“You are operating under the assumption that I am the villain here, but it is not as simple as good and evil.”
This line from episode two of “Maul — Shadow Lord” perfectly encapsulates Maul’s character. He doesn’t see himself as the villain, but he also knows he’s not a hero. He’s fighting the Empire, but at what cost?
This new Disney+ show doesn’t give us Maul the Sith Lord. It gives us Maul the crime lord. But even that isn’t quite so simple.
“Solo,” which released in 2016, may very well be the first time many people realized Maul had survived being cut in half and his subsequent fall in “The Phantom Menace.” For some of the more die-hard fans, the reveal came during season four of “The Clone Wars” in 2012.
Fast forward 10 years, and at last, we’re getting the rest of the story.
The show has received a strong positive response, holding at a 100% on Rotten Tomatoes through the release of the first few episodes. Now hovering at an impressive 98% with 8 episodes, it’s safe to say that fans are pleased. But is it really as perfect as everyone thinks?
The show follows Maul, the Sith lord turned crime-syndicate leader, as he wreaks havoc on Janix’s unsuspecting civilians and in classic Maul fashion, seeks his revenge.
The first episode begins with a strong action sequence, setting the tone for the rest of the show as a fast-paced, exciting saga detailing Maul’s dealings with the criminal underworld. For fans of “The Clone Wars,” the plot is familiar, continuing the storyline of Darth Maul, the Mandalorians and his crime syndicate: the Shadow Collective.
Of course, the show’s primary character, Maul, is already well-known. He is still the same old Maul, creating problems for the local authorities, trying to recruit every child he meets to be his apprentice and entertaining the audience with enrapturing fight sequences and monologues.
Devon, Maul’s newest potential apprentice, is one of the show’s primary characters. She also represents what is likely the weakest part of the show. While Maul’s character is already known, she is brand new, and with that newness comes a load of questions. An Order 66 survivor and former padawan, Devon should be an incredibly interesting character, but I’m not sold just yet.
The primary issue seems to be a lack of character motivation. While the audience is told again and again what Devon doesn’t want — to let Maul go, to sit idly by while people get hurt — we don’t quite know what she does want. For the first few episodes, she seems to be just like every other padawan I’ve seen: a commitment to justice, an eagerness to fight. I want to know what makes her different.
While Devon leaves some to be desired, the visuals are where the show truly shines.
Maul’s first appearance gave me goosebumps. The animation of his lightsabers alongside Maul’s torn, billowing cape created the perfect character introduction. If you listen closely, you can even hear the sound of Sam Witwer’s, Maul’s voice actor, screaming mixed into the sound of the blade.
The colors are a striking element that this animated masterpiece takes full advantage of, pairing the neon lights of a sci-fi city with the neutral browns and grays of fabrics and buildings. And, of course, everywhere, the color red appears to overlay shots, to accent moments of intensity.
The backgrounds of the shots are hand-painted, layering a classic medium with modern top-notch animation. Attention to detail is at its peak here. The artists are truly showing off, and I am loving every minute of it.
The animation, though similar to “The Clone Wars,” is more textured, rougher, even down to the fabric, which looks truly worn and dirtied. Maul’s lightsaber too is rougher around the edges, not quite unstable like Kylo Ren’s, but almost as though the light is playing tricks on your eyes as he spins his double-sided blade.
As much as I love Maul, I do find myself having to pause and ask: can I really root for this guy? The original trilogy was simpler: good versus evil, Jedi versus Sith, light versus dark. Maul’s character follows this trend of morally grey characters that sci-fi/fantasy stories have become obsessed with in recent years.
While Maul opposes the big bad Empire we have been taught to despise, he is willing to do whatever it takes to bring down his enemies — including murdering innocents, toppling governments and bringing war to a formerly peaceful planet.
He is certainly no hero. But Maul doesn’t ask us to see him as one. He just asks us to consider his point of view. He asks Devon—and us—to consider a different angle.
In the last shot of episode four, a Star Destroyer (or, as my roommate refers to it, a Dorito Chip Ship), sets the stage for a coming clash with the Empire. This long-awaited battle sets up Maul to be the hero we desperately want him to be, but what will he become in order to achieve his goals? To what lengths will he go to get his revenge?
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