Star Wars: Maul – Shadow Lord Eps. 5 & 6 Review
Thanks to the trailers for Maul: Shadow Lord, we already knew beforehand that the Empire was eventually going to get involved in the story. What I didn’t expect, mostly due to the double-episode release schedule, was for it to happen so fast! But now, thanks to Two-Boots’ programming, the Empire has come to Janix to hunt Maul down. And they’ve brought in the big guns to do it: an Inquisitor. Which means that most of the characters with light-side alignment are now fugitives!
Good going Two-Boots.
Forgive Two-Boots, for he knows not what he did
So, let’s talk about the Bantha in the room first: should we blame Two-Boots for calling in the Empire? I want to say yes, but at the same time, I also understand that he’s only following his programming as a droid. That, in turn, delves into an entire debate about the agency and free will droids have, and this isn’t the time or place. Despite thinking that he did the right thing, though, and despite not being the main focus, these two episodes show us how Two-Boots is already seeing the consequences of his actions. His and Lawson’s boss in the police is hauled off for interrogation…and she never comes back. The Imperial Lt. claims she was permanently reassigned. Given that this is the Empire, though, that sounds like a deadly euphemism, especially when it becomes Lawson’s turn to be interrogated. And that is when we are introduced to the Inquisitor.
At this point, a lot of Star Wars fans know that being hunted by an Inquisitor is bad news. What makes it even worse, though, is that we know that this particular Inquisitor, Marrok, has plot armor. He doesn’t die until Ahsoka cuts him down in 8 ABY, almost two decades from now. That fact that we know he’ll survive this show means that the likelihood that Devon, Master Daki, Lawson and his son will make it to the end has just dropped.
The Jedi Mind Trick Didn’t Work? Haven’t Seen that in a While
Speaking of the two Jedi, now that the Empire is on Janix, they need to get out of dodge. Or rather, Daki wants to get them out of dodge since he knows fighting the Empire in a Galaxy that considers you traitors is a death sentence. Devon, on the other hand, has been unable to forget what Maul said about how she should fight back because she has the power to do so. And while we as the audience know that Devon’s desire to fight the Empire will be vindicated by history, we also know that now is not the right time. Unfortunately, the Force seems intent on having them get involved in what’s happening, whether they like it or not.
I really like the fact that what gives the two Jedi away was Daki using a Jedi Mind Trick on an Imp trooper. At first, it’s a call-back (or forward) to what Obi-Wan does in the original movie. But then it gets deconstructed when another soldier notices what’s going on and realizes something’s up. You would think that seeing that would set off more alarm bells in people’s heads! At this point, though, it feels like the show is trying its best to make it look like Daki makes nothing but bad choices. Immediately after they give the Imps the slip, he decides to lay low at Lawson’s house. All that results in is Daki making the officer and his son targets for the Inquisitor!
The second episode is essentially one long, extended hunt, because the minute Marrok breaks down the Lawson’s door, the father and son become unwilling fugitives from the law. The sight of them getting hunted across Janix, complete with them hijacking an LAAT gunship, though, is pretty awesome. But just like everything else that has happened to them, things go wrong when the Empire starts to catch up to them. As a result, the group is split up, with the adults having to fight their way out of Imperial troops, while Devon and Rylee are left at the mercy of Marrok. Until, that is, Maul arrives to save them.
Maybe they should’ve taken their chances with the Inquisitor.
An Inquisitor is Not to be Underestimated
It was obvious that there was no way Maul would get Devon on his side as long as her master was around. I thought that the show would resolve this by having Daki killed off, but it seems that has yet to occur. However, with the Empire having split the teenagers from the grown-ups, Devon and Rylee have no choice but to rely on sanctuary from Maul to survive. And that’s all that he needs to begin corrupting Devon and turning her into Darth Talon. Which is not going to be good for her long-term survival. Still, it was worth it to see the pair take on an Inquisitor together! Having watched Dave Filoni’s shows since the early days, I can tell just how far the animation has come. It looks far more stylized, like a high-quality painting!
There are two weeks left of the first season of Maul: Shadow Lord, and while I am enjoying having two episodes a week, I feel like the show is going too fast at times. Then again, maybe it’s for the best that it’s proceeding at such a fast pace, as it makes the whole thing feel a lot more exciting. All I know, though, is that I’m worried about anyone who isn’t Maul or Marrok making it to the end of this season!
