By George & Josh Bate
The latest batch of episodes of Maul – Shadow Lord feature numerous parallels to other Star Wars stories, including Revenge of the Sith, The Clone Wars, and The Empire Strikes Back. There’s also plenty of hidden details and Easter eggs to enjoy along the way.
Check out Every Easter Egg, Hidden Detail, and Reference we noticed in Chapters 3-4 of Maul – Shadow Lord below….
Chapter 3: Whispers in the Unknown
The episode is written by Julia Cooperman, who produced and wrote two episodes of the Disney+ series Willow.
When Maul is first seen in the episode, he is on his knees exactly the same way Qui-Gon was in The Phantom Menace before his death.
Maul offers Devon some cassius tea. In The Clone Wars, Pre Vizsla and his Death Watch troopers shared a bottle of cassius tea with Maul in the episode “Eminence.”
Throughout the episode, Maul tries to win Devon over to his way of thinking by using manipulation techniques similar to what Palpatine used to convert Anakin to the dark side in Revenge of the Sith.
Sam Witwer has spoken about how Maul has learned from his botched attempt to win Ahsoka Tano over in the final season of The Clone Wars and is now taking a more calculated approach to convert Devon.
Maul says, “My brother was murdered. My mother was murdered.” He is making reference to the deaths of Savage Opress and Mother Talzin during the Clone Wars, the former of whom was killed in “The Lawless” and the latter of whom was killed in the comic book Darth Maul: Son of Dathomir.
With the glow of the red lightsaber, Devon looks more and more like Darth Talon, the red-skinned Twi’lek that George Liucas originally planned as an antagonist alongside Maul in the sequel trilogy.
Maul tells Devon, “Your frustration betrays you.” This is similar to what Darth Vader says to Luke in Return of the Jedi, “Your thoughts betray you.”
The Pykes reference their leader Marg Krim again. Marg Krim first appeared in the novel Dark Disciple by Christie Golden and eventually appears in episode 3 around the 18 minute mark. Stephen Stanton, known for voicing Admiral Raddus in Rogue One, voices Marg Krim.
Lawsen’s son Rylee plays what appears to be the equivalent of Star Wars lacrosse in the episode. The sport is called botekin, which now joins Huttball, grav-ball, and limmie as in-universe sports in a galaxy far, far away.
The sticks that are used in botekin first appeared in the background of Anakin’s mechanic workplace in The Phantom Menace.
Krim threatens to feed Vario to his “nexu horde,” a reference to the creature in the arena battle from Attack of the Clones.
Daki tells Lawsen, “I mean you no harm.” This is what Yoda tells Luke when they first meet in The Empire Strikes Back.
Lawsen tells Daki, “Once the Empire show up, they’re not going to leave.” This mirrors the concern of the Ghor in Andor Season 2 as many feared that, once the Empire arrived on the planet, they would never vacate.
The whisper-hiss sound that often accompanies Maul’s appearance in The Phantom Menace can be heard as Maul speaks to Devon. The whispers sound like “Korah Rahtahmah” and can be heardaround the 1:50 mark of John William’s “Qui-Gon’s Noble End.”
Maul asks Devon, “Have you ever encountered one of the Jedi hunters?” He is referring to Inquisitors, the order of former Jedi under the control of Darth Vader. Maul’s question implies that he’s had run-ins with Inquisitors in the time between The Clone Wars and Maul – Shadow Lord. He later kills a few in Star Wars Rebels.
Vario asks Rook Kast for a “nerf filet.” Nerfs are a species that appeared throughout Star Wars. Leia famously called Han a “nerf herder” in the original trilogy.
The silhouette of Maul’s head towering over a cowering Devon feels like it’s taken straight out of a horror movie. Imagery of Robert Eggers’ Nosferatu comes to mind with this particular shot.
Maul refers to surviving Order 66 as “a gift.” An interesting choice of words for someone who spent most of his life hating the Jedi.
The subtitles of the episode say, “Maul’s lightsaber speaks an alien language.” Is it possible that his lightsaber and its connection to the dark side is spouting old Sith language?
Chapter 4: Pride and Vengeance
The episode is written by Amanda Rose Muñoz, who previously worked on the following episodes of The Bad Batch: “Aftermath”, “Decommissioned,” “Infested”, “The Solitary Clone”, “Pabu”, “The Return”, “Identity Crisis” and “Point of No Return”.
One of Scorn or Icarus attacks the Pykes as he pretends to be Maul. His proficiency with a lightsaber implies that Maul has taken the time to teach Scorn and Icarus how to wield the weapon of the Jedi and the Sith, even if they are not Force sensitive.
The idea of using an imposter to sneak into a crime lord’s base resembles what Leia does in Return of the Jedi to infiltrate Jabba the Hutt’s lair on Tatooine.
Maul speaks to the dead body of Marg Krim about how he came to his old ally following the events on Mandalore, only to be ignored. This little tidbit fills in part of the year-long gap between The Clone Wars Season 7 and Maul – Shadow Lord.
Daki says, “Maul’s presence will inevitably attract the Empire.” This line suggests that it is common knowledge among the Jedi that Darth Sidious and his Galactic Empire wish to bring an end to Maul.
“We are no longer the defenders of justice in the galaxy,” says Daki. This wording mirrors how Ben Kenobi describes the role of the Jedi to Luke Skywalker in A New Hope.
Lawsen shuts Two-Boots down in a manner similar to how C-3PO is shut down throughout the Star Wars saga.
Daki’s line, “Nothing in life is certain” conveys the same message as Yoda’s line in The Empire Strikes Back, “Always in motion is the future.”
Maul tells Lawsen, “Pleasure to see you again, captain.” Maul is referencing a meeting he and Lawsen shared in the prequel comic Shadow of Maul.
Maul offering Lawsen protection in exchange for not troubling the city reflects the ex-Sith lord’s less rageful and more calculated approach to exacting revenge in the new series.
“With your powers and abilities, you should be respected by all,” says Maul to Daki. This feels like a shift in Maul’s mentality toward the Jedi. He appears to exhibit a greater respect for them.
The shot of Maul igniting his double lightsaber resembles similar shots from The Phantom Menace and The Clone Wars Season 7.
When Maul jumps at Daki during their duel, he makes a screaming noise that sounds very similar to a noise Palpatine makes at the beginning of his duel with Mace Windu, Kit Fisto, Plo Koon, and Saesee Tiin in Revenge of the Sith.
Rook Kast uses a flamethrower gauntlet, just like Boba Fett does.
A Star Destroyer ominously hovers over Janix at the end of the episode. This mirrors similar shots from Star Destroyers hovering over Lothal in Rebels and Jedha in Rogue One.
John Williams’ iconic “Imperial March” can be heard as the Empire rolls into town.