The first season of Star Wars: Maul – Shadow Lord dropped its final episodes on Disney+ on May 4, 2026. The animated series follows the iconic Sith Lord as he builds his criminal empire while hiding from the Empire. But the real story is about Devon Izara, a young Jedi Padawan who escapes Order 66. By the finale, Devon makes a shocking decision that changes everything. She accepts Maul as her master and agrees to join the dark side.
Actor Gideon Adlon, who voices Devon, recently explained why her character took this dark path. She says it all comes down to one tragic moment. The death of her Jedi Master, Eeko-Dio Daki (voiced by Dennis Haysbert), breaks something inside her. That loss finally pushes her into Maul’s arms.
Why Devon Finally Said Yes to the Dark Side
For most of Season 1, Maul tries to turn Devon to the dark side. She refuses every time. But in the finale, Darth Vader kills Master Daki. Devon watches her mentor die right in front of her. That rage and grief become too much to control.
In an interview with StarWars.com, Adlon explained the exact moment Devon changes. “That flips a switch and you see her become dark,” Adlon said. “I think that anybody who goes through loss like that, the path they walk on after that brings out new colors. Grief changes a person. The path you go forward on will always be different because you are different.”
Adlon also shared that Devon had been struggling with her feelings for a while. Even before Daki died, Devon felt drawn to Maul in a way she never felt with the Jedi Order. “Devon related to Maul in a way that she wasn’t able to relate to Daki or people in the Jedi Order,” she explained. “Even though they never say it, she does find a father figure in Maul. It’s not love. It’s something I’m trying to figure out with her. And I will.”
Devon Had Nowhere Else to Go
The finale puts Devon in an impossible situation. The Empire is hunting her. Her master is dead. She has no allies and no safe place to hide. Maul becomes the only person left who offers her protection and purpose.
Adlon told StarWars.com that Devon’s choice felt like the only option left. “It’s something that she needs to do, and also I think she doesn’t have anywhere to go,” she said. “Even though he is who he is, Maul feels like the safest option for her at this point.”
What makes this even more tragic is that Devon does not know the full truth. Maul actually caused Daki’s death. During the fight with Darth Vader, Maul used the Force to push Daki closer to Vader. Then he ran away. Devon only saw Vader land the killing blow. She never saw Maul’s betrayal. So she blames the Empire completely, not the man now offering to train her.
A Different Kind of Star Wars Story
Sam Witwer, who has voiced Maul for years, says this show explores a side of Maul fans have never seen before. Witwer described this version of Maul as uncertain and insecure. “At this point in his life, he’s reassessing absolutely everything, and, in some ways, very confused,” Witwer told Nerdist. “This is more of a free-thinking, inquisitive Maul than we’ve ever seen before. And there’s a real insecurity to that. There’s a real insecurity to not being certain about everything.”
Adlon also connected deeply with Devon’s confusion. She told Star Wars News Net that she sees herself in the character. “She’s at a point in her life where she’s very confused about right and wrong,” Adlon said. “She is a Jedi, but the world she’s living in is unfair. So it really confuses her.”
Devon is not shy about speaking her mind. Adlon described her as someone who “is not afraid to kick ass – physically and verbally.” But underneath that toughness, Devon is dealing with real pain. She watched her entire world burn when Order 66 happened. Now the person she trusted most is gone.
What Viewers Thought of the Finale
Fans reacted with surprise to Devon’s turn. Many did not expect the show to actually go there. But reviewers praised the decision as bold storytelling.
One reviewer from Film News Blitz wrote that the show does an amazing job showing Maul’s vulnerable side. They said Devon’s arc is “equally compelling” and that the finale sets up “an even bigger and darker second season.”
Another writer from Gizmodo pointed out that Maul works best when he is at his lowest point. The review said seeing Maul fail and then claw his way back is what makes the character interesting. “This is what Maul is, has been, and will really continue to be until his death in Rebels: always on the back foot, always rueing his cruel, misbegotten fate, and always clawing from the shadows.”
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Devon’s Story Is Just Beginning
The show already got renewed for Season 2. That means viewers will see what happens next for Devon. Will she fully embrace the dark side? Or will she feel regret once she learns the truth about Daki’s death?
Adlon is already working on Season 2. She told Star Wars News Net that recording the show feels intense. “We’re in a studio but it feels very cinematic,” she said. “It feels like we’re doing something on camera because of how intense the work has been. The emotions are crazy.”
She also praised working with Witwer. “I mean, he is Maul. It’s been a total joy working with him and just watching him perform is crazy.”
The first season of Star Wars: Maul – Shadow Lord is now streaming in full on Disney+ in the US, UK, Canada, Australia, and India.
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