Why DARTH MAUL is the SADDEST Star Wars Character - Maul's Full Story Explained

[@potbelliesornaments7253]

To me, maul is one of star wars top 5 most developed characters. His arc has so much depth and development that it will be hard to top. I also look at him as the first individual to truly "rebel" against Palpatine. Overall, he is my favorite SW character...he is just cool on every level.

[@nicholasgarrick8855]

It is amazing how Sam witwer, and David filoni Made maul from a generic villain into a great character I really hope we can see dathomir in live action in the future surely that would be fantastic.

[@25Erix]

Season 2 of Ahsoka will take us there. That's where Thrawn's Star Destroyer ended up after they left Peridia

[@shannonedens7854]

Sam Witwer. He just kills it as Maul. Goosebumps every time.

[@mcclanesjolund4813]

Star Wars doesn’t deserve Sam, but it’s blessed to have him

[@pyrho1]

You didn't mention that in Maul and Kenobi's final battle, Kenobi switched from his usual Form III lightsaber stance, to Qui-Gon's Form IV. Recognizing this, Maul tries the same move to defeat Obi-Wan, but Obi-Wan anticipated this and struck the killing blow.

[@iyanapressoir3692]

After watching clone wars he immediately became one of my favorite characters and gosh dang the voice acting by sam witwer is just the cherry on top

[@patrickestwick5675]

Agreed Ryan. I too have been saying how tragic Mauls life has been. At least Vader had a son that never gave up on him.

[@TheKermit2110]

One of the best essays Ryan has ever done

[@elketerbentzadik]

Thank you for this. Maul may be my favorite character in the entire Star Wars mythos. The tragedy of his life is staggering. His exhibition of force power, without a lightsaber, in the aftermath of Order 66 is stupefying. And his end is just tearjerkingly beautiful. I have often cited his arc as the most tragic in the Saga. His life could have been so different. He could have changed the universe for good or for ill. Deep down part of me always wished Ahsoka had believed him about Anakin and the two have joined forces. Similarly, I think he was just as integral to Ezra's training as Kanan. I wouldn't have minded if he had joined forces with Maul either. Again, that could have potentially changed the universe. I once compared him to occultist Aleister Crowley, and I still stand by that. Would I love to see Maul again? Absolutely. Am I happy with the ending he got. Also, absolutely.

[@warrendietzel1953]

Maul's arc is the best thing in the new era of Star Wars, with the last arc of Clone Wars being arguably the best Star Wars content ever, and the Rebels episode Twin Suns not far behind.

[@warrendietzel1953]

Ahsoka's arc is probably my next favorite thing about the new era of Star Wars.

[@DCUniverse816]

To be fair, the Jedi only recruited force sensitive newborns with their parents permission while Sidious (according to Mother Talzin) quite literally snatched young Maull away from her when she wasn't looking

[@13nwaffles]

I think Sideous only calls Vader his friend as a form of emotional manipulation, he still only ever viewed him as a means to an end of achieving more power just like everybody else

[@Blackout-Official-edits]

In terms of physical pain, Vader. In terms of mental pain, Maul.

[@MusicLover-my6fo]

Since Darth Maul literally lived and breathed off of pure hatred to the point that he used it a life support, can you imagine the sheer carnage he'd be able to unleash with a Red Lantern Power Ring?

[@WhiteWolf-di2nh]

Darth Maul is one of my favourite characters ever. So happy to see you made a special video for him!

[@SithLordDrizzt1]

Great video! Darth Maul has been my favorite SW character since he was introduced. His life is one full of tragedy.

[@cambuxton6835]

Yes. His story is very sad. He deserved better than what he got. But at least Obi comforted him in his final moments. That is something no one but Obi did for him.

[@Xxbwachamp445xX]

Darth Maul is such a great character. I’d love to see more of him in the future

[@milkiassamuel780]

Im not massive Star Wars fan myself but man Darth Maul is probably my all time favourite Star Wars character and truly was an fantastic antagonist and bringing him back in the Clone Wars was perhaps one of the best creative decisions in the entire franchise

[@The_Last_Texan]

I think Maul is the most tragic between Vader and Maul, he never knew happiness and was just trained to hate. Vader wasnt always filled with hate but knew the love of friends, a mother and eventually Padme. He was blinded by his own desire to be great, as opposed to Maul that was manipulated by his mother and then taken by Palpatin as a child and tormented by the dark side to never know love.

[@brentwalker5726]

That's why Anakin/Vader is more tragic imo. He had a wife, a kid on the way, friends, and everyone loved him. He had more natural ability with the force than anyone. He had everything and lost it all except the dark power. Maul never really had all of that, so he didn't lose as much. I guess I'd say Anakin fell from a much greater height.

[@FantasmaEVH]

Sam Witwer does an astronomically amazing job with Maul. You can just hear and feel the passion he puts out with every voice line 👏👏

[@stefanvanvuuren3931]

Maul's story always makes me sad. Anakin is also tragic, but he brought it mostly over himself. Maul was always just used and cast away throughout his life.

[@abelvalle6188]

I wasnt a true star wars fan until i got into the animated clone wars. The final battle between ahsoka and maul was fantastic-wish they brought that kind or story telling back.

[@smokeykenobi1653]

Ive said this so many times. Maul has the most TRAGIC story and its the second best character arc in SW in my opinion… but def the saddest

[@TheDisengaged]

Excellent writing in this episode guys, great work Colton! Loved it.

