-Gideon Adlon
- Det. Brander Lawson-Wagner Moura
- Two-Boots-Richard Ayoade
- Master Eeko-Dio-Daki-Dennis Haysbert
- Looti Vario-Chris Diamantopoulos
- Rylee Lawson-Charlie Bushnell
- Rook Kast-Vanessa Marshall
- Spybot-David W. Collins
- Marrok-J. LoCascio
- Icarus-Steve Blum
From what I gather many people have been very excited for Star Wars: Maul-Shadow Lord. I’m not one of them. Part of the magic of Maul is that as a villain he has not been consistently the center of a series leaving much to the imagination despite his repeated returns. By making him a title character you need to humanize him a bit. Happens to every supporting character that gets to be center stage.
In the next 10 episodes, we will see how they handle this and if they can keep or enhance the magic of Maul.
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After the Clone Wars, Maul enacts a plot to rebuild his criminal syndicate while seeking an apprentice and looking for revenge.
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Chapter 1: The Dark Revenge
- Directed by Steward Lee, Saul Ruiz and Nathaniel Villanueva
- Written by Matt Michnovetz
- April 6, 2026
Some time after the end of the Clone Wars, Maul begins a campaign of revenge against members of the Shadow Collective who betrayed him.
As is the case with all pilot episodes, Chapter 1: The Dark Revenge is a great deal of setup though one that includes a great deal of action. When it comes to presented characters such as Maul, I am left with the feeling the script relies on the viewer having watched the totality of Star Wars offerings. I admit to having fallen off for a time and yet to have completely caught up. My knowledge of Maul post-Phantom is not lacking.
Star Wars: Maul-Shadow Lord is a show broadly about the Star Wars criminal underworld and specifically about Maul enacting a revenge plan that also consolidates his power. It opens with a bank heist that Maul is involved in. I understand this is Star Wars but a villain in relative hiding taking part in a heist makes me question how he avoids capture. In a 10-part series you can take some time that would be denied in a film.
We all knew Maul was coming but his reveal came too early. It should have been the payoff just before the credits with us aware his mechanizations were behind the heist. It felt like it just came far too soon making his display of power ‘Meh.’
Then again this also looks to feature two more surviving Jedi (or at least a Jedi and padawan) in the form of Eeko-Dio-Daki (not sure if he gets named) and his accompanying Twi’lek. He wants to keep his head low while she is not adverse to stealing which conveniently connects her to the next pair of major characters of the show which are Det. Brander Lawson and his droid partner Two-Boots both of whom are investigating the heist.
Two-Boots is an entertaining sidekick charter in the tradition of any number of droids that have a touch of resignation. Richard Ayoade is well cast in the part. Det. Lawson is pretty standard at the moment as a dedicated cop who is trying to solve a case without the Empire interfering.
With Lawson and Two-Boots (who wears two boots) we get some good insights into their relationship in a small scene. It’s just before they cut to go elsewhere and Lawson is about to have some coffee and he says, “Enjoy your caf.” Two-Boots responds with “I just like to share the experience.” A friend wanting to spend time with a friend.
In a later scene when Maul is attacking the police station to kill crime boss Vario who is in Maul’s crosshairs after the death of another criminal named Deemis we see the determination of Two-Boots and how he just won’t give up when he fights hard to get control of the system from the Spybot. It’s in the expressions that the robot has. Unfortunately, this is about as far as characterization really goes in this.
I was rather pleased with the animation. It generates moments where it is almost lifelike. The use of shadow adds darkness with the character designs reminiscent of Clone Wars. The aliens are imaginative with Vario being a highlight. I didn’t find it too bad of an episode, but not too exciting of an episode relying on previously shown material. It establishes the world nicely but does not have much in it.
Chapter 1: The Dark Revenge is not a bad beginning to a series, but not particularly unique laser swords aside. (That references something Lawson says.)
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Chapter 2: Sinister Schemes
- Directed by Saul Ruiz
- Written by Matt Michnovetz
- April 6, 2026
Maul attacks a Pyke transport and captures Devon Izara.
Sinister Schemes picks up in the immediate aftermath of the raid on the police station with the police in hot pursuit of Maul and pals. A good chunk of this episode is that very escape. I don’t have an official number, but I’d say nearly a third of it is that. It is a good action sequence but makes the episode into more flash than substance.
It gives us an example of Master Eeko-Dio-Daki in action by him using The Force in a moment that should at the minimum elicit a moment of shock indicating Lawson not understanding how it is happening. Instead the animation indicates Lawson is taking it all in stride. He seems bothered by a ‘laser sword’ but not somebody that can push a walkway up with the power of their mind?
Maul’s plot is more spelled out here. He steals money, gets revenge on all that wronged him (Palpatine included), and works on getting his own personal padawan. His killing of those that wronged him relies on some action on his part with a great deal that is beyond his control going his way. I do not even think he is using the Force to influence things beyond the occasional confrontation.
We get a look at Lawson’s private life very briefly as he breezes in and out of his home. In about a minute we learn he is a single father whose ex is somewhere else that for his son to visit her Lawson must tag along. Why? No idea yet but as presented it comes off a bit nonsensical.
Action aside, we have some extended time where Maul having captured Devon Izara he seeks to change them from Eeko-Dio-Daki’s padawan to his. He talks a lot like Dooku did to Obi-Wan but it less dramatic. No sense of danger or hint of evil. Perhaps because beyond Devon wanting to steal so Eeko-Dio-Daki can eat, there is no moral confusion in the character.
Does this advance series’ story? Yes, but by a smidgen. There are a lot of cool scenes and the visuals are stunning. The episode itself was just kind of empty. Not bad, but not great. I just don’t feel there as much in Chapter 2: Sinister Schemes. There was less substance than there was in Chapter 1: The Dark Revenge. Less story material. Less character development. Less story development. Focused more on cool than it did on anything else.
Sinister Schemes is entertaining but not impressive. I did not feel my time waisted, but I was not left strongly wanting more.
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If I am not mistaken, they are releasing two episodes per week of Star Wars: Maul-Shadow Lord which makes me ask: why just not edit together the half hour episodes into hour long episodes?
They are visually good to look at and satisfying enough but are kind of empty. Maybe together they might feel a bit more substantive. I greeted these episodes almost with a shrug. I am not calling the series a waste (yet), but things need to pick up a bit.
My biggest concern about the show is that it will be safe. It won’t get too complex or try to push the envelope. It will be something that should have been an extended special rather than a series like Ahsoka. Hopefully this can improve things.
Warren Watched A Movie 