5 Years Ago, Star Wars Delivered the Best Lightsaber Fight in Franchise History

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Each film in the Star Wars Skywalker Saga includes a thrilling lightsaber duel. The series begins with the clash between Obi-Wan Kenobi and Darth Vader on the Death Star in ‘Star Wars: A New Hope’, setting the stage for Luke Skywalker’s destiny. The original trilogy escalates this, as Luke faces off against Vader twice in intense emotional duels. However, it’s the prequel trilogy where lightsaber battles truly become exhilarating, with numerous Jedi characters displaying their skills, and more than a few of them even engaging in combat. The Sith, though, take center stage, with Darth Maul presenting a formidable challenge to Obi-Wan Kenobi and his master, Qui-Gon Jinn, using his double-bladed lightsaber.

In his debut, Maul made an impressive impact, but he holds just as much, if not more, brilliance in animation compared to live-action, especially in “Star Wars: The Clone Wars”. This series delves deeper into his character, revealing his relentless quest for revenge against Obi-Wan and his master who thwarted him from achieving his ultimate ambition. Interestingly, Maul’s most outstanding lightsaber battle on the show, considered one of the best in Star Wars history, isn’t against either of these powerful Force-wielders.

Maul Puts All His Cards on the Table in The Clone Wars Season 7

Time is running out in the final season of “The Clone Wars” as the series approaches the events of “Star Wars: Revenge of the Sith.” With the Jedi stretched thin, they summon Ahsoka Tano, a former member of their Order, to aid them against the danger on Mandalore. Maul holds sway over the planet, and his actions could spark chaos if he continues down his dark path. Upon arriving, Ahsoka decides to apprehend him, but soon discovers that there’s more to the situation than meets the eye. The Republic gains an advantage in the battle, yet Maul remains unfazed. It turns out that he deliberately instigated the conflict to draw Obi-Wan and Anakin Skywalker, his former apprentice, to Mandalore, with the intention of eliminating both of them. Unsettled by this revelation, Ahsoka refuses Maul’s offer and confronts him in combat, engaging the former Sith Lord in a fight.

From the very beginning, the uniqueness of this duel lies in its heavy consequences. Ahsoka is engaged in a fight to safeguard her master, unaware that he is on the verge of embracing the dark side. She employs all the wisdom Anakin imparted to her to test Maul’s limits. On the contrary, Maul understands that he cannot afford to lose, as captivity by the Republic would lead to his inevitable demise. With so much on the line, Lucasfilm goes above and beyond, recruiting original actor Ray Park for motion-capture work. Lauren Mary Kim plays a crucial role in shaping Ahsoka’s character, and together with Park, they create exceptional choreography that surpasses any previous Star Wars animated combat. The lightsaber battle concludes with Ahsoka emerging victorious, and the aftermath of this event further cements its legendary status.

Ahsoka & Maul Could’ve Changed Everything

Watching “Revenge of the Sith” is always tough due to its unchanging outcome – Anakin succumbs to the dark side, murders younglings, and battles his former master in a legendary duel. However, Star Wars: The Clone Wars Season 7 offers a glimpse into an alternate timeline where things could have unfolded differently. If Ahsoka and Maul had allied, they might have caught Palpatine off guard and even convinced a few remaining Jedi to join them. This combined force could have been too much for the Emperor, especially with his apprentice severely injured on Mustafar. Regrettably, Ahsoka decides not to trust Maul, which, given the circumstances, is reasonable.

Instead of engaging in a fight, it would have been better for Ahsoka and Maul to discuss their issues, as their battle only intensifies the sorrow. The confrontation between Obi-Wan and Anakin in Revenge of the Sith is undeniably epic, yet it’s clear from the start that Obi-Wan will prevail, leaving Anakin behind. Had Ahsoka and Maul chosen dialogue instead of combat, they might have altered Star Wars history for the better, but their battle becomes another heart-wrenching moment in the saga’s rich tapestry.

Star Wars: The Clone Wars is streaming on Disney+.

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2025-07-24 18:16