The announcement that Maul was getting his own series, focused on his rebuilding his crime syndicate after the events of Order 66, had me invested right away. Maul is a character I love, right from when he first appeared in The Phantom Menace. His story has been shown in The Clone Wars and Rebels, but a large gap still remained. His rise to power in the criminal underworld during the time of the Empire. Maul: Shadow Lord would be answering just that.

The first episode introduces the core characters and factions in play. There’s Maul, in command of the Mandalorians and the Zabrak warriors. Devon Izara and her Jedi Master Eeko-Dio-Daki. Brander Lawson and his droid partner Two-Boots, both part of the Janix Police. And then the criminal factions who operate on and around Janix. Such as crime lords Nico Deemis and Vario.

Maul is out for revenge on the criminal elements who never returned to him and his Shadow Collective. Using his team to attack targets to rile up the criminal elements of Janix so they take themselves out. But more than that, he is again after an apprentice. A Force user powerful enough to stand by his side with the ultimate goal of enacting his revenge on Sidious.

Lawson is investigating this new player disrupting the city, wanting to know who he is dealing with. While also taking Izara into custody after she tried and failed to steal some fruit to help feed her master. And already, from that first scene with master and apprentice, it is clear she is falling from the principles of a Jedi. Wanting to take the quick and easy path.

There’s a lot of great action across the two episodes. The bank heist that opens the series being used to show off just what Maul: Shadow Lord has in store when it comes to action. Fast-paced and oh so smooth, the action is tracked well. Even once that action transitions to vehicles. Of course, stand out shot of the opening being when Maul comes onto the scene. Such energy from a simple lightsaber activation while standing on a ship’s boarding ramp.

So far, I’m invested in the events that are transpiring. Maul is showing his cunning, careful planning, and manipulation tactics, using every advantage he can gain to rise to the top of the underworld ladder. And bring Izara faster down the path she already seems to be heading. That struggle Izara faces provides a great bit of conflict away from the criminal chaos going on. A struggle I’m sure will have its own clashes in the next few episodes.

There are fun characters to be found with Maul: Shadow Lord, with a highlight being Vario and his easy wit. Though, naturally when it comes to Star Wars, the droids stay winning. After all, with who voices Two-Boots, how could you not love him? The side of lawlessness also has a great droid to love in the disc shaped spy droid, who tackles jobs with precision while delivering short, direct one-liners. I’m sure the other mains of Lawson and Izara will grow on me as more of their story is told.

What has already been shown is enough for me to want to see those stories develop. Maul: Shadow Lord absolutely delivered in its first episodes, providing a great amount of action and character scenes that are well paced. And the visuals are simply stunning. They really do elevate the excitement of the action. The opening is one I can easily recommend, and I’m sure the same will be said for the full season, too.

Images Taken From:
Star Wars: Maul – Shadow Lord | Official Trailer | Star Wars