Devon (Gideon Adlon) and Maul (Sam Witwer) discuss the different world the Jedi and ex-Sith find themselves in. Two-Boots cracks the case and discovers everyone has a much bigger problem.

The third episode keeps the pace going and cranks the focus down onto two very different juniors. Devon is a Jedi denied her destiny, furious at that and holding onto the tattered remnants of it. Two-Boots is a droid, and a police officer, literally and metaphorically defined by order and efficiency. The irony of ‘only a Sith deals in absolutes’ no longer being true in an episode where a droid does that exact thing is not lost on me.

Let’s talk about Two-Boots first, because he remains the least interesting character for me, despite the spot he’s in. Richard Ayoade, for me once again, is the wrong choice. Two-Boots presents as fussy and officious, when he seems to be being written as idealistic and a little innocent. He’s brand new, he doesn’t understand what the Empire can and will do. All he sees is a problem not being solved quickly enough and he acts. While he almost breaks the case, he also contacts the Empire and is consigned to desk duty for it. It’s a really interesting beat, especially the moment he asks Lawson whether he doesn’t want the Empire involved because his ex-wife works for them. Structurally, it works brilliantly. Emotionally, because Ayoade is playing a single emotion and it’s the wrong one, it works far less well.

The other plot, and C plot with Lawson proving to be a good cop and a bad dad, works far better. Like Two-Boots, Devon takes initiative. Unlike Two-Boots, that’s what her opponent wanted. The imagery of a Jedi Padawan fighting with a Sith lightsaber, their strikes the only thing illuminating the room, is incredible. The acting is even better, Adlon playing Devon as someone who is playing someone who knows what they’re doing. Fierce, skilled, competent and terrified. Witwer’s Maul is everything she isn’t still, calm, in control. It’s a great fight and one that maps onto and drives the emotion of the episode, just like all good action should.

Verdict: Maul – Shadow Lord continues to impress and is hinting at some major developments to come. I’m not getting on with Ayoade’s work in the slightest but if you are, then this is a classic in the making. Even if you aren’t it’s still very good. 8/10

Alasdair Stuart