There's a lightsaber duel between Maul and the two good guys in a dark room with brilliantly flashing lightsabers and it looks absolutely fantastic. Then there's another dual with maul on a train in a tunnel and again the lighting is crazy and the whole thing just looks amazing. The visuals on this show are absolutely top notch
It’s been a very good show in general but the level of animation and how great the lightsaber battles are definitely the best parts. So well done
120
DFu4ever1 day ago
+21
The entire animation direction at times has been amazing. They did a hell of a job with the show.
21
Over_Conclusion62801 day ago
+3
The way they animated those lightsaber movements is just insane - you can actually feel the weight of each swing instead of it looking like they're waving glowsticks around. Really makes you appreciate how much effort went in the choreography too
3
kiddfrank1 day ago
+5
I remember that they used mocap for the battle between maul and Ahsoka in the final season of clone wars. I wonder if they are using that as a baseline because you are absolutely right, they feel like characters swinging a sword instead of just animated fight scenes
5
drmirage8091 day ago
+3
They dropped a behind the scenes thingy a while back and mentioned that some of the folks on the team have a background in martial arts, so that likely had an impact on how they choreographed and animated the fights.
As for mo-cap: Sam Witwer apparently did a bunch of his recordings with Maul’s face patterns drawn on his face and that was used as reference for how Maul’s expressions. Not quite mo-cap, but still a cool touch.
3
AF20051 day ago
+1
So crisp and vibrant!
1
Bluest_waters1 day ago
-6
It's not on the level of Andor, but it's still pretty solidly entertaining all the way around
-6
teflonbob1 day ago
+43
You are comparing apples to oranges. Two very different shows and two different visual mediums - animated and live action.
Comparing the two seems silly to me.
43
Mst3Kgf1 day ago
+12
Plus, they're different kinds of stories. "Andor" is a political drama. "Shadow Lord" is basically a crime/noir drama. I've seen numerous reviews calling it the SW version of "Heat."
12
thatguywiththe______1 day ago
+3
Hold up Star Wars "Heat" is the most interested I've been in this
3
Mst3Kgf1 day ago
+3
It's because it's set in the criminal underworld, there's numerous heists and the main characters are a criminal mastermind (who also happens to be an evil space wizard) and an ace detective with a lousy home life matching wits with him.
3
TalkinTrek1 day ago
+3
I mean, it's a family friendly cartoon. Like in a literal sense it's for ages 12+ (conservatively)
3
drmirage8091 day ago
+65
Lucasfilm have gotten insanely good at animation. There’s so much detail in everything. Also love how the backdrops are matte paintings. Gives the whole world a slightly hazy feel.
65
OutsideIndoorTrack1 day ago
+27
Somewhere around Bad Batch Season 2 and the beginning of "Tales of the ___" they lasered in on a tight narrative focus, quieter storytelling, and beautiful animation. Really cool to see such a consistent output since then
27
lesjo1 day ago
+8
You can notice they did their lesson and got inspired by Arcane, especially with the backgrounds. Art style subtly changed in comparison to The Clone Wars, especially the colors became more vibrant.
8
yar20001 day ago
+7
Comparing the clone wars movie and early seasons to what they do now is mindblowing, they have improved so much (and the technology too of course).
7
lesjo1 day ago
+3
Aye! The difference is staggering. Animation (meaning movement of characters) is far more fluid thanks to motion capture, even if you'll compare Maul with TCW S05 where he fights with Pre-Vizsla. It's still a great scene, but once they start punching each other with mere fists it looks a bit wooden.
3
Urge_Reddit19 hr ago
+3
Yeah, I did a full Clone Wars rewatch around the time the final season came out. It was cool seeing the animation quality improve over time, and it's only kept getting better from there.
3
Bluest_waters1 day ago
+8
Yes really love how the city looks in this show, feels real feels lived in
8
MrZeral17 hr ago
+2
I wish they did Ahsoka animated instead of live action show. I'm fine with rest being live action but Ahsoka clearly was hurt by this decision.
2
comrade_batman1 day ago
+22
The artistic drag on the lightsaber blade as they’re spun around look so good in this animation style and the jagged look of Maul’s lightsaber too.
Also, the sound design too, [they blended Sam Witwer’s Maul scream into his blade’s sound design.](https://youtu.be/afCvDF7qOpw?t=128&is=EVagFMccK4Z8PCHY)
22
AlstottsNeckGuard1 day ago
+6
The speed of the fights is awesome and it doesn't take away from being able to see the choreography. Like the difference in Devon and Maul's speed and precision looks so cool when they were fighting Marrok
6
Mst3Kgf1 day ago
+11
Also, when Marrok does that whole "spinning lightsaber" move the Inquistors do (and get mocked for) and Maul just sneers, ignites the other half of his lightsaber and casually moves it around as if to say, "You f****** poser, you're just a c**** copy of me."
