Warning: This review contains full spoilers for Star Wars: Maul – Shadow Lord Episodes 5 and 6!
Anyone who’s made it this far into Maul: Shadow Lord will know by now that the series is more an ensemble drama than one strictly about Maul’s return to power in the criminal underworld. Sam Witwer’s Maul may be at the center of this conflict, but the series places plenty of importance on characters like rogue Jedi Devon Izara (Gideon Adlon) and conflicted detective Brander Lawson (Wagner Moura). It’s just as well Shadow Lord has paid so much attention to this ensemble cast, because they’re able to shoulder the burden in Episodes 5 and 6 when Maul himself steps back into the shadows.
The main takeaway from this latest dual-episode batch is that things can turn bleak pretty quickly when the Empire gets involved. And I’m here for it. As solid as the series has been from the start, there’s no denying that there’s an added sense of urgency fueling the plot now that our protagonists are all scrambling to deal with the arrival of the Empire and their Inquisitors. No longer is this just a show about Maul grooming an apprentice and Lawson trying to bring an aspiring criminal kingpin to justice. Now, all three are in the crosshairs of something bigger and more terrible.
No character benefits more from this status quo upheaval than Lawson himself. His struggle is far more compelling now that his worst nightmare has come true and the Empire is gunning for him and his son (Charlie Bushnell). It’s that much easier to connect with the character now. It’s also nice seeing the series continue to allude to Lawson’s complex, sordid past and troubled relationship with his estranged wife. He’s gone from being a foil to Maul to becoming a compelling protagonist in his own right.
Devon also continues to grow and improve with each new batch of episodes. Even though she doesn’t spend a lot of time interacting with Maul here, we get a sense of what the former Sith Lord sees in her. She has a certain recklessness and a darkness that rises to the forefront even as she makes a noble effort to protect the Lawsons from the Empire. She’s rapidly developing into the show’s most fascinating mystery. Where will she end up by the conclusion of the series? Will Maul have the apprentice he craves, or does fate hold something else in store for Devon?
Again, we get less of Maul in these two episodes, but that doesn’t harm the series at all. If anything, it only makes his return in the climax of Episode 6 all the more satisfying, as he shows up just in time to help Devon fight off Marrok (A.J. LoCascio). And there are a handful of other memorable Maul moments here, most notably his graceful lightsaber training sequence.
Speaking of Marrok, it’s interesting to see this character back in the spotlight following his live-action debut in Ahsoka Season 1. Marrok has actual dialogue this time around, though he doesn’t necessarily show much in the way of personality yet. He’s just a hardcore, devoted Jedi killer, like the rest of his brethren. It will be interesting to see how the series connects the dots with Marrok and explains how he goes from being a minion of Vader to being resurrected as part of the Thrawn conspiracy.
Also, as a sidenote, to whom do we think Marrok was talking in that final scene? He’s ranked as First Brother, so that would only put the Grand Inquisitor and Vader himself above Marrok in the Inquisitorius pecking order. I certainly wouldn’t mind seeing either character put in an appearance. Maybe there’s even a way to contrive a duel between Vader and Maul at some point before the show is finished? Fingers crossed.
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