With the Star Wars Rebels episode “Twin Suns,” the bitter feud between Maul and Kenobi finally reached its end. Darth Maul is dead. But you can’t keep a good character down. Obi-Wan has escaped the cycle of revenge and ambition Maul has been stuck in his entire life, and he’s closer to the Force for it. It’s unfortunate, then, that Maul was originally created by George Lucas as a one-off character, present only to re-establish the threat of the Sith. ... giving a sense of tragedy to his passing that made viewers somewhat remorseful over Maul’s death. After coming back from near-death many times, Maul became a bitter castoff of the Sith, forced to fend for himself years after his abandonment by Darth Sidious. The Son of Dathomir comic was adapted from unproduced episodes of The Clone Wars, so it’s closely linked to the events on Mandalore. As we say goodbye once again to one of Star Wars‘ greatest villains, let’s take a look back at the former Sith’s best moments from The Clone Wars, Rebels, the comics, and beyond. The Phantom Menace is not a perfect movie, but the two-on-one lightsaber duel in the third act is a great example of the kind of action and physical storytelling that makes Star Wars such an effective and enduring movie franchise. What Happened to the Jedi in the High Republic? Megan Crouse writes for Star Wars Insider and Star Wars.com and is a co-host on Den of Geek's Star Wars podcast, Blaster Canon. As you’ll see in The Clone Wars season 7 and the Rebels animated series, Maul will fight until the very end to get what he wants. After recruiting a group of rogue Mandalorian warriors known as Death Watch to his side, Maul has bigger ambitions: to take over the entire planet of Mandalore. Sidious forced Maul to breathe in the ashes of Sith warriors, slain when an ancient weapon was activated in the Sith temple on the planet. Maul is back on top. Choreographed by Nick Gillard, the lightsaber fight was acrobatic and wide-ranging, mixing in more melee than had been possible in the Original Trilogy. Following the Sith lord through The Phantom Menace, finding new life in Star Wars The Clone Wars, becoming a crime lord in Solo, and meeting his end in Star Wars Rebels, can be hard to follow. The Nightbrother was a customized Kom'rk-class fighter of the Kryze Gauntlet ship variant. Fans believe the movie will depict a death scene, perhaps even the one from Rebels. This is less a theory about Darth Maul’s history or future and more about the original intent for his character. While Clone Wars focused on connecting the dots between Episodes II and III, Rebels was a little more focused on creating a link between III and IV. That would be Darth Maul, who was an essential part of the Darksaber arc in both the Clone Wars and Rebels storylines, with him possessing the weapon a good chunk of the time. I'd say even, but Maul 6/10. Throughout the movie, Han Solo and Qi’Ra tangle with rogues, thieves, smugglers, con men, and drifters, all leading to a big standoff with Dryden Vos, the leader of criminal organization Crimson Dawn. Darth Maul has throughout the years gone from being a very badass character but without much background to what I believe to be one of the most complex characters in the starwars universe. Maul was born to Mother Talzin and raised as a Nightbrother on Dathomir, before being taken away by Sith Lord Darth Sidious as an apprentice. Vader “Kills” Luke in First Script of Empire Strikes Back. "Shades of Reason" continued the overarching Darth Maul narrative of Star Wars: The Clone Wars. With the help of Savage Opress, his newfound brother, Maul captures Obi-Wan and kicks off a couple of action-heavy episodes that re-establishes Maul as a force to be reckoned with. Since this was an animated series on the Disney XD channel, not as many fans have seen this particular lightsaber battle. Even though it seemed like he could survive anything, Maul had to die eventually. It’s also a stunning farewell fit for a fan-favorite character like Maul. One of the most hotly-anticipated conflicts of The Clone Wars did not disappoint. “Twin Suns” chooses to go a more contemplative route than “Old Wounds.” While the basic setup is the same (Maul finds an older Obi-Wan on Tatooine), the lightsaber duel isn’t the focus in “Twin Suns.” Instead, one of the best Maul moments is actually an Obi-Wan moment. The disrespect of this character is insulting. The two characters first fought in The Phantom Menace, and although Obi-Wan ended that battle by slicing his enemy in half, this was far from the end of Maul. He doesn’t keep the spider legs for long, only for a few episodes, but it’s one of the most dramatic changes to his look, and a frightening new possibility when it comes to