{"id":513691,"date":"2026-04-05T05:10:13","date_gmt":"2026-04-05T05:10:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/513691\/"},"modified":"2026-04-05T05:10:13","modified_gmt":"2026-04-05T05:10:13","slug":"shadow-lord-reactions-are-most-solid","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/513691\/","title":{"rendered":"Shadow Lord’ Reactions Are Most Solid"},"content":{"rendered":"

Star Wars\u00a0returns to animation next week with\u00a0Maul: Shadow Lord<\/a>. After its announcement last year, Disney\u2019s been gradually ramping up marketing<\/a>, and now critics and influencers are free to share their thoughts. And the verdict? Ol\u2019 Maul\u2019s got the legs to be a headliner.<\/p>\n

Those who\u2019ve posted are working only from eight of the season\u2019s ten episodes, and many have been pretty high on the show\u2019s dark vibes and Sam Witwer\u2019s turn<\/a> 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\u2019re not good with callbacks or lore, this might not be your show, and it might be more setup for a (hopefully) better season<\/a> than a good season on its own. io9\u2019s own James Whitbrook<\/a> called it a \u201csolid\u201d show whose storytelling gambits don\u2019t always work, and you can see reactions from others down below.<\/p>\n

#MaulShadowLord<\/a> can\u2019t escape a few Filoni issues (tangled lore, jingly keys, Maul the least interesting lead on his own show) but it\u2019s a big leap forward for #StarWars<\/a> animation in terms of visual look and mature tone. More compelling than expected but STRICTLY for devoted fans. pic.twitter.com\/wdalSeEBSr<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Jakob Kolness (@JakobKolness) April 4, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n

Star Wars: #MaulShadowLord<\/a> is absolute PERFECTION. A dark, crime-driven revenge story that dives deep into Maul\u2019s psyche post\u2013Clone Wars. With STUNNING painterly animation and an edgy cyberpunk tone, this is Star Wars at its best\u2014and it totally rules. The dark side delivers! pic.twitter.com\/i7NrOvZFPB<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Justin Lawrence | Geekcentric (@helloimjlaw) April 4, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n

Fortunate to have the opportunity to watch the first 8 episodes of #MaulShadowLord<\/a> and can confirm it exceeds all expectations (even my lofty, hype-based ones. Visually stunning, with\u2014easily\u2014the best fights\/action in ANY #StarWars<\/a> show, and engaging new characters. It\u2019s fantastic pic.twitter.com\/b8TT9A7mRq<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Jordan Maison (@JordanMaison) April 4, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n

STAR WARS: MAUL \u2014 SHADOW LORD \u2026 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\u2019s the first animated Star Wars series I made it this far in and am still entertained<\/p>\n

[image or embed]<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Mike Ryan (@mikeryan.bsky.social<\/a>) April 3, 2026 at 9:45 PM<\/a><\/p>\n

I just realized the social embargo on Star Wars: Maul \u2013 Shadow Lord has lifted. I\u2019ve seen like half of the show and boy oh boy\u2026<\/p>\n

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<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Cade Onder (@Cade_Onder) April 4, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n

I\u2019ve 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\u2019s almost too late.<\/p>\n

Season two could be really great. This? Just solid.<\/p>\n

[image or embed]<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 James Whitbrook (@jwhitbrook.bsky.social<\/a>) April 3, 2026 at 9:45 PM<\/a><\/p>\n

Set shortly after Star Wars: The Clone Wars\u2019\u00a0final season, Maul: Shadow Lord\u00a0sees 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\u2019s detective Brander Lawson and Gideon Adlon\u2019s Devon Izara, a Jedi who may wind up under Maul\u2019s tutelage. Even when the Empire dispatches Inquisitors to take him down, Maul\u2019s on a mission to get his revenge, as he so often is<\/a>. We can only hope it works out well for him<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Reviews of\u00a0Maul: Shadow Lord,\u00a0including ours, will arrive next week ahead of its two-episode premiere on Monday, April 6.<\/p>\n

Want more io9 news? Check out when to expect the latest Marvel<\/a>, Star Wars<\/a>, and Star Trek<\/a> releases, what\u2019s next for the DC Universe on film and TV<\/a>, and everything you need to know about the future of Doctor Who<\/a>.<\/p>\n