That 'Maul: Shadow Lord' Lightsaber Moment Isn't What You Think It Is

This week’s Maul: Shadow Lord episodes gave fans the encounter they’ve wanted ever since we first learned that the animated series would have Maul crossing paths with a Jedi he thought he could wield as a new apprentice. Maul’s educational, probing clash with the young Devon Izara certainly created some interesting and tempting friction in their dynamic already, but one moment in particular seemed like it raised a ton of questions. Episode three of the series, “Whispers of the Unknown,” sees Maul and Devon duel after the former offers the latter the chance for an alliance he believes could bring down the Empire with their power combined. It’s a great little action sequence, with Maul the manipulator on fine form, but it reaches a fascinating climax. Just as Devon seemingly gives in to her anger and uses the advantage it gives her to start fleeing from Maul, the score swells as we hear a whispering chorus, just before he reaches out and reclaims his stolen lightsaber from Devon and learns her name in the process. It’s that chorus that has our heads momentarily spinning. You hear the word “Rahtahmah,” which is, of course, a fragment of the lyrics from “Duel of the Fates” from The Pha