Top 10 Greatest Maul Moments in Star Wars
#10: Resurrection
“Star Wars: The Clone Wars” (2008-14; 2020)
The character of Darth Maul proved too popular with “Star Wars” fans for his story to end on Naboo. This Sith apprentice to Darth Sidious may have been bisected by Obi-Wan Kenobi during their duel, but it wouldn’t be long before Maul’s evil would live again, under mysterious and occult circumstances. It’s Maul’s brother, Savage Oppress, who first discovers his mentally shattered sibling on Lotho Minor. Maul has fashioned spider legs for himself, but he’s tormented by fear and madness. The Nightsister Mother Talzin resurrects Maul and outfits him with new, cybernetic droid legs, and it’s here where the old Maul’s thirst for revenge begins anew.
#9: Palpatine’s Plan
“Star Wars: The Clone Wars” (2008-14; 2020)
It’s fascinating to bear witness to Darth Maul’s insight into the grand scheme of things, even as the Jedi are caught unaware by events such as Order 66. His debut in “The Phantom Menace” may not have done much with regards to his character motivations, but Maul was given much more detail during “The Clone Wars” animated series. An example of this occurs in the seventh season episode titled “The Phantom Apprentice,” where Maul reveals to Asoka the scope of Chancellor Palpatine’s plan. This scene outlines how Maul is in tune with both the future and the past. He knows that the Jedi’s time is over, and that Palpatine’s grand scheme is about to change the galaxy for good.
#8: The Duel at Sundari
“Star Wars: The Clone Wars” (2008-14; 2020)
Darth Maul has been involved with a number of outstanding lightsaber duels over the course of his “Star Wars” legacy, but perhaps one of his most underrated occurs during this episode of “The Clone Wars,” titled “Shades of Reason.” Maul duels the leader of The Death Watch, Pre Vizla, during The Siege of Mandalore, and it’s an intense struggle, to be sure. Maul, proving once again how he sees the bigger picture, intentionally appeals to Visla’s sense of honor and combat. Maul does this knowing that, when he succeeds, he’ll be able to take control as Death Watch leader. The resulting schism not only works in Maul’s favor, but it also pushes the Mandalorian Bo-Katan Kryze, into assisting the Republic against Maul.
#7: Establishing The Shadow Collective
“Star Wars: The Clone Wars” (2008-14; 2020)
Darth Maul is spiritually adrift after his Nightsister resurrection. Now motivated solely by revenge, the Sith needs to establish himself as a threat not only to his former master, Sidious, but also Obi-Wan, The Jedi and The Republic. Maul and his brother, Savage Oppress, decide to build a criminal empire, The Shadow Collective, via intimidation and murder. This Collective eventually folds in such powerful groups as The Hutts and The Pyke Syndicate into their ranks, a move that eventually sets the stage for Maul’s Siege of Mandalore. Maul may no longer have a master, but this determination definitely proves that this Son of Dathomir is in charge of his own destiny.
#6: Maul & Savage Opress vs. Darth Sidious
“Star Wars: The Clone Wars” (2008-14; 2020)
The writing seemed to be on the wall during this fifth season duel between Darth Maul, his brother Savage Oppress and Maul’s former master, Darth Sidious. This latter Sith Lord is just too powerful, even against two formidable opponents, with Palpatine basically laughing off the attacks by both Maul and Oppress. The siblings do their best against Sidious’ lightsaber skills, force lightning and, ahem, “unlimited power” but the outcome seems to be inevitable. Sidious kills Oppress, but leaves Maul alive, alone with the knowledge that he’s failed once again, and that he will never return to the side of his master.
#5: The Hallway Scene
“Star Wars: The Clone Wars” (2008-14; 2020)
Star Wars fans can be really hard to please at times, but if there’s one scene that everyone can agree was awesome, it’s the hallway scene from 2016’s “Rogue One.” Darth Vader came across like a killing machine during this sequence, demonstrating his skill and power in much the same fashion as Darth Maul during his own hallway scene from “The Clone Wars.” This sequence from the episode titled “Shattered” proved that Maul could handle himself without any weapons at all, as he utilizes the force and his environment to tear through troops like a hot knife through butter.
#4: A New Lightsaber
“Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace” (1999)
It’s impossible to describe, if you weren’t there, the thrill that many “Star Wars” fans received back when Darth Maul debuted his double-sided lightsaber in “The Phantom Menace.” Today’s fandom receives an embarrassment of riches when it comes to varied lightsaber technology, but this was 1999! Lightsabers were still on a very basic level when it came to their appearances on screen, so this ignition from Maul was revelatory for moviegoers checking out Maul’s arrival on Naboo. We just wish they hadn't spoiled this reveal in the promotional trailers that led up to the film’s initial release.
#3: A Final Duel with Obi-Wan
“Star Wars Rebels” (2014-18)
Whoever said that all lightsaber duels needed to be lengthy, drawn-out affairs has apparently never witnessed this amazing scene from “Star Wars: Rebels.” This definitive death of Darth Maul serves as a nice companion piece to the Sith’s initial rematch with Obi-Wan Kenobi that took place on the “Clone Wars” episode titled “Revenge.” That duel may have ended up as a stalemate, but this final conflict on Tatooine finds Maul being cut down once again at the end of Kenobi’s lightsaber. That brief, final communication between the pair also showcases yet again Maul’s vision of the future. He feels Anakin Skywalker’s presence in the force as “the chosen one,” and dies secure in the knowledge that these feelings are correct.
#2: The Siege of Mandalore
“Star Wars: The Clone Wars” (2008-14; 2020)
It’s proving to be a consistently difficult task for “Star Wars” creators to develop new content where the story runs parallel to established canonical lore. That said, the “Siege of Mandalore” arc from “The Clone Wars” probably did the best job at pleasing all fans who wanted to see exactly what else was going on before and after Order 66. The arc deals with many of the events already covered here on this list, but the battle between Ahsoka and Darth Maul was a huge highlight. Not only was this fight well animated, but they actually got the original physical Darth Maul actor Ray Park to motion capture his movements. While things don’t end well for Maul, his aggressive combat style proved that he was not to be underestimated.
#1: Duel of the Fates
“Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace” (1999)
It speaks volumes that a selection from John Williams’ score to “The Phantom Menace” was released as a CD single back in 1999. “Star Wars” was officially “back,” and the music to this epic duel between Qui-Gon Jinn, Obi-Wan Kenobi and Darth Maul suitably underscored the scene’s importance. The scene where Maul and Jinn are briefly separated by elevator force fields speaks largely to their character, juxtaposing Maul’s anxious and aggressive pacing against Jinn’s still meditation. Sadly, it’s Kenobi who bears witness to the death of his master at the end of Maul’s lightsaber, although the young padawan eventually comes out on the other side as the victor of this duel.
What’s your favorite “Star Wars” moment from the animated universe? Let us know in the comments!
