Kamal Ghorui
Spoiler Alert: This article contains spoilers and key details from the series ‘Star Wars: Maul-Shadow Lord’. Reader discretion is advised if you haven’t watched it yet.‘Star Wars: Maul-Shadow Lord’ continues to deliver drama, action, and more with episodes 3 and 4. These episodes picked up immediately after the events of the first two episodes. Maul is yet to reassert his dominance as a crime lord, and these episodes advance that project in meaningful measures. At the conclusion of episode 4, though, the stakes have changed radically with the introduction of a new threat that complicates the situation of everyone on Janix.
What happens in ‘Star Wars: Maul-Shadow Lord’ episodes 3 and 4
Maul’s primary focus remains on rebuilding his criminal empire. His journey takes him to the Pykes, whose leader he murders, bringing him one step closer to his overall goal. Alongside this, he continues his attempts to win over Devon, one of Star Wars’ new Order 66 survivors, as a potential apprentice.Meanwhile, Lawson remained steadfast in his mission to bring Maul to justice, as did Devon’s master, Daki. This set the stage for a major confrontation in the closing moments of episode 4, as Janix’s law enforcement clashed with Maul’s forces.Despite Maul’s attempts to resolve things somewhat peacefully, Lawson found himself unable to strike a deal with the former Sith. What followed was a massive shootout, a lightsaber battle between Maul, Daki, and Devon, a betrayal by Two-Boots, and the arrival of the show’s true villain: The Empire.
The Empire’s arrival and what it means
Two-Boots’ betrayal of Lawson sees the droid following his ingrained protocol and calling the Empire, something Lawson had desperately wanted to avoid. Episode 4 ends with the booming Imperial March as a Star Destroyer enters Janix’s atmosphere.Crucially, the Empire’s presence is just as bad for Maul as it is for Lawson. Maul wants to avoid Imperial jurisdiction on Janix so that his plans can continue unhindered. He is not yet ready to challenge the Empire and wishes to keep quiet until he is. Lawson, on the other hand, holds no love for the Empire and wants to bring in Maul without Imperial interference constricting his planet. This shared enemy effectively gives Maul and Lawson common ground, making the Imperials the show’s true main villain.
Is Devon any closer to joining Maul?
Episodes 3 and 4 continued Maul’s efforts to recruit Devon as his new apprentice. He believes she is capable of helping him defeat Darth Sidious in the endgame. In episode 3, he breaks through to her somewhat, forcing Devon to tap into her rage to defeat him in combat. Maul could have killed Devon several times during their clashes, but chose not to, making clear he still has plans for her.Episode 4 ended with Devon reuniting with Daki, saving his life, and leaving with her master once more. Still, Maul tries to convince Devon that he is not the outright villain the Jedi believed him to be, and his attempts to recruit her are far from over.
How can Maul defeat the Empire?
With the Empire now present and Maul still without an apprentice, the question turns to how he can loosen the Imperial grip on Janix. The show’s trailers have already teased confrontations between Maul and several Star Wars Inquisitors. The most likely path forward involves eliminating the Inquisitors, potentially with Devon and Daki’s help, while continuing to build his criminal empire in the background.
