Warning: This review contains full spoilers for Star Wars: Maul – The Shadow Lord episodes 5 and 6.
If you’ve read Maul: The Shadow Lord this far, you already know that the series is more of a group drama than a 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 focuses heavily on characters like rogue Jedi Devon Izara (Gideon Adlon) and rival detective Brander Lawson (Wagner Moura). It’s equally well that The Shadow Lords paid a great deal of attention to this ensemble cast, as they are able to carry the burden when Maul himself returns to the shadows in episodes five and six.
The main takeaway from these two latest episodes is that things can get dark quickly when the Empire gets involved. And I’m here for that. As solid as the series has been since the beginning, there’s no denying that the plot has added even more tension now that the protagonists are all scrambling to deal with the arrival of the Empire and its Inquisitors. No longer is this just a drama about Maul training an apprentice and Lawson trying to bring an ambitious crime lord to justice. Now all three are targets of something bigger and more terrifying.
No character benefits from this upheaval of the status quo more than Lawson himself. His struggle becomes even more compelling now that his worst nightmare has come true and the Empire is targeting him and his son (Charlie Bushnell). It’s now easier to empathize with the characters. It’s also nice to see the series continue to hint at Lawson’s complicated and murky past, as well as his troubled relationship with his estranged wife. He went from being Maul’s foil 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 much time interacting with Maul here, we get to see what the former Sith Lord sees in her. Despite his noble efforts to protect the Lawson family from the Empire, a certain recklessness and darkness come to the fore. She’s quickly developing into the show’s most fascinating mystery. Where will she end up by the end of the series? Does Maul have the protégé he so covets, or does fate have something else in store for Devon?
Again, Maul appears less in these two episodes, but it doesn’t hurt the series at all. If anything, his return at episode 6’s climax only makes it all the more satisfying, as he shows up just in time to help Devon fight Mallock (AJ Locascio). And while there are some other memorable moments for Maul here, the most notable is his graceful lightsaber training sequence.
Speaking of Malok, it’s interesting to see the character back in the spotlight following his live-action debut in Ahsoka Season 1. Mallock actually has some dialogue this time around, but he hasn’t really shown much in terms of personality yet. He is a hardcore and dedicated Jedi killer, just like the rest of his brethren. It will be interesting to see how this series connects the dots with Murloc and explains how he transitions from being Vader’s henchman to being resurrected as part of Thrawn’s plot.
Also, on a side note, who do you think Malloch was talking to in that final scene? Since he is ranked as First Brother, that would only put the Grand Inquisitor and Vader himself above Mallock in the hierarchy of Inquisitors. I don’t care if either character appears. Perhaps there’s even a way to devise a duel between Vader and Maul at some point before the show ends? Fingers crossed.
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