When Darth Maul was first introduced in Solo: A Star Wars Story fleshed out Maul and gave him a compelling and surprisingly emotional journey.
Beyond his talents with a double-sided lightsaber, fans have seen him be manipulative, cunning, and downright brutal. Yet, Maul has also proved to be a tragic figure who's been used as a pawn, watched his loves one be slaughtered in front of him, and suffered in unimaginable ways.
Hated Him: He Killed Qui-Gon Jinn
Instead of focusing on politics and outdated teachings, Qui-Gon was more spiritual and embodied what it really meant to be a Jedi Knight. He ed on these important teachings to Obi-Wan Kenobi and began ing them onto young Anakin Skywalker when he recognized the enormous potential within him.
When Maul killed Qui-Gon, he robbed Obi-Wan and Anakin of their mentor, and he robbed the galaxy of one of the most honorable Jedi. The death of Qui-Gon was one of the first dominoes to fall in Anakin's eventual fall to the dark side as he lost the mentor who made him feel special and who promised to give him a better future.
Felt Bad: Alone And Insane
Despite being cut in half by Obi-Wan, Maul survived and spent years living on the junkyard planet of Lotho Minor. By the time Savage Oppress found his brother, Maul had been driven insane.
Maul barely ed who he was and didn't recognize his own brother. The once-mighty Sith Lord was a babbling, incoherent, crazed creature scuttling around on mechanical spider legs. All that remained was the revenge and rage he'd clung to for so long.
Hated Him: Mocking Qui-Gon's Death
Once Mother Talzin restored Maul's mind and gave him cybernetic legs, he was eager to enact his revenge against Obi-Wan Kenobi. During one of their first confrontations in The Clone Wars, Maul mocked Qui-Gon's death as he said, "Your master, Qui-Gon Jinn, I gutted him while you stood helpless and watched."
As if killing Qui-Gon wasn't enough, Maul had to rub salt in the wound with his mockery while Obi-Wan fought for his life, still reeling from the discovery that Maul was alive a decade after he seemingly died.
Felt Bad: Palpatine Tortured Maul And Murdered His Brother
Savage Oppress was the one who found Maul when he was crazed and alone. Savage ensured that Maul was restored and stood alongside his brother every step of the way.
Maul witnessed his loyal brother being murdered by his former master Palpatine. Maul held Savage's hand as he died and then Palpatine proceeded to electrocute Maul with Force Lightning. Maul begged for mercy, but Palpatine was relentless and reveled in torturing Maul.
Hated Him: He Killed Duchess Satine
Obi-Wan and Duchess Satine Kryze loved each other, but their duties prevented them from ever being together. Maul exploited this knowledge and used the pacifist Satine to make Obi-Wan suffer.
Maul Force-choked Satine while levitating her in the air. Then he hurled her forward, stabbed her with the Darksaber, and smirked while he watched her die in Obi-Wan's arms.
Felt Bad: Used As Bait To Destroy Mother Talzin
Executing Savage Oppress and torturing Maul wasn't enough for Palpatine. The Son of Dathomir comics told a story meant for The Clone Wars in which Palpatine used Maul as bait to find and defeat Mother Talzin. With the help of Count Dooku and General Grievous, Palpatine engineered a series of events where he took Maul captive, allowed Maul to escape, and used him as the key to luring Mother Talzin into the open.
Palpatine feared Mother Talzin and used the opportunity to destroy her once and for all. Maul was just a puppet that Palpatine used for his own gain and once again Maul had to watch his enemies kill one of the few people he loved.
Hated Him: Manipulating Ezra
Maul manipulated Ezra from the first moment they met on Malachor. He pretended to be a feeble old man and used Ezra in order to acquire a Sith Holocron.
He took advantage of Ezra's impatience and his worst impulses, slowly trying to corrupt the young Jedi and turn him to the Dark Side. Even after the events on Malachor, Maul continued to manipulate Ezra. He used the link between them so Ezra was tormented by visions of Maul. Fortunately, Ezra rose above this manipulation and never became the dark side apprentice that Maul wanted him to become.
Felt Bad: Tried To Save The Galaxy From Anakin
Maul created the Siege of Mandalore in order to draw in Obi-Wan and Anakin. His vision of the future made him realize Anakin's importance in Palpatine's plans and he knew killing Anakin would change everything. It was a twisted plan and Maul surely would have used Anakin's death for his own gain and vengeance against Palpatine, but in a strange way, it's also one of the noblest things Maul ever tried to do.
He tried to save the galaxy from Anakin and from Palpatine, and he almost got Ahsoka to his cause as well. Maul tried to actively change things--possibly for the better--before Order 66, the rise of the Empire, and the birth of Darth Vader.
Hated Him: He Blinded Kanan
Maul helped Ahsoka, Ezra, and Kanan defeat the Inquisitors on Malachor, but this alliance was short-lived. Maul struck at Kanan with his lightsaber and blinded him. Ever since Depa Billaba sacrificed herself to save her young apprentice during Order 66, Kanan endured a great deal of hardship and suffering during his life.
Maul's betrayal only added to that as Kanan spent the rest of his life blind. The one silver lining in it was that the loss of Kanan's eyesight did allow him to become more attuned with himself and with the Force, but that doesn't make Maul's betrayal any less savage.
Felt Bad: His Final Moments
Maul dedicated so much of his life to making Obi-Wan suffer. Yet, after Obi-Wan defeated him in their final duel, Obi-Wan let Maul die in his arms. In his final moments, with fear and desperation in his voice, Maul said, "Tell me. Is it the Chosen One?" Obi-Wan replied, "He is," confirming that he believed the child he protected from afar on Tatooine--Luke Skywalker--would one day fulfill the prophecy.
With his last breaths, Maul said, "He will avenge us." It was tragic that even on death's door, Maul was still consumed by vengeance, and the only thing to give him peace, in the end, was believing the Chosen One would defeat the Sith and avenge him.
