“Star Wars: Maul – Shadow Lord” | Disney+ Original Review
After a lot of success with previous animated shows like “Rebels”, “The Bad Batch” and “The Clone Wars”, Disney+ is once again travelling off to a galaxy far, far away for a new adventure, but this time with a more adult twist.
Set between the events of the prequel and original trilogy, “*Star Wars: Maul – Shadow Lord” **tells the story of Maul, who is plotting to rebuild his criminal syndicate on a planet untouched by the Empire. There, he crosses paths with a disillusioned young Jedi Padawan who may just be the apprentice he is seeking to aid him in his relentless pursuit for revenge.
Instantly, it’s noticeable how the animation for these Star Wars shows continues to improve, as “Maul – Shadow Lord” is, without doubt, the best-looking animated show put out by Lucasfilm so far. It still has the traditional art style we’ve seen in previous shows, but it looks grittier.
Another thing I enjoyed about this show is how it doesn’t feel like a show made for kids or to sell action figures; it has a more grown-up vibe, and I’d almost say it’s the “Andor” of the animated shows. It’s got more depth, especially as it deals with the grey area that Maul lives in, where he’s not interested in being the good guy, but also hates the Empire. The dynamic between the Jedi and Maul is explored in a unique way, as they both have a lot more in common than they realise, especially as they are both trying to avoid the Empire.
That’s another major element of this show that’s refreshing, as it explores a world away from the Empire, while there are easter eggs and references to the larger universe, this feels much more grounded in the first half of the season, much like “Andor” was, but with more Jedi/Sith elements.
One thing I wasn’t expecting from “Maul – Shadow Lord” was how it often feels more like a traditional cop show, with the police trying to solve the mystery of all the local crimes, navigating the underworld and trying not to involve the Empire, as that won’t be good for anyone. This element also continues to ground the show; it might take place on a different planet, but it feels like the story is slightly restricted to just a single city, though a very big city!
Eventually, the show moves away from the “cop” drama and more into a traditional Jedi story of running away from the Empire, which is a shame in some ways, but understandable as the show shifts to a more Star Wars-like storyline. There’s also plenty of big lightsaber battles throughout to keep action fans happy, while also taking the time to introduce the new characters.
The show consists of ten episodes, and I’ve seen the first eight, so it’s possible that the show might not stick the landing, but with a second season already in production, I’ve got very high hopes for this show’s future and thought it was much more entertaining than “The Bad Batch”.
Overall: “Star Wars: Maul Shadow – Lord” is easily one of the best animated shows from Lucasfilm, as it explores stories away from the traditional Star Wars universe, taking one of the most iconic characters from “The Phantom Menace” and finally giving him a chance to stand out on his own, rather than just being a token easter egg thrown in to keep die-hard fans happy. Not being so interconnected with the bigger universe also means it’s got room to grow, without the overarching feel that you know where it’s headed. An easy recommendation for die-hard Star Wars fans.
Rating: 4 Out Of 5
The first two episodes will be released on Disney+ on April 6th 2026, with new releases weekly until the double finale on May 4th 2026.
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