what cyborgs in Star Wars can become. Dave Filoni Explains Maul’s Death Scene and Why Its So Tragic Published Date: July 29, 2020. During his training, Sidious took Maul to Malachor to bear witness to a great battle that occurred there between the Jedi and the Sith. Maul's story didn't end with The Phantom Menace. Why Didn’t YODA Leave Exile to Fight the Empire. #st, The Art of Rogue One - A Star Wars Story (2016), Dave Filoni Explains Maul’s Death Scene and Why Its So Tragic, ← The Clone Wars: Hunting the Hunters (Part III), 98 Beautiful Star Wars 4K (Ultra HD) Wallpapers, Star Wars – The Rise of Skywalker – The Visual Dictionary (2019), Why Palpatine FEARED Jedi With Yellow Lightsabers. It makes Bobba the Clown Fett's death in Return of the Jedi look honorable. Obi-Wan Vs. Darth Maul’s Final Lightsaber Duel On Tatooine. Maul has become a hybrid of person and machine, human and animal. Since his debut in The Phantom Menace, Darth Maul has demanded the attention of Star Wars fans everywhere. It also, somehow, works, even when it returns in live-action in The Mandalorian. How do you revive a character who has been cut in half? This is a three-way clash of red lightsabers, ranging up and down the edifices of Mandalore. The boy who would become known as Darth Maul was born the son of Mother Talzin on Dathomir. But Vos isn’t the true villain pulling the strings of the movie. If you are one of those people, please do yourself a favor… It also features the entire rogues’ gallery of Prequel era villains, pitting Maul, Sidious, Count Dooku, General Grievous, and Mother Talzin against one another. Much of Maul’s story in The Clone Wars is about a student who wants to return to the teacher who discarded him. After suffering yet another defeat at the hands of Obi-Wan Kenobi, Maul and his brother, Savage, were left drifting in space. Try as he might, Maul can’t get back into Sidious’ good graces, so he throws the Star Wars villain version of a tantrum: he forms a gang. Star Wars Rebels Season 3 — Maul’s part to play in the third season of Star Wars Rebels isn’t yet known, but it’s sure to be dynamite. This duel in Mandalore’s throne room and high above its capital city is an amazing use of setting, as Maul and Ahsoka climb up the rafters of one of Mandalore’s domed cities and balance themselves on thin beams. It’s a visually striking episode, with much of the action set inside the Mandalorian throne room. In The Clone Wars and Rebels, Ahsoka has a vicious rivalry against Darth Maul. It makes Bobba the Clown Fett's death in Return of the Jedi look honorable. Luckily, the team behind Star Wars Rebels knew how to make Maul’s ending something truly amazing. The Darksaber is also the perfect example of silly Star Wars lore taken to the extreme. Battle in a death star hangar. The episode “The Phantom Apprentice,” in particular, shows that, despite being banished from the Sith, Maul is still one step ahead of the Jedi in terms of Palpatine’s grand plan. Season 4 episode “Brothers” opens with the horror movie atmosphere of the scrapyard on planet Lotho Minor, where Maul has been living since his defeat on Naboo. But Sidious isn’t going to accept him back so easily. This is the reunion Star Wars fans had been waiting for since Maul’s return and it goes about how you’d expect. Maul returned in The Clone Wars season 4 to introduce even more chaos to the galaxy. Following the death of crime boss Dryden Vos, Qi’ra, Han Solo’s old flame, contacted the leader of the Crimson Syndicate, Darth Maul, who ordered her to rendezvous with him on Dathomir. 8. After his surprise return in “Brothers,” Maul beelines for Obi-Wan in the next episode, suitably titled “Revenge.” This is the first chance to see the Sith’s rebuilt legs in action. Maul failed to become a Sith Master, as Palpatine tossed him to the side once his role in Anakin Skywalker’s story was over, but Maul never stopped trying to clamber to the top. Along the way, Maul also had some amazing Star Wars moments. Even though it seemed like he could survive anything, Maul had to die eventually. With Star Wars Rebels coming to an end on Monday, March 5 at 8:30 p.m. EDT on Disney XD, it’s important to remember that Maul’s influence was a major stepping stone along Ezra Bridger’s Jedi journey. But their confrontation is certainly real. Get the best of Den of Geek delivered right to your inbox! We were introduced to him in the Phantom menace and he immediately captivated audiences with his completely different fighting style (more martial arts infused), his terrifying appearance and of course … # star wars # darth maul # the phantom menace # episode i # episode one # season 2 # star wars # episode 22 # rebels # darth maul # star wars # jedi # sith # darth maul # obi-wan kenobi Twitter: @blogfullofwords, Star Wars: 10 Darth Maul Facts You Might Not Know, Star Wars: The Clone Wars Quinlan Vos and Asajj Ventress Story You Never Saw, Maul has been in charge of the criminal syndicate Crimson Dawn all this time, A Discovery of Witches Season 2 Episode 3 Review, WandaVision Episode 3 Review: Now in Color, Demon Slayer Review: Netflix Anime Reinvents Classic Action Tropes, How Star Wars: The Clone Wars Retconned the 2000s Clone Wars Series, How Star Wars: The Clone Wars Season 7 Shows a Different Side of the Jedi, Star Wars: Female Characters That Should Get Disney+ Shows, Introducing A Brand New FREE Quarterly Magazine From Den of Geek, Magic: The Gathering - The Legend of the Black Lotus Continues, Star Wars: Best Darth Maul Moments from The Clone Wars and Beyond. In 2012, The Clone Wars confirmed that there was more to Maul’s story than The Phantom Menace. By the time he was nine, he was discovered by Jedi Master Qui-Gon Jinn, who came to believe that Skywalker was the Chosen One of Jedi lore, destined to destroy the Sith and bring balance to The Force. … Maul survived the Clone Wars and has since became a major antagonist on Star Wars: Rebels and although he isn’t directly involved in the battle between the Rebel Alliance and Galactic Empire, he has been working hard to turn main character Ezra Bridger to the Dark Side. He returned in The Clone Wars to introduce even more chaos to the galactic conflict. 9. In fact, Maul instigates the Republic invasion in order to lure Anakin to the planet and stop him from becoming Sidious’ new apprentice — something he’s already seen in a vision before the Jedi even begin to suspect that Palpatine might be an agent of the dark side. Maul has spent decades seeking revenge against his old Jedi enemy, while Obi-Wan has gone into hiding to protect Luke Skywalker, finding peace and coming to terms with the tragedy in his own life. In particular, the arrival of the Jedi means Darth Maul (Ray Park) has his fate already laid out before him. Although not a true adaptation, “Twin Suns” is loosely inspired by “Old Wounds,” a non-canon comic from the speculative comic series Visionaries. When they were both near death, they were then rescued by Death Watch, the Mandalorian terrorist organization led by Pre Vizsla. Having Maul continue his journey of revenge and wreaking havoc across the galaxy was shown as more of a bucket list item than pure revenge. Darth Vader’s Reaction to Tarkin’s Decision to Destroy Alderaan! The episode “Twin Suns” shows the final confrontation between Maul and Obi-Wan. In 1999, Maul looked unlike any villain that had come before in the saga, and the movie’s high-energy lightsaber duel is still one of the most memorable parts of the Prequel Trilogy. Maul doesn’t do a lot in Solo, appearing just for a few minutes to make Qi’Ra his new lieutenant, but he does ignite his lightsaber, showing he’s a step above most of the enemies the group has faced so far by virtue of his Sith legacy. Stream your Star Wars favorites on Disney+ with a FREE TRIAL, on us! The fight also feels mythic, the two characters’ viewpoints clashing as much as their lightsabers. The fight between Maul and Grievous, in particular, is the stuff of fantasy “What If” scenarios and it’s a visual delight, even if it happens off-screen. He trained under Sidiou… It also shows Maul’s ruthlessness, as he destroys an innocent settlement just to draw Obi-Wan to his location. Maul uses his Force powers, intimidation, and overwhelming force to destroy or intimidate the Black Sun gang, the Pyke gang, and the Hutts, including Jabba himself, into joining him. In season 5’s “The Lawless,” he slaughters the planet’s reigning leader, Duchess Satine Kryze, as well as the leader of Death Watch, and claims the symbolic weapon of Mandalore, the Darksaber, for himself. Infamously unkillable, his obsession with killing Obi-Wan Kenobi and reuniting with Palpatine kept him going for much of the galactic conflict and well after the rise of the Empire. Actor Ray Park was hired primarily for his ability to do the stunts and fight work. The disrespect of this character is insulting. The Siege of Mandalore, which shows how the Republic took the Mandalorian homeworld back from Maul, features a lightsaber duel between the former Sith and ex-Jedi Ahsoka Tano. This Star Wars article contains spoilers. We were treated to this epic piece of story telling during the season 3 finale of Star Wars Rebels. For the audience watching this duel on the big screen, this was the first chance to see a full-fledged Jedi of legend dueling a Sith Lord. Customized with a black and red color scheme, the starfighter featured rotating wings, a large