By Carly Shaner
“As the Empire has risen, we have all been made to suffer…But there are many who have prospered from my misfortune…soon, they will all pay,” Darth Maul said in episode one of the series.
The “Star Wars” universe is back with another project set between “Revenge of the Sith” and “A New Hope.” “Maul: Shadow Lord” picks up a year after the “Clone Wars” finale and follows Darth Maul (voiced by Sam Witwer) as he rebuilds his criminal syndicate without the Empire’s interference.
We’re introduced to Captain Brander Lawson (Wagner Moura), a coffee-drinking detective who stumbles upon footage Maul appears in, taking on whatever case this will become with his droid partner Two-Boots (Richard Ayoade). We’re also introduced to Devon Izara (Gideon Adlon), a Jedi who survived Order 66 and still believes in the principles she was raised on despite what’s unfolded in the galaxy.
As with other “Star Wars” projects, the galaxy continues to expand. “Shadow Lord” takes place on a completely new and unique planet. The animation style brings the show to life and displays consistency in details like lighting and sound effects. Each district in this planet-sized city has its own personality while still feeling like one world.
Known for playing Maul in “Clone Wars” and participating in other “Star Wars” projects, Sam Witwer returns and delivers in his performance of the disgraced Sith Lord. Wagner Moura brings a new perspective to the galaxy through voicing Captain Lawson, a detective who’s trying to do his best at his job for his family.
Richard Ayoade and David Collins give us two new droids, Two-Boots and Spybot respectively, to laugh with (and at) with their witty remarks. Gideon Adlon’s performance gives us another chance to see what surviving Order 66 treason is like for Jedi, and what one may be willing to do in order to keep surviving.
There’s always a set musical expectation in “Star Wars” projects, and “Shadow Lord” lives up to it. The show brings back themes and motifs familiar to old fans, and keeps the audience on its toes with fresh soundtrack pieces that match the scene’s pacing.
However, this isn’t your classic “Star Wars” story of good vs. evil. This show appears to give the audience a glimpse of an untouched crime underworld, making it a story of bad vs. worse. Every side in this show has a moral code, and while parts may be for the better, most of it isn’t good.
With the introduction of one surviving Jedi in this show so far, giving the audience only two lightsaber wielders—Maul and Devon—with vastly different perspectives, this show looks like it will touch on survival.
Both have survived on the same world, just in different terms. When one offers their help to the other, how will the other respond? Will they adapt, or will they go their separate ways, their perceptions unchanged?
As a symbolically darker show, this often leads to scenes being literally dark. “Shadow Lord” does this a few times if only for a few moments. If there isn’t a lightsaber that soon ignites, the whole screen becomes almost completely dark and hard to see.
The story is set up well. The characters and their roles are mostly, if not fully, established and there are already some higher-stakes decisions that need to be made. Maul, of course, has already made some clearly high-stakes decisions.
Overall, I’m super excited with how this show kicked off and invested in where it’s going. I’m also excited for the announcement that season two of this series is already confirmed.
I give these first two episodes a 9/10.
“Maul: Shadow Lord” Season 1 is currently being released on Disney+.
Carly Shaner is a junior Professional Writing and Information Design Major who loves Star Wars as much as she loves coffee.
Images courtesy of Lucasfilm.
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