This text incorporates spoilers for “Star Wars: Maul — Shadow Lord” Episodes 9 and 10, “Unusual Allies” and “The Darkish Lord.”
When George Lucas made the prequels, one widespread criticism was that he made every thing too related, that the universe now felt too small. C-3PO was now constructed by Darth Vader, who additionally owned R2-D2; Yoda was one way or the other pals with Chewbacca; Anakin was even pals with Greedo. And but, as a result of the reveal that Anakin was really Darth Vader was a shock to audiences again in 1980, Vader’s true id needed to be a secret in-universe, too.
This key ingredient to Vader’s characterization and to Palpatine’s rise to energy has resulted in among the greatest moments in “Star Wars” historical past. Palpatine one way or the other fooled the whole galaxy into pondering the Jedi had been evil, whereas concealing the truth that he himself was a Sith and that Vader was as soon as a Jedi. Only a few individuals knew the id of the person generally known as the Emperor’s Fist. Thrawn, as an example, discovered Anakin Skywalker was really Darth Vader after some time. Tarkin additionally figured it out. In “Star Wars Rebels,” it is not till they meet in individual on Malachor that Ahsoka absolutely realizes what her former grasp had change into, resulting in in a combat scene so unbelievable, Lucasfilm simply did it once more in “Obi-Wan Kenobi.”
That is to say, when characters who had been round for The Clone Wars meet Vader for the primary time, it is normally a second value listening to. “Maul — Shadow Lord” is not any exception, because the much-anticipated assembly between Maul and Vader resulted in an exceptional combat in addition to some fascinating questions on “Star Wars” lore.
Duel of the Fates
If there’s one fixed within the lifetime of Maul, it is that the previous Sith apprentice will undergo. He misplaced his legs when combating Obi-Wan Kenobi, he misplaced his brother (Savage Opress) when combating Darth Sidious, and he misplaced his total dwelling when Grievous dedicated genocide on Dathomir. In “Maul — Shadow Lord,” the previous Sith Lord is able we have by no means seen him in earlier than: afraid and in ache.
That is Maul at his most weak. His robotic legs are failing him, and even his once-formidable bodily prowess is a shadow of what it as soon as was. His obsession with turning former Jedi Devon Izara into his apprentice made Maul sloppy, exposing his id to the Empire and bringing an entire military (and even Inquisitors) down on him. However when the Inquisitors aren’t sufficient to seize Maul, Devon, and her grasp Eeko-Dio Daki, the Empire sends Lord Vader himself.
This growth leads to some of the visually beautiful items of “Star Wars” media in years. Your complete remaining episode sees Vader at his most terrifying, doing his greatest slasher film villain impersonation by being practically invincible, disappearing at will, then showing with a leap scare. Positive, he is dealing with a fairly injured Maul, however Vader remains to be frighteningly highly effective. Even when combating each Maul, Devon, and Daki, he barely breaks a sweat, combating with just one hand and with out a lot care.
Regardless that we already noticed Maul afraid to die in final week’s double episode launch, this time, he is really fearful of a person extra highly effective than him. When he first clashes with Vader, Maul shouts “What are you!?” whereas in awe of Vader’s energy.
That is necessary, as a result of it is clear that is the primary time Maul encounters Vader after his fall to the darkish aspect, and the expertise scars Maul.
A fateful encounter that scars Maul
It appears that evidently throughout the combat within the season finale of “Shadow Lord,” Maul discovered Vader’s id. Although he first appears confused and shocked by Vader’s look, he later tells Devon and her grasp that Vader is aware of all concerning the methods of the Jedi and the way they combat. We additionally know from the finale of “The Clone Wars” that Maul appropriately deduced that Anakin Skywalker had been marked by Sidious to be his new apprentice. It stands to cause, then, that Maul would join the dots and understand Vader is Anakin Skywalker.
Nonetheless, not even the information of Vader’s true id may also help in a combat towards the Sith Lord. This is likely to be the primary time Maul confronted Vader, however we all know it was impactful sufficient to deeply have an effect on Maul for years to return.
We all know this as a result of when Maul returns in “Star Wars Rebels,” his thoughts has been damaged. We discover him in an deserted Sith temple on Malachor desperately making an attempt to succeed in the holocron on the high of the temple to discover a method to defeat the Sith. He babbles, his thoughts wandering off mid-sentence. However one factor is obvious: He’s afraid of Vader.
When Ezra and Kanan discover Maul on Malachor, the previous Sith explicitly tells them he will not face Vader, as a result of he is aware of there isn’t any beating him. It appears that evidently obsession and worry started right here.
Maul’s solely hope, at the least in his thoughts, is to get an apprentice that may assist him combat again towards the Sith. He is discovered that apprentice in Devon Izara, a personality via whom “Maul — Shadow Lord” exhibits an unseen aspect of the Jedi expertise, earlier than in the end falling to the darkish aspect within the finale. No matter destiny awaits Devon, Vader is probably going concerned.
