Best Star Wars Production Ever? This Series Focuses on Iconic Sci-Fi Villain!

The “Star Wars” universe has expanded significantly over the years, branching into numerous series, including animated ones. One of the latest additions is “Maul: Shadow Lord,” a spin-off dedicated to the formidable antagonist from “The Phantom Menace.”

A Series Even Better than Andor?

Presumed dead at the end of George Lucas’s first prequel film, the former Sith Lord reemerged in the animated series “The Clone Wars” and later in “Rebels.” This spin-off takes place between these two series and promises to delve into previously unexplored aspects of the villain’s personality, known for his dual red lightsabers.

The series has already been a massive hit. Renewed for a second season, “Maul: Shadow Lord” has achieved the highest ratings on the American site Rotten Tomatoes across all Star Wars productions: 100% from critics and 96% from audiences.

This score sets it apart from other well-received animated series (both “Rebels” and “Visions” scored 98%) and even “Andor” (96%), which is often regarded as the best Star Wars production since Disney acquired the franchise. Furthermore, “Maul: Shadow Lord” has outperformed all Star Wars movies in ratings.

The Creator of the Series is the New Head of the Franchise

Indeed, its ratings surpass those of classics like “The Empire Strikes Back” (93%) and “A New Hope” (94%). It’s less surprising, however, to see the series rated higher than the sequel trilogy films (Episodes VII to IX) directed by J.J. Abrams and Rian Johnson. All this only justifies the appointment of the series’ creator, Dave Filoni, as the head of Lucasfilm studios, taking over from Kathleen Kennedy.

It’s worth noting that this trend is not echoed in France, where on its AlloCiné page, the series only scores an average of 3.4 out of 5. This places it in the middle of the ranking of the highest-rated productions, far behind “The Mandalorian” (4.3/5) but well ahead of “The Acolyte” (2.5/5).

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