Star Warsjust revealed an incredibleStar Wars: Episode I - The Phantom MenaceEaster egg that makesDarth Maul’sStar Wars Rebelsdeath even more profound. Darth Maul has one of the best arcs inStar Warsmovies and TV shows. After being introduced as a brand-new Sith Lord and seemingly dying inThe Phantom Menace, Maul returned inStar Wars: The Clone Warsand then had subsequent appearances inRebelsandSolo: A Star Wars Story. InRebels, Maul (actually) died, and new information fromStar Warsreveals how meaningful his death really was.
According tostarwars.com, the duel between Obi-Wan Kenobi and Darth Maul inRebelsseason 3 that finally brought about Maul’s demise had a direct parallel toThe Phantom Menace. PerStar Wars:
“‘The move that Maul tries after the initial exchange, he actually attempts the move that killed Qui-Gon Jinn. He tries to bash [Obi-Wan] with the hilt,’ revealed producer Henry Gilroy. But Kenobi had learned a lot since that fateful day, and it became the last move Maul would make.”
This connection between Darth Maul’s death blow to Qui-Gon Jinn inThe Phantom Menaceand Obi-Wan’s ability to overpower Maul inRebelsisthe perfect full-circle moment for both Maul and Obi-Wan.
What Darth Maul’s Final Move Means For Star Wars
This connection betweenRebelsandThe Phantom Menacereveals how much Obi-Wan had grown in that time—and how much Darth Maul hadn’t. The death of his former Jedi Master changed everything for Obi-Wan Kenobi. He very quickly went from a Padawan himself to the Jedi Master of Anakin Skywalker. Those events alone completely reshaped his life, but he also underwent considerable changes from there, among them grief and then perseverance as one ofthe survivors of Order 66.
The same episode ofRebelsin which Maul dies, “Twin Suns,” also highlights that Obi-Wan had already adapted his fighting style to be closer to that of the original trilogy. Whereas Obi-Wan had developed and changed, Darth Maul remained rooted to the past, as made evident by his attempt to use the very same move he had inThe Phantom Menace. This is also somewhat unsurprising given how obsessed Maul was with Obi-Wan throughoutThe Clone WarsandRebels. He never learned to let go of the past, and, in the end, it cost him his life.
Was Darth Maul Ever Really Worthy Of Being A Sith LORD, Despite What He Thought?
Darth Maul lacks several key qualities of Sith Lords in Darth Bane’s lineage. Was Maul ever truly worthy of being a Dark Lord of the Sith?
Our Take On Darth Maul’s Final Duel With Obi-Wan
This parallel betweenThe Phantom MenaceandRebelsreally is a brilliantStar Warsmoment, andit’s perhaps one of the better examples of the franchise’s ‘rhymes.‘Not every pattern inStar Warshas to be obvious or explicit. This is a prime example of beautiful symmetry withintheStar Warstimelinethat is profoundly meaningful but also subtle.
This is also the perfect ending to the ongoing battle between Darth Maul and Obi-Wan. InThe Phantom Menace, Maul killed Qui-Gon, and then he caused Obi-Wan even more suffering by killing Satine Kryze inThe Clone Wars. Despite how hard Maul worked to destroy Obi-Wan and those he cared about, Obi-Wan triumphed. In the end, Darth Maul was limited by his own sense of vengeance and connection to the past, and thisStar Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menaceconnection solidified that.
Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace
Cast
Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace is set in a galaxy facing political turmoil, as Jedi Knights Qui-Gon Jinn and Obi-Wan Kenobi seek peace while encountering Anakin Skywalker, a slave with great potential in the Force. Meanwhile, the Sith begin their resurgence, threatening the stability of the Republic.
Star Wars Rebels
Set between Episodes III and IV of the Star Wars film franchise, Star Wars Rebels is a canon animated series that follows a group of ragtag heroes who band together to face the Empire. In an age where the Galactic Empire is hunting down the last of the Jedi, a teenage outcast named Ezra Bridger is discovered to be force sensitive by a surviving Jedi known as Kanan Jarrus. Agreeing to join them and accept Jedi training, Ezra becomes a part of a small but growing crew of rebels determined to destroy the empire covertly.
