(Image credit: Disney)
Poor Maul, the Dathomirian Zabrak formerly known as Darth Maul. All those promises to reap the benefits of the dark side didn't materialise as planned, eh? Yet, his lust for absolute power and control only masked what was really happening beneath the surface."Star Wars: Maul – Shadow Lord" picks up after the Clone Wars as the Galactic Empire puts a chokehold on the galaxy. Order 66 has been executed, and life looks about as miserable as any average day in 2026. Maul (voiced by Sam Witwer) operates in the shadows, rebuilding his criminal empire and taking revenge against his enemies after renouncing his Sith title. Despite building up a formidable crew of thugs, he still seeks an apprentice – in this case, it's the Jedi Padawan Devon Izara (Gideon Adlon).
(Image credit: Lucasfilm)It's important to take a step back and understand Maul's backstory here. While the different "Star Wars" media tweaks elements here and there, this is what's known about the character. Maul is the product of a union between a Nightbrother and a Nightsister. As per tradition, the father is executed after their child's birth, so Maul never had a chance to play catch or go to a ball game with his dad. To make matters worse, Sidious took Maul under his wing as his apprentice at a very young age (how young depends on the story being told), teaching him all about the dark side of the Force and how to become a fascist in 10 easy steps.The malevolent Sidious put Maul through the wringer, torturing and manipulating him on his path to becoming a fearsome Sith Lord. Even so, Sidious is the only father figure that Maul has ever known in his life, so it's understandable that his values and worldviews may be skewed. It's like being raised by Hannibal Lecter; chances are, you won't be a vegan.In Maul's mind, the natural order would have involved him growing from apprentice to master, then taking on his own protégé to corrupt and mold. This mirrors the journey of life... maybe without all the deceit and backstabbing, though some families may disagree. Instead of throwing a ball around in the backyard, Sidious taught Maul how to decapitate his enemies. The father passes down the knowledge to the son, then the son to the next generation, and so forth.
