- Created by Dave Filoni
- Developed by Dave Filoni and Matt Michnovetz
- Based on Star Wars by George Lucas
- April 20, 2026
- 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
- Marg Krim-Stephen Stanton
- Police Chief Klyce-Keiko Agena
- Rheena Su-Pamela Adlon
- Reb-Sam Corlett
- Icarus-Steve Blum
- Marrok-A. J. LoCascio
- Scorn-Dave Fennoy
- Lt. Blake-Alastair Murden
- Drea Lawson-Tamlyn Tomita
So here Star Wars: Maul-Shadow Lord is at the two most recent episodes. Will the show start to pick up speed? What will the arrival of the Empire as shown in the closing moments of episode four bring to the storyline? How will the relationships shake out after events portrayed here?
Let’s see.
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After the call by Two-Boots, the Empire quickly takes control of Janix.
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Chapter 5: Inquisition
- Directed by Saul Ruiz and Tatyana Drewry Carvin
- Written by Jennifer Corbett
- April 20, 2026
The Empire takes control of Janix in their hunt for Maul.
Chapter 5: Inquisition opens strong as it follows immediately in the footsteps of the preceding episode. The episode takes a much darker tone in a dark series than the previous four have. The dread and fear the arrival of Imperial forces should generate permeates much of the episode.
The authoritarian nature of the Empire is demonstrated. Klyce is ‘disappeared’ and Lawson gets an interrogation from the newly arrived Lt. Blake. Blake is cold but not threatening-yet. I think if he gets to issue orders he could become a good villain.
Devon Izara and Master Eeko-Dio-Daki are on the run attempting to get out of the city while keeping their heads down. Maul has clearly gotten to Devon since she is expressing seeing some validity in what he said. The best part though is the use of the Jedi Mind Trick by Eeko-Dio-Daki. It is a nonviolent way method to avoid conflict but as shown here only works if somebody not involved does not break the illusion. Nice to see a logical limitation on the powers.
I am bothered that Eeko-Dio-Daki continues to suffer from TV sickness as he randomly experiences pain. He never looks weak until they need to remind the viewer he is weak. He can wield a lightsaber and jump but randomly is stopped by a serious ache. You can create any number of bits of head canon that explains this but is weak writing. His illness only limits him as needed to up drama but disappears to the point you can forget he is sick.
Rylee may be angry that work keeps taking dad away, but we do see he still cares about his father enough to worry and do something if he thinks his dad is in trouble. He puts in some effort to make sure his father is okay though he is ultimately left as uncertain as when he first spoke to Two-Boots. THAT is perhaps one of the more disturbing character moments.
I like Two-Boots. He comes off as a loyal droid with some ethics, but what is shown in Inquisition is he is only a machine that is a slave to his programming. Still kind and friendly but completely oblivious to the danger he has brought to those he is friends with. It is a level of compartmentalization that would be scary in a human.
We get a look at Lawson’s ex-wife Drea with a strong hint of why they are no longer an item. Lawson is clearly anti-Empire but Drea, like Two-Boots, does not see them as a threat or dangerous. Rylee calls her for help but she offers platitudes and words to calm her son.
Then there is the arrival of Inquisitor Marrok who is the one that interrogates Lawson. Threatening and creepy in a BDSM outfit. Not sure how I feel about the presence of the Inquisitors overall for the story. Episode five might be a bit late to start introducing more characters in a 10-episode season.
Maul for his part stays in the city to get Devon though this action does begin to demonstrate cracks in his group. I predict those Mandolorians will chicken out and turn in episode ten. Almost a given.
The problem with Chapter 5: Inquisition like other episodes is it feels a little short. It begins strong and then stops at a cliffhanger that is appropriate for the half hour mark of an hour of programming. It had only started to get going once we get to that moment. I was left a little irritated because it felt like a tease for the next arc not a prelude to credits that separate it from the episode released with it.
Chapter 5: Inquisition was good with some intriguing developments but further drives home these animated episodes should not be just thirty minutes.
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Chapter 6: Night of the Hunted
- Directed by Steward Lee
- Written by Christopher Yost
- April 20, 2026
Lawson and Rylee find themselves on the run with the Jedi while Maul shows himself to the newly arrived Marrok.
Chapter 6: Night of the Hunted picks up immediately after Chapter 5: Inquisition with Devon Izara and Master Eeko-Dio-Daki literally in the living room of Lawson who is now under serious suspicion by Marrok. This episode also answers why he was so kindly released by Marrok just a few minutes (based on the timeline) prior.
We get just enough to put Lawson and by extension his son in deep doo-doo before Marrok melodramatically cuts a hole in the door rather than knocking it down or blowing it off the tracks. Enter and enter big if you can.
From there the episode becomes a long pair of chases filled with shooting and lightsaber duels. Heavy on excitement and drama but also advancing the story(s) by a little. This is escalating quickly which I like. It’s been a little slow before this. I like the chaotic nature of things, and it definitely communicates the mad scramble it must.
Hunted is an episode that keeps moving no matter what. Somethings always is always happening and nicely throws the previous status quo into chaos. Not only is Lawson and company on the run but it does deepen the doubt of Devon while moving her towards Maul largely because of cool fight with Marrok on a train.
I’m not sure if I sensed doubt in Two-Boots. Is he being made into something more than a machine? Shortly after he learns that Lawson is a wanted fugitive Lt. Blake orders him to take his boots off because they are not standard issue. That seems to generate a reaction in him. I’m curious what they mean to him.
The Empire is obviously squelching the local government and disappearing people who are friends and coworkers and it is a pair of boots that sow doubt? There needs to be a very good reason these might cause an issue as signaled by the narrowing of the robot eyes.
Rheena Su makes what looks to be her final appearance in the show that is preceded by an info dump (via Lawson) on how she knows Lawson. We barely (if at all) got to know her. Why even introduce the character? If this were a film her essentially breezing in and out of the story would be acceptable but in ten episodes and the reveal of a deep history yet no development makes her a plot device.
Imperfect Chapter 6: Night of the Hunted is still good. It sets the show towards a conclusion rather than an abruptly tacked on ending.
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These two episodes bring us beyond the midpoint of the series. For a 10-episode season I think it is taking a little longer to get into high gear but things are definitely on an upswing with what we get.
The problem I am having is that episodes were made needlessly into 30-minute bites instead of hour-long episodes despite being paired for release. Or 45 minutes if you cut out some excess for pacing. With that it’s becoming a lot like Ahsoka-a multi episode season that would have been better as a movie.
Warren Watched A Movie 