George Lucas famously described Star Wars as having a rhyming quality, and the franchise has consistently echoed themes and characters across generations. When these echoes feel natural and meaningful, it’s incredibly satisfying for fans. Thankfully, the latest installment delivers on that promise.
The new Star Wars series, Maul – Shadow Lord, shows how Maul (played by Sam Witwer) rebuilt his criminal organization after losing everything at the end of the Clone Wars. To regain control of a vital part of his old empire, the Shadow Collective, Maul resorts to extreme measures and carries out one of the most ruthless assassinations in recent Star Wars history, even more shocking than those seen in Star Wars: The Last Jedi.
Kylo Ren Learned That Trick From Maul
One of the most memorable scenes in Star Wars: The Last Jedi happens when Kylo Ren is told by Supreme Leader Snoke to kill Rey. Instead, Kylo, struggling with his identity as Ben Solo, chooses to spare her and kills Snoke instead. The shocking part wasn’t just that Snoke died, but how: Snoke had taken Rey’s lightsaber as a souvenir and displayed it. When he ordered Kylo to finish Rey, she reached out to the good side of him, and Kylo used the Force to pull the lightsaber back, activate it, and cut Snoke in half. This led to an incredible battle between Rey and Kylo, fighting side-by-side against Snoke’s elite Praetorian Guard, which many fans consider a highlight of the entire Star Wars saga.
The series Maul – Shadow Lord takes place over 50 years before The Last Jedi. Interestingly, Episode 4 shows that Maul had already mastered the lightsaber technique seen in The Last Jedi, and even performed it more skillfully.
Maul Is A More Cunning Killer Than Kylo
In the fourth chapter, titled “Pride and Vengeance”, Darth Maul attempts to rebuild his criminal organization by eliminating Marg Krim, the head of the Pyke Syndicate. Knowing the Pykes are well-protected and clever, Maul devises a complex plan involving multiple betrayals and a clever deception. He sends his captive gangster, Looti Vario, to the Pyke homeworld, Oba Diah, pretending Vario is switching sides and informing on Maul. However, Maul secretly lies in wait and ambushes the Pykes, taking out many of them, until Vario unexpectedly turns on him, stunning Maul with a ray gun.
Maul is brought before Krim, but it turns out to be a trick – one of Maul’s followers has been pretending to be him. The real Maul then bursts in. Krim, like Snoke before him, foolishly kept Maul’s lightsaber as a prize. This gives Maul the opportunity to use the Force, take the saber, and force the Pyke leader to accidentally cut himself with it.
It’s clear Kylo Ren didn’t intentionally copy Darth Maul when he killed Snoke – Ben Solo wasn’t following any kind of ‘Maul playbook.’ George Lucas always envisioned Star Wars as a series of repeating themes, almost like poetry, and this similarity is just another instance of that pattern.
You can now watch Season 1 of Star Wars: Maul – Shadow Lord on Disney+. Join the discussion with other fans on the ComicBook Forum!
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2026-05-26 22:16