Spoilers for The Clone Wars: The Sith Hunters, and The Clone Wars TV seriesDarth Maulis one of the most iconic faces of theStar Warsprequels, and after being bisected by Obi-Wan, many fans were disappointed that we did not get to see more. However,The Clone Warsrevealed that Maul did survive this fatal blow. The details as to how remained a mystery to most, but there is a canonical answer inThe Clone Wars: The Sith Hunters.
In Henry Gilroy’sThe Clone Wars: The Sith Hunters, we see the moments after Obi-Wan’s lightsaber strike sliced Maul in half, and he fell into the depths of Naboo’s reactor shaft. Maul’s broken body was discarded into a trash container, which was then transported off-world.
Despite his physical dismemberment,Maul’s spirit clung to life through his sheer hatred and dark power. The Sith are known for their unnatural ability to cling to life using the dark side, and this crucial elementbecame the cornerstone of Maul’s survival.
Darth Maul Lost His Mind on Lotho Minor
Maul is In A Rough State When He’s Found In The Clone Wars
After safely escaping Naboo, the ship carrying him dropped him and the rest of the trash in the wasteland of Lotho Minor. Alone and severely injured, he found himself surrounded by endless debris with no hope of escape. His isolation, combined with his profound injuries,pushed him to the brink of madness.
Darth Maul’s Personal Mantra Perfectly Explains Why Star Wars Allowed the Sith to Defeat the Jedi
Emperor Palpatine’s plan was there from the beginning, echoed in the words of his first apprentice. If only the Jedi had taken Maul seriously.
He then used the force to fuse pieces of scrap metal to his body,replacing his lost lower half with spider-like limbs made out of trash. He fed on vermin and other small creatures he could find in the junk while his mind continued to deteriorate.
Maul Was Reborn Again on The Planet Dathomir
Savage Oppress’ To The Rescue
After spending years on Lotho Minor, Maul’s fortune shifted when his brother, Savage Oppress, found him. Savage brought Maul back to his homeworld of Dathomir, where his adopted Mother Talzin,the powerful Dathomirian witch, restored his sanity.
It was on Dathomir that Maul was truly reborn. While the mystical powers of Mother Talzin revived him, the emotional scars of his time on Lotho Minor lingered. His resurrection marked the beginning of a new chapter for Maul, one where he would posea significant threat to the Jedi and the Republic.
Maul’s Return: A Very Personal Vendetta
The Clone Wars and Beyond
While some fans were initially skeptical about Maul’s return, his character arc in The Clone Wars and Beyond gave him a complexity that made him more than just a villain.He became a key antagonist,manipulating both the Sith and the Republicto further his own goals.
At one point,he even became the ruler of Mandaloreand eventually started his criminal faction known as the Crimson Dawn after the empire rose to power. His personal vendetta against Obi-Wan Kenobi, however,remained his primary motivation. Eventually, he confronted him as a hermit on Tatooine, where Maul finally met his end.
Obi-wan Unintentionally Kept Darth Maul Alive
His Return Is Obi-Wan’s Failure
Maul, like other Sith before him, used his hatred and rage as tools to keep himself alive. His focus on revenge and his unrelenting desire to destroy Obi-Wan Kenobi allowed him to transcend the limitations of his physical body. This is the same force abilityAnakin used to keep himself alive on Mustafar, after his battle with Obi-Wan.
Obi-Wan Kenobi’s Lightsaber Form Shows Why He’s Sith Kryptonite
Obi-Wan Kenobi is one of the most beloved Jedi, but he’s also an accomplished lightsaber duelist, and his lightsaber form shows why he’s so good.
Given this context, the Sith’s hatred towards Obi-Wan has been one of their greatest weapons. Despite seemingly defeating them in battle,Obi-Wan has kept some of the most powerful Siths alive out of sheer spite of him. In a way, Maul’s return adds a new layer to Obi-Wan’s failure as a Jedi.
The Dark Side Was Maul’s Greatest Lifeline
The Power of Hate
Maul’s survival after being bisected isa testament to his physical strength and the power of the dark side. While the Jedi maintain balance and peace,the Sith revel in their hatred, fear, and anger. By using the dark side to feed their anger, they can overcome physical limitations and even cheat death itself.
In Maul’s case, these emotions kept him alive long after a mortal wound should have killed him. The dark side’s unnatural abilities are often seen as a means to extend life, especially in dire situations like Maul’s. Maul’s improbable survival servesas a reminder of the Sith’s unwavering obsession with power and revenge.
Maul’s Resurrection Makes Sense For A Sith Lord
But A Jedi Could Never
Maul’s return also highlightsthe contrast between the Jedi and the Sith regarding their relationship with death. While Jedi seek peace and balance, the Sith manipulate death, embracing their darkest impulses to defy the natural order. Maul’s survival, therefore, is a chilling reminder of the Sith’s willingness to go to any lengths for power, even if it means abandoning their humanity. It helps validate some of the more controversial narrative choices from the sequel series, such as Palpatine’s return.
Darth Maul’s return shows the power of the dark side and the depths to which one can go for revenge. His survival, though improbable,added a layer of intrigue to this Sith lord. From his forced exile on a desolate planet to his eventual resurrection through dark magic, Maul’s return reshaped his role in the galaxy.
This refreshed version of Maul offers fans a deeper and darker version of the Sith Lord.Star Wars: The Clone Wars – The Sith Huntersshowcases the full scope of his survival and gives a new understanding of Maul’s character and his impact on the Star Wars universe.
Star Wars
Star Wars is a multimedia franchise that started in 1977 by creator George Lucas. After the release of Star Wars: Episode IV- A New Hope (originally just titled Star Wars), the franchise quickly exploded, spawning multiple sequels, prequels, TV shows, video games, comics, and much more. After Disney acquired the rights to the franchise, they quickly expanded the universe on Disney+, starting with The Mandalorian.
Star Wars: The Clone Wars
Cast
Star Wars: The Clone Wars is an animated series that explores the intense conflict between the Republic and the Separatists. Featuring a mix of loyalty shifts and alliances, it delves into complex mysteries of the Force and showcases pivotal moments for characters like Anakin Skywalker and Master Yoda.
