Maul - Shadow Lord: A Star Wars Masterpiece Emerges
Jackson Reed
Published May 17, 2026
By Published Apr 6, 2026, 10:12 AM EDT Nick Bythrow is a Lead Writer for ScreenRant. He has been writing for the site since September 2026. He graduated from Hampshire College in 2026, where he triple majored in Journalism, Communications, and Media Studies. When he's not writing about TV and movies for ScreenRant and his blog, , Nick is penning speculative fiction and poetry on . He lives outside Boston, Massachusetts. Summary Generate a summary of this story follow Follow followed Followed Like Like Log in Here is a fact-based summary of the story contents: Try something different: Show me the facts Explain it like I’m 5 Give me a lighthearted recap
The newest Star Wars series is already taking the galaxy by storm.
has debuted with a rare perfect Rotten Tomatoes score after it earned an early season 2 renewal from Disney. The takes place one year after the Clone Wars ended, with the still alive Darth Maul building a criminal enterprise in secret while the Galactic Empire reigns supreme.
Now, Rotten Tomatoes reports that Maul — Shadow Lord has earned a rare perfect score from critics, the same day its first two episodes arrived on Disney+. As of writing, the review site reports the latest Star Wars show holds a perfect 100% score from critics based on 14 reviews. While later reviews could fluctuate the score, this is a promising first step for the series.
Why Maul — Shadow Lord Is A Critical Success
praise the show as one of the best animated Star Wars series in a long time, with favorable comparisons being made with 2008's The Clone Wars. The series has earned considerable positive attention for its animation, which includes a blend of both 3D assets and 2D backgrounds, making the series look unique.
It also helps that the show introduces a number of intriguing new characters, including Maul's potential apprentice, Twi'lek Devon Izara, and Brander Lawson, a detective on the planet Janix and his droid partner Two-Boots, both of whom become . They help bolster the story, playing off Maul and his plans in engaging ways.
However, the series isn't without some criticism, including some critics saying the show takes some time to find its footing. But, when it does, it delivers on interesting, thought-provoking storytelling that adds complexity to Maul as a character. While everyone in Maul — Shadow Lord is engaging, the protagonist's perspective is the one that's the biggest draw.
It's not a surprise from these early reviews that Maul - Shadow Lord season 2 was confirmed before the series even premiered on Disney+. The strength of the series is prominent across critic reviews, even ones that are less positive about how it fits into the larger Star Wars universe. The series made a positive impression that's only just begun.
Maul - Shadow Lord Begins A New Chapter For Star Wars
Maul — Shadow Lord is the start of a new era for the Star Wars franchise, both on Disney+ and as a whole. It's the first animated series in the franchise to have a multi-season storyline since The Bad Batch, which ended in 2026. It's also the first major Star Wars release in 2026 ahead of some major milestones.
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This includes the , the first Star Wars movie to come out in theaters in seven years. is also anticipated to arrive this year, which will continue the story of The Clone Wars' protagonist decades later in live-action form. Maul — Shadow Lord is just the start for Star Wars' big year.
With the series debuting to a perfect Rotten Tomatoes score, it seems inevitable that Maul — Shadow Lord will have everything it needs to be a long-term success on Disney+. Since new episodes arrive every Monday, it remains to be seen if the show's critical success will translate to how big an audience it winds up drawing in.
Cast
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Maul (voice) -
Two-Boots (voice)
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WHERE TO WATCH
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