The First 'Maul: Shadow Lord' Reactions Are Most Solid

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 —