‘Star Wars: Maul – Shadow Lord’ Adds Yet More Jedi to the List of Order 66 Survivors

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Be warned, this article contains spoilers for the first two episodes of Star Wars: Maul – Shadow Lord! Fans have wanted a story focused on Sam Witwer’s Darth Maul for years, and Shadow Lord finally delivers. Though hinted at in other animated series, this is the most complete and satisfying exploration of the character that fans have been asking for. While the Disney+ series continues the story from Season 7 of The Clone Wars and sets up events in Rebels, it’s also a great place for new viewers to start.

While knowing a bit about Star Wars can enhance your experience, it’s not essential. In fact, being unfamiliar with certain details might actually be helpful. Those who only know the films will likely miss many references in Shadow Lord, but it won’t ruin the main story. However, it might be puzzling why the Jedi aren’t intervening to stop Maul from building his criminal empire on Janix. There is a reason for this, but it’s been changed and re-explained many times over the years, and Shadow Lord adds another layer to this already complex history.

‘Star Wars: Maul – Shadow Lord’ Adds MORE Survivors of Order 66

Order 66 was a secret command programmed into nearly all Clone Troopers. When Emperor Palpatine gave the order, it caused the Clone Troopers to suddenly turn against and attack their Jedi and Padawan allies. This was done to remove any opposition as Palpatine transformed the Republic into an Empire he could control. The execution of Order 66 was a major moment in the 2005 film Revenge of the Sith, concluding the prequel trilogy and explaining why, by the time of the 1977 film A New Hope, only Obi-Wan and Yoda remained as the last surviving Jedi.

The new Disney+ series, Shadow Lord, takes place shortly after the devastating Order 66. Darth Maul, having recently escaped captivity during The Clone Wars, is poised to be one of the few characters wielding a lightsaber. However, he won’t be alone. The show introduces Master Eeko-Dio Daki (played by Dennis Haysbert) and his Padawan, Devon Izara (Gideon Adlon). While this might be unexpected for viewers unfamiliar with other Star Wars content, the introduction of Jedi who survived Order 66 is a common theme. We’ve seen similar characters before, like Ahsoka Tano in Rebels, Cal Kestis in the Jedi video games, and Grogu in The Mandalorian.

It’s possible the character of Devon isn’t entirely original. A Sith Lord named Darth Talon exists in the older Star Wars Legends stories, and like Devon, she’s a Twi’lek. While Talon wasn’t trained by Darth Maul, they were once considered as a villainous pair in an early idea for a Star Wars sequel trilogy – a plan that never came to fruition. Perhaps Maul’s attempt to turn Devon to the Dark Side in Shadow Lord is a nod to that original concept, offering a version of the storyline George Lucas once envisioned.

Why ‘Shadow Lord’s Decision To Save Two More Jedi Is a Good Thing

A common complaint among Star Wars fans is that the franchise has softened the impact of Order 66, the event where almost all Jedi were killed. Originally, only Obi-Wan and Yoda were thought to have survived, which explained why there were so few Jedi in the first six films. Now, some believe that introducing more Jedi survivors creates inconsistencies in the story, raising questions about why they didn’t assist the heroes during important battles. While these concerns are understandable, I personally don’t think Star Wars has gone overboard with adding new Jedi who survived the purge.

After the devastating Order 66, very few Jedi and Sith remain. Those who survived are either extremely cautious about when and where they use their powers, or they’re forced to live in hiding because they’re vastly outnumbered and struggle to find others to help them. This situation feels realistic within the Star Wars universe. Also, to make stories set between the main films feel truly connected to the larger franchise, it’s important to include Jedi. Audiences have come to expect seeing a lightsaber-wielding character, and while Andor successfully broke that mold, it ultimately confirms how much fans anticipate Jedi in Star Wars projects.

As a huge Star Wars fan, I think a Darth Maul story really needs other Force users to feel complete. What’s especially cool about Shadow Lord is seeing how Jedi are coping right after Order 66 – it happened so recently in the story, and it’s fascinating to see those immediate consequences. Honestly, if this show does well, it could really fuel the demand for a whole series focusing on Jedi who survived Order 66. If we keep seeing more and more of them pop up, why not make that the central idea of a show? Either way, I’m thrilled Star Wars: Maul – Shadow Lord is even exploring this angle again. It’s a really compelling idea!

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2026-04-09 02:03