hull, and was armed with two forward and two rear laser cannons. With the help of the Mandalorians, he goes on a killing spree in season 5 to take out rival criminal organizations in the name of his new Shadow Collective. When Maul was a child, Mother Talzin became an ally of Darth Sidious, the Dark Lord of the Sith, and the two exchanged wisdom and power. I'm convinced the person in charge of Darth Maul in these cartoons are old trilogy, Vader fanboys who lost it when Maul came on the scene in Episode 1. The villainous character was first introduced in 1999’s The Phantom Menace. Though both have left their old orders behind, they bring all the acrobatics and Force powers one could want from a Star Wars fight. What Darth Vader Did to a DOUCHE Using his Skywalker Name! Obi-Wan Kenobi is skeptical when he hears Maul is back from the dead. Solo: A Star Wars Story spends plenty of time with the galaxy’s underworld. A big reveal is left for the end: Maul has been in charge of the criminal syndicate Crimson Dawn all this time, manipulating others the way Palpatine manipulated him. Along with that came some Clone Wars connections and brought the story of Darth Maul full circle. Spider Maul will haunt your dreams. It’s one of many examples of The Clone Wars‘ elevated Star Wars action, and it’s one of the series’ most exciting sequences. Darth Maul has had one complicated timeline in the Star Wars universe. It’s a sequence of slaughters where there are no good guys. One of the biggest and longest-running rivalries in the Star Wars franchise is the one between Obi-Wan Kenobi and Darth Maul. It gets to the heart of why Maul works as a frightening villain: a demonic-looking Sith with the drive to keep hunting you, even if you cut him in half. I'm convinced the person in charge of Darth Maul in these cartoons are old trilogy, Vader fanboys who lost it when Maul came on the scene in Episode 1. Ricky Church with the top ten Star Wars Rebels scenes ... it’s Darth Maul. He fashions himself a new, arachnid-like body out of trash, and it fits the frightening philosophy of the Sith as well as Maul’s gruesome fate. That comic, which was written and drawn by Aaron McBride, is also a great Maul moment unto itself, with a vivid lightsaber battle and the threat of Maul possibly discovering a very young Luke Skywalker. “The Lawless” also features a duel between three dark side users: Maul, Darth Sidious, and Savage. Maul has been a Sith apprentice, a ranting hermit, and a powerful crime lord throughout his strange and storied life. Before his first birthday, Talzin gave Maul and his brother Opress their first tattoos. Darth Maul’s Fake-Out Death That Kills Everyone He Loves Mere minutes after Qui-Gon’s fall, a furious Obi-Wan Kenobi cuts his killer straight down the middle and sends his … But don't worry, IGN is here to help. There are no good guys here, but someone has to win: Sidious kills Savage and defeats Maul, sparing his former apprentice so that he may feel the sting of rejection for the rest of his life. Since the Original Trilogy, Star Wars has made it common practice to rebuild mortally wounded and horribly mutilated villains, shaping them into a whole new threat. Warning: the following contains spoilers for Star Wars Rebels season 3, episode 20, 'Twin Suns'.-After nearly twenty years since his initial appearance in The Phanom Menace, Darth Maul’s character arc has been brought to a close in Star Wars Rebels episode 20, ‘Twin Suns’, with his unquestionable death at the hands of Obi-Wan Kenobi. Their lightsaber duel is just one move, both of them considering their options but it’s Obi-Wan who actually finds the inner strength to carry it out. Just as in the world of comic books, Star Wars offers plenty of options. The climactic duel also introduced the double-bladed lightsaber to the Star Wars galaxy. Darth Maul is dead. Growing up a slave, he and his mother belonged to Gardulla the Hutt and later to a Toydarian junk dealer named Watto. Yes, that was the character formerly known as Darth Maul you saw in hologram form at the end of Solo: A Star Wars Story. In the end, Obi-Wan kills Maul, but also shows him pity, telling a truth that comforts both of them: Luke Skywalker, the one to bring balance to the Force, is still alive. As a Dathomirian Zabrak male, he was a Nightbrother and had two blood brothers, Feral and Savage Opress. Anakin Skywalker was born nine years before the Invasion of Naboo on the planet Tatooine to Shmi Skywalker, who miraculously conceived him through mysterious means. Maul's Solo appearance is estimated to be about 12 BBY (Before the Battle of Yavin), his Rebels arc rounds off 1 year BBY, and The Mandalorian's timeline puts it 9 ABY (After the Battle of Yavin).