Star Wars returns to animation next week with Maul: Shadow Lord. After its announcement last year, Disney’s been gradually ramping up marketing, and now critics and influencers are free to share their thoughts. And the verdict? Ol’ Maul’s got the legs to be a headliner.
Those who’ve posted are working only from eight of the season’s ten episodes, and many have been pretty high on the show’s dark vibes and Sam Witwer’s turn as the enduring Sith-turned-crime lord. (And the visuals, but that goes without saying, these animated Star Wars shows have been looking great for years.) If you’re not good with callbacks or lore, this might not be your show, and it might be more setup for a (hopefully) better season than a good season on its own. io9’s own James Whitbrook called it a “solid” show whose storytelling gambits don’t always work, and you can see reactions from others down below.
#MaulShadowLord can’t escape a few Filoni issues (tangled lore, jingly keys, Maul the least interesting lead on his own show) but it’s a big leap forward for #StarWars animation in terms of visual look and mature tone. More compelling than expected but STRICTLY for devoted fans. pic.twitter.com/wdalSeEBSr
— Jakob Kolness (@JakobKolness) April 4, 2026
Star Wars: #MaulShadowLord is absolute PERFECTION. A dark, crime-driven revenge story that dives deep into Maul’s psyche post–Clone Wars. With STUNNING painterly animation and an edgy cyberpunk tone, this is Star Wars at its best—and it totally rules. The dark side delivers! pic.twitter.com/i7NrOvZFPB
— Justin Lawrence | Geekcentric (@helloimjlaw) April 4, 2026
Fortunate to have the opportunity to watch the first 8 episodes of #MaulShadowLord and can confirm it exceeds all expectations (even my lofty, hype-based ones. Visually stunning, with—easily—the best fights/action in ANY #StarWars show, and engaging new characters. It’s fantastic pic.twitter.com/b8TT9A7mRq
— Jordan Maison (@JordanMaison) April 4, 2026
STAR WARS: MAUL — SHADOW LORD … I am not a fan of the Star Wars animated stuff. They sent eight of the ten episodes. I reserve the right to change my mind when I see the last two, but it’s the first animated Star Wars series I made it this far in and am still entertained
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— Mike Ryan (@mikeryan.bsky.social) April 3, 2026 at 9:45 PM
I just realized the social embargo on Star Wars: Maul – Shadow Lord has lifted. I’ve seen like half of the show and boy oh boy…
That show BANGS and is probably my favorite Star Wars show to date. Absolutely tap in to that when it drops next week. pic.twitter.com/3Vd5YmLmwf
— Cade Onder (@Cade_Onder) April 4, 2026
I’ve seen the first eight episodes of Maul: Shadow Lord. Very cool vibes and stellar turns from Sam Witwer and Gideon Adlon, but an interesting serialized format experiment leads to a show where little really happens until it’s almost too late.
Season two could be really great. This? Just solid.
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— James Whitbrook (@jwhitbrook.bsky.social) April 3, 2026 at 9:45 PM
Set shortly after Star Wars: The Clone Wars’ final season, Maul: Shadow Lord sees Maul try to rebuild his criminal empire on the planet Janix. His getting mixed up with the local crime syndicates draws the attention of several interested parties, including Wagner Moura’s detective Brander Lawson and Gideon Adlon’s Devon Izara, a Jedi who may wind up under Maul’s tutelage. Even when the Empire dispatches Inquisitors to take him down, Maul’s on a mission to get his revenge, as he so often is. We can only hope it works out well for him.
Reviews of Maul: Shadow Lord, including ours, will arrive next week ahead of its two-episode premiere on Monday, April 6.
Want more io9 news? Check out when to expect the latest Marvel, Star Wars, and Star Trek releases, what’s next for the DC Universe on film and TV, and everything you need to know about the future of Doctor Who.
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