The trailer for the next Star Wars animated series, starting in three weeks.
In general, I think Disney’s doing OK with the Star Wars animated projects. They get good action and decent storytelling. I’m looking forward to this one.
First two episodes aren’t a bad start. A it trope-y, but that’s to be expected.
So what segment of his life is this? We already learned that he came back half-robot and then was re-killed(so to speak) by Obi-Wan. This time, no elaborate battle; Obi-Wan strikes quickly and ends it.
When is this stuff?
Set in 18 BBY…shortly after the events of Episode III: Revenge of the Sith, which takes place a year earlier in 19 BBY.
https://www.polygon.com/when-does-star-wars-maul-shadow-lord-take-place-in-the-timeline/
Does one have to have watched the Clone Wars shows to understand what is going on in this show? I have seen all of the live action films.
I tried watching Ahsoka but had no idea who most of the characters were.
The first two episodes haven’t really made any references to events in Clone Wars. As long as you get over that the guy who was cut in two and fell hundreds of feet survived, you should be good. (And since you saw all the live action movies, you’ve already seen him post-bisection in Solo.)
Thanks for pointing out that he was in Solo. I have only seen that film once and I do not remember him being in it. I don’t remember much about that film really.
His cameo in Solo was very brief, and came right at the end of the film.
It was Ray Park, too. But with Sam Witmer doing the voice.
Thanks. I know that it wasn’t a great film but I might have to go back and watch it again.
BTW, if you are willing to try Maul (and it seems you might) why not Clone Wars and Rebels?
HOLY MOLEY!
That was an awesome show!! I binged it across two days. I usually watch at fast speed. I watched the last episode at that speed, then again at normal. I did miss a few good action moments.
Now I want the next series where Maul is training Devon!
However, Vader isn’t known, so what has he been doing for the past five years???
This is a great series. Well done with characters and development. It would be so easy for them to make an R rated Star Wars based on violence and with what happens in this show. I did want to know more about Maul, I haven’t seen all of the shows. Devon and her master were great. I also liked the Lawsons. The whole series is well done.
What I really want to talk about is Vader. Why does he always play with his foes? Drawing out the fight only helps them. In the final episode with the Force fight, it’s obvious he could have took them early on. Instead, he plays with them and lets them, and himself, tired him. I mean, the rules of the Force are nebulous at times but that’s how that battle went to me.
I loved Rebels. I couldn’t get into Clone Wars. It doesn’t help that that I when I sat down to watch it, the first episode, Ambush with Yoda, it was the same episode I had seen twice before. My luck. In general, Clone Wars never appealed to me because we don’t have a main character. In some ways, I understand that’s the point. It’s trying to show the war from multiple angles. That style doesn’t work for me, at least not in this case. Maybe I will try again and start with episode two.
Thanks for the discussion!
You should at the very least watch the last three episodes of Season 7. Those are about Maul and Ahsoka immediately before and during Order 66.
I watched episodes two and three last night. I think what struck me most was it was like rewatching Bab5. The FX looked like it was not finished, it needed the final finishing pass. I get it! I’m merely saying that’s how it felt. I was also surprised it had a continuity because none of the three episodes (one four times) that I saw had that. I will have to watch more.
Thanks for the discussion!
I think my main frustration with a show like this is that they have once ace in the pocket that they go with. Have Darth Vader show up.
It’s a shame that is such a go-to move. I get it. He’s very famous and he’s Anakin Skywalker!
One credit I give this show is having him be silent.
Agreed. It would have been even better without playing the Vader move. It reads like they don’t have confidence in these characters to be interesting enough so they feel they have to have the big star have a scene.
Anakin was at its best when it was happening outside of the main SW characters happening to be involved as well. The nature of it being a prequel had to lead to Rebel One but that was where it was its least interesting.
Okay, I’m torn on that. I understand what you are saying. At the same time, no one knows who Vader is and he says nothing. (I can’t tell if that’s to make him mysterious or they haven’t decided who will replace the great JEJ in voicing him.) It’s as if this is Vader’s break out scene where he lets everyone know who he is. Further, destroying the former apprentice fits and would explain why inquisitors were tasked with finding Maul.
I’m also not sure I agree that they have no confidence in these characters. Vader is in the last episode, with the surprise being at the end of the previous. I didn’t know. It wasn’t talked about much, not that I follow this or star wars show news, and it had to stand on its own for nine episodes before we even get Vader.
Now, I’m with the two you in wondering why creating inquisitors to be recurring enemies wasn’t enough. I can’t tell if Marrok died at the end because we don’t see it and he could survive the fall but not get back up in time. The other inquisitor seemed scary enough to stand on their own. I’m pretty sure they didn’t die either.
Equally, I’m not sure if Lawson the elder died because we don’t see it on screen. I think that was a definite leaving the door open for his return on that planet, perhaps as resistance to the Empire?
Thanks for the discussion!
It was 20-year old CGI produced on a kid’s TV series budget. It doesn’t look great, but looking great would have been 10x the cost and 10x the time.