Star Wars: Maul – Shadow Lord First Reviews: One of the Franchise’s Best TV Series Ever
Critics say Star Wars' newest saga is filled with action-packed scenes and top-tier animation.
The first season of Star Wars: Maul – Shadow Lord has arrived, and critics are weighing in! Lucasfilm’s newest animated series dives into the aftermath of the Clone Wars, following Maul as he attempts to rebuild his criminal empire on a world untouched by the Empire. First reviews indicate that the series is action-heavy and that it helps push Star Wars animation forward while giving one of the franchise’s most iconic villains a spotlight worthy of his legacy.
Here’s what critics are saying about Star Wars: Maul – Shadow Lord:
How does it compare to other series in the Star Wars franchise?
Maul – Shadow Lord is easily one of the most enjoyable Star Wars TV shows to date; it’s a true demonstration of how beautiful Star Wars animation can be.
— Tom Bacon, ComicBook.com
It elevates what Star Wars animated shows are capable of and easily establishes itself as one of the prolific franchise’s best TV series of all time.
— Jamie Parker, CBR
Star Wars: Maul – Shadow Lord stands as a strong and stylish addition to the franchise, giving one of its most compelling characters a story worthy of his legacy.
— Danielle Solzman, Solzy at the MoviesStar Wars: Maul — Shadow Lord stands as one of the strongest animated entries the franchise has delivered in years.
— Maggie Lovitt, Collider
How’s the animation?
A visually striking series that deepens Maul while proving once again why Star Wars animation continues to lead in storytelling.
— Nagier Chambers, Big Gold Belt Media
Without a doubt, the standout aspect of Maul – Shadow Lord is immediately presented from the very first frame: its animation.
— Lewis Glazebrook, Screen RantStar Wars animation has never looked better.
— Dais Johnston, InverseThe series has slowly devolved into the very thing it has spent years kicking down.
— Jacob Fisher, Discussing Film
How’s the story?
Star Wars: Maul – Shadow Lord offers fans a deep dive into this era of Star Wars and fans of the galaxy far, far away and of Maul himself will have a lot to enjoy with this series.
— Ricky Church, Flickering Myth
Stands as the most action-packed series yet. With epic saber fights, massive laser battles, and crushing vehicle chases through the highways and byways of Janix, Star Wars animation just keeps getting better and better with each outing. Wow.
— Andrew Mack, ScreenAnarchyA dark, gritty, and grounded story that gives Maul all the time he needs to shine, while also introducing interesting and exciting new characters to the Star Wars world. It’s also beautifully animated.
— Tessa Smith, Mama’s GeekyA lot of the Star Wars animated offerings require knowing a lot of lore that’s not present in the films. This does not seem to be the case with this series… It’s a pretty straightforward, simple, contained story. For me these are all positive aspects.
— Mike Ryan, The Hard Pass (Ghost.io)Not only is this a well thought-out and rich setting for a Star Wars adventure, it also has threads of revenge, loyalty, revolution and punchy comedic dialogue. It’s a fan’s delight.
— John Kirk, Original Sin
How’s the voice cast?
Visually stunning entry in the Lucasfilm Animation canon that explores the wrath and surprising vulnerability of one of Star Wars’s most intriguing characters, with a brilliant vocal performance from Sam Witwer and a lively cast of supporting characters.
— Molly Edwards, GamesRadar+
Star Wars: Maul – Shadow Lord excited me ever since it was announced, and it lived up to my expectations with each episode I saw. Maul is perfect for being the center of a series, and Sam Witwer is perfect for this leading role.
— Julian Lytle, RIOTUS
Are there any major problems?
Star Wars: Maul – Shadow Lord looks amazing and certainly delivers epic action scenes with blistering lightsaber battles, but takes too long to develop before the plot heats up.
— Julian Roman, BlackFilmandTV.com
It is a solid start—just one that leaves me with a little trepidation and concern.
— Rendy Jones, RogerEbert.comShadow Lord can capably move the Clone Wars story forward, but it’s not yet ready to serve as a Star Wars standard-bearer on its own.
— Alison Herman, Variety
Star Wars: Maul — Shadow Lord is now streaming on Disney+.
