The Maul – Shadow Lord ending is especially dramatic, and it sets up an exciting future for the titular ex-Sith.
The show has chronicled Maul's attempts to rebuild his criminal empire after the events of The Clone Wars, as well as his pursuit of Jedi Padawan Devon Izara as his apprentice. Everything comes to a head in the final two episodes, and there's plenty to unpack.
Below, we've broken down everything you need to know about the Maul – Shadow Lord ending, which naturally means there are major spoilers ahead. Turn back now if you're not up to date! For more on the show, check out our Maul – Shadow Lord review for our spoiler-free verdict.
Maul – Shadow Lord ending explained
The final two episodes begin with Crimson Dawn's Dryden Vos offering Maul a deal: if the ex-Sith Lord will help install Vos as leader of the crime syndicate, he'll help Maul escape Janix. Maul agrees, and he implants an image of a meeting place in Devon Izara's mind. Devon and her Master Eeko-Dio Daki, Brander Lawson, Rylee Lawson, and Two-Boots head to the meeting point.
But, Inquisitor Marrok and the Eleventh Brother are in close pursuit. As the whole crew attempts to traverse a toxic waste site, the Inquisitors catch up and a battle begins. Some of Maul's crew die, but the main players make it across safely. Marrok then gives an ominous instruction: "Inform him they are headed his way."
On the way to meet Dryden Vos, Rook Kast is dragged away and killed by an unknown foe in an eerie, horror movie-style moment. It's not long before we hear that distinctive mechanical breathing, though, and it becomes clear who Maul and the others will have to battle to escape: Darth Vader. While Maul knew of Darth Sidious's plans to make Anakin Skywalker his apprentice, as shown in the Siege of Mandalore arc of The Clone Wars, he doesn't seem to put two and two together in Shadow Lord and realize Vader is Anakin. Instead, all he knows is Vader is a Sith Lord.
Maul encourages Devon to give in to her rage as the only way to beat Vader, but Daki resists this. Marrok and the Eleventh Brother show up, and another fight starts as Lawson, Rylee, Vario, and Two-Boots battle with stormtroopers. Devon ends up fighting the two Inquisitors alone as Daki and Maul clash with Vader. Marrok is Force pushed by Devon over the edge of the walkway they're fighting on and disappears into the mist.
Maul sees Devon fighting alone and Force pushes Daki into Vader, getting the Jedi Master killed by the Sith Lord. Devon is devastated and, when she loses her lightsaber, Maul throws her half of his red blade. She pursues the Eleventh Brother inside the ruins of a nearby building, but Vader takes her by surprise. Maul brings down the roof on Vader, which almost isn't enough to stop him, but he and Devon manage to escape. Meanwhile, Brander Lawson sacrifices himself to the stormtroopers so Rylee, Two-Boots, and Vario can escape.
Devon, Maul, Rylee, Two-Boots, and Vario make it onto Dryden Vos's ship, where Vos reminds Maul of their deal. Devon then finally agrees to Maul training her, setting up Maul – Shadow Lord season 2.
Who dies in Maul – Shadow Lord season 2?
There are a few casualties in the final two episodes. Rook Kast is killed by Darth Vader, as is Eeko-Dio Daki after Maul betrays him and Force pushes him closer to the Sith Lord. Brander Lawson also sacrifices himself so his son Rylee, Two-Boots, and Vario can escape the Empire.
Does Maul fight Darth Vader?
Yes, the Star Wars battle we've been waiting years for finally happens in Shadow Lord. This duo have had a few close calls before: they crossed paths in The Phantom Menace when Anakin Skywalker was still a child, then Maul hoped to lure Anakin to Mandalore during the Siege of Mandalore arc of The Clone Wars to kill him and prevent him become Darth Sidious's apprentice. In Star Wars Rebels, Maul is also nearby when Ahsoka Tano duels her old Master – and he believes he's not strong enough to fight Vader alone, suggesting familiarity with the Sith Lord.
In Shadow Lord, they clash along with Devon and Daki. Interestingly, Maul doesn't seem to have realized that Vader is Anakin Skywalker, either, meaning that realization is most likely still to come.
Who is Dryden Vos?
Dryden Vos is introduced in Solo: A Star Wars Story as the fearsome leader of Crimson Dawn. In Shadow Lord, he strikes a deal with Maul to become that leader, meaning the show has laid the groundwork for Maul's surprise cameo in Solo (which is set after Shadow Lord on the Star Wars timeline).
In Solo, Vos is played by Marvel's Paul Bettany, though, in Shadow Lord, he's voiced by Scott Whyte.
What happens to Inquisitor Marrok and the Eleventh Brother?
Marrok is Force pushed by Devon over the edge of a walkway, and he falls to places unknown. It's unclear whether he survives this or not, as, when he is struck down in Ahsoka, green Nightsister magic escapes from his armor. That suggests he might have been undead in that show… though, it seems unlikely he did die here, as Maul and co. leave without collecting his body, so there'd be no way for the Nightsisters to get hold of him. Instead, he'll most likely return some day, alive and well.
As for the Eleventh Brother, he runs into the same building as Vader, and Maul brings the roof down shortly afterwards. However, we know the Eleventh Brother, AKA Crow, survives, because he goes on to duel Ahsoka Tano in Tales of the Jedi.
Is Devon Darth Talon?
That remains to be seen, though it seems pretty likely judging by the final episode. In the last moments of the finale, Devon agrees to be trained by Maul, and she has already accepted half of his red lightsaber. It seems this Jedi Padawan is poised to slip to the dark side.
In George Lucas's original plans for the sequel trilogy, Maul was a crime lord with a Twi'lek apprentice named Talon. It would make a lot of sense if this is the trajectory Shadow Lord follows as it continues. "We can't give away too much," supervising director Brad Rau previously told us of Talon speculation. "We have heard a lot of the fan theories and speculations, and we are fascinated by them. We'll just put it at that, leave it at that."
Will Maul – Shadow Lord get a season 2?
Maul – Shadow Lord season 2 has already been confirmed. Though it doesn't have a release date yet, Maul actor Sam Witwer has hinted that we won't have to wait long to see it. "It's the usual development cycle... I know when it's coming out, but it's not a situation where the audiences will have to wait too, too long," he shared.
Does Maul – Shadow Lord have a post-credits scene?
No, Shadow Lord does not have a post-credits scene. Once the credits roll on episode 10, that's the end of the show so far.
You can catch up on Maul's story with our guide on how to watch The Clone Wars in order, or see our roundup of all the upcoming Star Wars movies and shows for everything else the galaxy far, far away has in store.