11
the_man_in_the_box1 day ago
+16
Maul show is definitely filling the “force users go around doing stuff and often fight people with light sabers” void that should be the core of Star Wars content, but somehow hasn’t been for a while.
As someone else mentioned, Visions is the closest they’ve gotten since Clone Wars, but only some of the episodes are that way.
Very happy with Maul show doing it consistently.
Baffled that it isn’t the norm for Star Wars.
16
cerebus761 day ago
+23
Well, I'm honestly glad they've gotten away from it somewhat. Andor is probably the best Star Wars content ever made and there's nary a lightsaber in sight.
I'm a big fan of the "so and so is a place" version of storytelling. You build up a universe and then set all kinds of stories in that universe you've created. Star Wars is a place, and it's nice to spend time away from lightsabers and force users every now and again.
23
the_man_in_the_box1 day ago
-9
TBH, my opinion is the opposite lol.
I’m totally uninterested in stories like Andor. “Realistic” stories like that seem totally nonsensical to me when in a setting like the Star Wars universe. If I wanted to watch spy drama, then I’d watch spy drama, not SW-skinned spy drama.
Star Wars, for me, doesn’t work at all as sci-fi, only as fantasy. Once you try to make “realistic” rules, the entire internal logic of the SW setting falls apart.
That’s why, I personally, think stories like the Maul show are the interesting parts of SW.
-9
VirtualPen2041 day ago
+13
What do you mean by realistic rules? Andor doesn't break any of the soft rules SW has, nor does it add any.
13
the_man_in_the_box1 day ago
-4
The realistic rules that apply to everybody who doesn’t actively use the force.
They seem totally nonsensical in a universe with space wizards.
-4
VirtualPen2041 day ago
+5
But... those already exist? There are tons of ppl in-universe that don't have the Force. They are the *overwhelming* majority.
5
the_man_in_the_box1 day ago
-2
Yes, and I mostly don’t care about what they do.
The stories about people like them that are interesting are better off in a grounded universe in my opinion.
Star Wars is only interesting because of the space wizards.
If I wanted a space wizard-less spy story, then I’d look for it in a fully space wizard-less setting.
-2
T-Baaller10 hr ago
What a narrow-minded perspective.
People enjoying something for different reasons and for a media franchise to offer a variety of contents that shifts emphasis on different things different people like is a **good thing** because it increases chance of more people having a good time.
The thing that attracted me to the franchise was the starfighters that act a bit like WW2 planes, something the original movie spent more time with than the laser swords you prefer. Does that mean I should dismiss and deride all the followup SW media that doesn't feature starfighters?
Of course not.
0
the_man_in_the_box10 hr ago
+1
Every one of my comments makes it explicit I’m talking about my personal preference lol!
1
MeatTornado251 day ago
+3
A New Hope is what made Star Wars, and there's very little lightsaber action, and only the most minimalist force powers being used in that movie. It's a very simple plot that could take place on Earth, they just use spaceships instead of cars.
3
the_man_in_the_box1 day ago
+2
The entire story is Luke figuring out his powers.
The climax is literally: “Use the force, Luke.”
2
MeatTornado2523 hr ago
+2
The main crux of the story is Luke leaving home for adventure and rescuing the princess. It's just a heroes journey story that's been told a hundred times. "Use the Force, Luke" is not the moral of the story. There are only 2 scenes of Luke even trying to use the force in the whole movie.
2
the_man_in_the_box22 hr ago
+1
Yes, the only thing distinguishing it from every other heroes journey is the force.
Luke uses the force the whole film, it’s the basic premise of his character and the setting.
It’s why he goes from farm boy to succeeding in the trench run, when everyone else fails.
1
MeatTornado2522 hr ago
+1
The whole film? What are you even talking about?
He's never even heard of it until like 30 minutes into the film, does one training session at the halfway point, and actually uses it in action for the first time in the climax of the film.
1
the_man_in_the_box22 hr ago
+2
No lol, the whole premise is that Luke is, and always has been, very strong in the force.
“Training” is learning to trust his feelings, but he’s always had them.
You, uh, seem to have missed quite a lot of the film.
The force is why Luke can bullseye womprats, just like it’s why Anakin can podrace.
2
MeatTornado2522 hr ago
+1
That is super revisionist history after the movie came out.
There was nothing magical about bullseying womprats in 1977. When Luke says that it's showing his inexperience. Hitting a target 2 meters wide isn't the issue, hitting it going full speed down a trench in space was the issue. Luke's T16 when he was dicking around back home didn't move as fast as an X-Wing.
Luke has to concentrate to really use the force to make the shot, which obviously wasn't something he knew how to do when shooting womprats before meeting Obi-Wan. He wasn't passively using the force in his everyday life without knowing, unless they've decided to retcon that.
1
Bluest_waters1 day ago
Good points, which is why the whole midichlorians invention was so ridiculous. It demystified the whole thing, and mysticism is 1 of Star Wars attractions! It's not a flaw it's one of its best parts
0
avimo19041 day ago
+1
How did midi-chlorians demistify the whole thing?
