In one of the biggest and more shocking twists inStar Warshistory , Solo : A Star Wars Storybrought Darth Maulback to the big screenin a perfectly thrilling reveal that should charge up anyStar Warsfan . After defeating Dryden Vos , Qi’ra does n’t run aside with Han like he hope , but instead turn her back on him , render to the Crimson Dawn . Opening a communication to the establishment ’s loss leader , a black drape figure appears , remove his bonnet to bring out the former Sith Apprentice .

While most moviegoers may remember   Darth Maul as an underutilized villain who was killed off at the closing of one of the least well regardedStar Warsmovies , Darth Maul would go on to live in a turn of stories inStar Warscanon outside the movies , fromThe Clone Warsto a few comics to a abbreviated Scripture appearance , and a big part in time of year 2 and 3 ofStar Wars Rebels , shed the " Darth " rubric and becoming one of the best character discharge in the whole franchise .

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Unfortunately , not everyone sleep together the scene . A routine of fans take matter with it , andwe’ve even issue a man criticizing it . But , in the candour of argumentation , this will serve as a counterpoint to show why the scene does n’t only influence , but also signify great things for the future ofStar war .

Why it Had to Be Darth Maul

After getting over the initial electrical shock of seeing Darth Maul alive and well on the big screen door , some consultation member began to query why it was Darth Maul playing the persona of crime party boss ? When the laggard hinted at a Dryden Vos work for someone else , supposition immediately began to swirl thatit could be Jabba the Hutt , but   Maul make far more sense . When we last saw Maul inStar Warscanon , he was the leader of the Shadow Collective , the turgid reprehensible conglomerate the wandflower had ever know . He brought the Hutt Clans , the Pyke Syndicate , Black Sun , and the entire satellite of Mandalore to their knees in front of him . He was kill , driven from Mandalore , and the Shadow Collective as we fuck it was fractured , but there ’s no reason to consider Maul fall behind all influence in the criminal Hades .

Solo : A Star Wars Storytakes home 6 - 10 old age after we last see Maul , and find him at the head of Crimson Dawn , which he rules from his home planet of Dathomir ( who ’s red star belike inspired the organization ’s name ) . We ’re missing a few geezerhood of story , but based on where we entrust Maul , it makes a lot of sense that we ’d find him where we do in Solo . In fact , if they hadchosen another criminal figureheadlike Jabba , or broughtShadows of the Empire’sPrince Xizor out or legend persistence , they would require to explain around how that person wrested control of the reprehensible underworld aside from Maul ( a history likely salve for the small screen or a book ) .

It might have been a shocking reveal , but it ’s a case of Lucasfilm   sticking to canyon over finding a way to ply to the knowledge of casualStar Warsfans who might not fuck that Maul is even alive , much less a major player in Star Wars ' underworld .

George Lucas with A New Hope imagery v3

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When it comes to the scene itself , even some fans that appreciate the type ’s return are dissatisfied with the scene , suggesting it has no place in a taradiddle about Han Solo . While it ’s true that Darth Maul is one of the last case you ’d least expect to pop up in a movie about vernal Han , it ’s crucial to remember that this scene has nothing to do with the nominal fictitious character . This scene is alone about Qi’ra and her arc .

Having just betrayed and overcome her former passe-partout , Dryden Vos in hand to hand armed combat ( utilizing Teräs Käsi ) , Qi’ra is give up Han to persist in her sprightliness as a part of Crimson Dawn . The fact that she ’s pledging herself to Maul , who ’s even more evil and shuddery looking at than Dryden Vos , is there to show how truly trust she is . If Qi’ra merely result , it ’d be a selfish decision , just like Lando , who also fled   Savareen in his present moment of need .   While the audience bed Lando come back into the story as a good guy ( eventually ) , for Qi’ra , this scene confirm she ’s past the point of no restoration , making the scene entirely necessary .

Some complaint are ground more around the elementary shock factor of the reveal . If it had been a lower profile character , the outrageousness of the reveal would n’t threaten to jump the final panorama of the movie with a shocking reveal . However , as already discuss , Maul ’s place of influence in the galaxy ’s condemnable world is ineluctable , and another character , particularly a character we do n’t already have a go at it , would n’t communicate just how confide Qi’ra is to her decision in the same manner .

Diego Luna as Cassian Andor in Andor season 2

Page 2:It’s Not a Barrier for Casual Audiences

It’s Not a Barrier for Casual Audiences

The most astonishing part of the reveal is the mere fact that it exists . Without make watchedStar Wars : The Clone Wars , read theMaul : Son of Dathomircomic , and possibly read part of theAhsokanovel or watchedStar Wars Rebels , some audience members could be wholly lost . The average person would have last see him kill by Obi - Wan Kenobi inThe Phantom Menace , so having him show up here with mechanically skillful pegleg and a different mental attitude is a little void of context , but it ’s not that surd to put the piece together .

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Shocking reveals that a character previously believed to be dead had actually lived , or reveals that a dead character has get along back to life , are n’t a new phenomenon , especially toStar Wars . While rooter who knew he was awake in canon may have been shocked that he was plainly demo up on the big screen , for others the reveal itself was their own reveal that he ’s still alive . His part in the idealistic scheme of the movie is minimal , so while it ’s important forStar Warscanon   that it ’s him , the deficiency of background information on   how he ’s animated or why he ’s the one Qi’ra calls is really arbitrary and should n’t impact anyone ’s power to empathise the movie the scene or the rest of the movie , regardless of the depth of theirStar Warsknowledge .

In term of executing , the scene was nearly flawless , starting out with Sam Witwer ( the interpreter of Darth Maul inRebelsandThe Clone Wars ) take audience to wonder the identity of the hooded figure before the metal legs are glimpse , tipping the hat to more hardcore fans before he removes his hood to reveal an old Ray Park Maul .

The lightsaber ignition does seem a piffling out of shoes and is sure as shooting the most questionable part of the prospect , but that should be listed more in the realm of " nit - pick " than black defect . Besides , the double bladed red lightsaber ( not his original one , but a modified Inquisitor blade ) is the genuine final game show for anyone that had n’t recognized him yet .

Din Djarin and Ahsoka-1

What This Means For the Future of Star Wars

While abbreviated , this scene has a issue of profound impact on the future of theStar Warsfranchise . The first and most obvious is that   Maul is back on the big screen . Now everyone knows he ’s alive , even if they did n’t watch the correct shows or read the ripe books . This mean   Maul could show up in other movies , or maybe even get his own spin - off flick , and the fact that he ’s already been shown to be animated , via a surprisal reveal , relieve a future pic from having to deal with confusion in marketing .

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If a movie featuring Maul were to begin production , there ’s no prosperous way to explain to audience why he ’s live through   marketing , and the vista of   promoting that movie without big spoilers could get a major puzzle , butSolorips that band - help right off . Maul is now officially alive on the large screen . Sure , there ’s still account necessitate , but the reveal has been made and there ’s no need to be cagey about his next coming into court .

The other major wallop is the significance for the sleep ofStar Warscanon . For years , fans have had a act of projection on their mind that were just assumed to have no chance of occur because of comprehend barriers to fooling audience . Darth Maul was one of those barrier , but if Lucasfilm is going to bring out him without flinching , who else could be break ? Does this mean the scene of getting alive - military action Ahsoka Tanomovie or seeing the Ghost work party in live legal action ( outside the Easter eggs inRogue One ) is naturalistic ? Outside of the scene itself , the fact that Lucasfilm was unforced to put Maul in a live - action movie at all should be explode the imagination of any Star Wars fan .

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