1
Bluest_waters1 day ago
-5
Good points,
-5
Captain-Wilco1 day ago
+7
I’d also recommend Star Wars Visions if you’re looking for more. Talk about s*** lightsaber duels, sheesh
7
TheDizziestCat1 day ago
+4
Star Wars should really commit to animation in all honesty. I don’t mind some unique live action stuff here and there but shows with lighsaber battles and the force should be animated.
4
Monk-ish1 day ago
+3
Do you need to watch other shows leading up to this? I never got through Clone Wars but was interested in checking this out
3
Worthyness1 day ago
+7
If you know how maul is alive, id say thats pretty much all you need. Otherwise youre gonna spend the whole time wondering how he's alive and not have it explained. Otherwise youre good to go in blind honestly.
For later viewing though, theres a good bunch of his story in the later seasons that are some of the best clone wars episodes, so id say if you like this show, go out of your way to find those episodes and watch them.
7
cerebus761 day ago
+1
You certainly don't need to, but it wouldn't hurt to grab a playlist for Maul's arc on Clone Wars to enrich the experience.
1
drmirage8091 day ago
+1
Not really. Doesn’t hurt to have watched Clone Wars first, or Rebels for that matter. Both very good animated Star Wars fun. But all you need to know is: Maul survived Phantom Menace, has cybernetic legs, a criminal empire and a bunch of people on his shit list.
Now as I said: not much required viewing, but I do highly recommend the animated shows. They do a great job expanding the universe and grow up with their audience.
1
smurf-vett1 day ago
+2
Rebels is 12ish years in the future and thus may spoil some things
2
Mookies_Bett1 day ago
+1
The Clone Wars content that features Maul is top tier and really, really well done. It gives a lot of context and depth to his character in Maul: Shadow Lord. Same goes for his stuff in Rebels.
But none of it is required viewing. All you need to know is that Maul is alive and that he spent most of Clone Wars building up a criminal empire through a puppet government on Mandalore before being chased into the shadows during the events of Order 66. And that's explained in the first episode.
I still recommend checking his stuff out on Clone Wars because it's sincerely excellent content. Especially the finale of Clone Wars, which is maybe some of the best Star wars content ever made.
1
MrZeral16 hr ago
+1
You can start with clone wars season 4 if you wihs to catch up with Maul though he appears only at the end, this is the season where the show got really good.
1
Bluest_waters1 day ago
+1
I haven't seen a single episode of clone wars and stopped watching the new Star Wars after that rian Johnson debacle. But everything in this show is perfectly clear to me. It's a pretty straightforward story
1
kiddfrank1 day ago
+1
You should watch the final 4 episodes of clone wars, basically runs parallel to revenge of the sith and features Maul on mandalore.
It gives insight into the members of his gang and also it’s just an amazing 4 episode arc
Edit: also the final season was made years after the initial run, so the animation is fantastic and they used mocap for all the lightsaber duels
1
Monk-ish1 day ago
+1
Yeah I've been meaning to go back. I think I made it through most of season 2 but it wasn't really connecting with me like it did for most other fans
1
epsiblivion1 day ago
+2
there's a condensed list that has the key episodes for the main story for all the seasons. the side story episodes are hit or miss (some great some not so great like jarjar or droid stories). then rebels and bad batch and the tales of the empire, jedi, underworld. i would say visions is wholly unrelated/unconnected.
2
Bluest_waters1 day ago
+1
I haven't seen a single episode of clone wars and everything in this show makes sense to me. I'm not lost.
1
kiddfrank1 day ago
+3
It’s not required viewing, but it is somewhat of a prequel to mauls story in shadow lord
3
ucancallmevicky23 hr ago
+1
I can't wait to see it in 4k without Disney+ compression
1
DMVlinecutter12 hr ago
+1
It’s almost like Disney knew one of the most popular characters, killed off waaaaay too soon, would have an audience and did something about it.
1
Apprehensive_War17312 hr ago
+1
Yeah, the lighting in that show does a lot of heavy lifting in the best way. The dark settings with just the saber glow makes everything feel more intense and focused, almost like you’re watching silhouettes clash instead of full characters. that train tunnel fight especially stuck with me, something about the motion plus the flashing colors just made it feel different from the usual duels.
1
bellystraw9 hr ago
+1
When they're deflecting the ship laser cannons you can see and feel the weight of each blast and it's so cool.
1
OutsideIndoorTrack1 day ago
+1
Great writing too. Interesting characters. Feels like a classic Star Wars book come to life
1
ruskyandrei1 day ago
+1
I'm really enjoying the show, hope to see more like it exploring different characters and parts of the SW universe.
Probably a lot cheaper and quicker to do for Disney than live action so hopefully we will.
1
WiggleSparks1 day ago
+1
Well now I’m interested. I’ve always felt the lightsaber duels in clone wars lacked something.
65 Comments