[@DavidBloodJohnson]

Sam witwer actually stated that in the duel against Obi wan, maul admitted to himself that he misread the situation, that Obi wan is not a withered, weak, sad Jedi anymore. He is a Jedi on active guard duty. And, if he is this good, this must be the most important guard post in the galaxy. That was maul’s realization when Obi wan’s blade went through his chest using qui gon’s lightsaber form.

[@Marvelfanatic3658]

12:50 I believe when Maul says "us," he was referring to him and Savage. Though it is possible that he was also including Kenobi in that statement.

[@beckhambrooklynpenza1708]

I always interpreted “us” as meaning all those wronged by Sidious, which would include both himself and Obi-Wan

[@Javier_Jimenez71]

Maul was more tragic as is covered in this wonderful video. Anakin had every opportunity to make better choices as a Jedi, but he chose love “don’t blame him. Padme is a beauty that knows how to use a blaster” and his need to be the most powerful. When he had his saber drawn on Sidious, he chose to walk away and let Mace and the other masters deal with Sidious instead of bringing him in himself. Then again, the Force was way too leaning towards the light side and needed correction. Anakin/Vader did what he was meant to do to bring balance. Maul at the end was a victim in all of this. Anakin chose power over the light.

[@supremefankai5480]

I think Anakin has the more tragic story because Maul never really changed from the rabid animal he was forged into, while Vader spent over 20 years feeling immense regret for his decisions. That is the crux of the debate, who suffered more regret, especially from their own actions.

[@Bigglesman96]

I disagree, Anakin was sold into slavery but he had family and friends who loved him. He was a grown adult when he decided to betray his friends, He made a choice. And furthermore he found redemption and peace. Maul is more tragic imo because he was so thoroughly manipulated and corrupted from a young age that redemption was never a possibility for him. He had nothing and all he suffered was for nothing and only death could free him from his own prison. And *that's* terribly tragic.

[@supremefankai5480]

@@Bigglesman96 ah, but what is more tragic, to have loved and lost, or to have never loved at all? Maul only ever loved his brother and mother, while Anakin had so many more connections, that he personally burned as well adding that extra sting. That doesn't include all the soldiers under his command that he felt responsible for, while Maul barely felt a blip of emotion over the Nightsisters or even Nightbrothers. Maul lost a lot of people but Anakin killed a lot more directly.

[@stevendchu]

Agreed, Anakin's tragedy is much worse because he CHOSE to throw away all the good things he had, and he is crushed by that guilt and self loathing. Maul hates Sidious the most for what he did to him, Anakin hates himself the most. That's why Vader is still so strong in the Dark Side, he's using all that self hate. Also unrelated but I find it especially cruel that Sidious used Anakin's compassion (pretending to look helpless against Windu) and Anakin's love ( wanting to save Padme) to turn him when he knows FULL WELL neither of things are allowed for the Sith, only hate and greed for power.

[@IsaacVizasLurie]

Maul is more evil in a human way. He loves his brother and legitimately desires companionship. He doesn't just take pleasure in random cruelty but focused on revenge on those who he saw as wringing him for somewhat understandable reasons. Canon Vader is just a monster.

[@GreenwhiteblueGWU]

With the Maul teaser in the Solo movie.. I was really hoping that we would get another live action Maul.. glad that he got to finish his arc in Rebels and Clone Wars.. I've really been hoping for a live action Ventress too...

[@Ironoxe]

Maul has long since been my favorite character he is the perfect embodiment of a Sith.

[@champcpr]

By far. Anyone saying it’s anakin is an idiot. Outside of being a slave, everything wrong in his life was his fault. Maul never had a choice.

[@RatWittaGat]

That's what I'm sayin'!

[@theawesomeman9821]

Who ever thought that Dave Filoni would turn Maul into a nuance and sympathetic villian?

[@adamsouthfield9454]

Ahsoka is the most tragic character in Star Wars to me. -Captured by slavers as a child -Sent off to war by the jedi as a child -Killed and resurrected while still a child -Felt betrayed by nearly everyone she ever knew and left the only life she knew -Thinking everyone she ever knew and cared for, except for Rex had been killed or had been forced to turn and kill those she cared for -Finding out her Master had survived but was the cause of the killing of those she cared for -Having her former Master nearly kill her in a duel -Having heard that her former Master had become good again but had died -And then all this stuff with Sabine and now been stuck in another universe.

[@Everton885]

To add a little more. Maul was trained under sidius while plageus was still alive. In fact, in a book that I think is cannon. Plageus wasn’t killed until mauls duel with kenobi. During this time palpatine was leading duku slowly to the sith and knew slightly about Anakin.

[@lejanderlacap5013]

Something about your outro music bring a sense of youthful wonder. Familiar and nostalgic...

[@nicholasgarrick8855]

The revenge of the sith novelization is the highest of star wars its so unbelievable good.

[@Juan_lauda]

It’s interesting that Maul’s first and final lines in the franchise regards his quest for revenge, a quest that occupies his entire time line in the saga, its target constantly evolving and ultimately always unrealised.

[@MusicLover-my6fo]

I personally think that Anakin is the most tragic character in Star Wars as he was born into slavery and his life could've been so much better if Qui Gon lived and he would've received proper Grey Jedi training, and the Force needed him to commit order 66. But Maul definitely has a very strong case for the title of tragedy.

[@Myersboii]

It’s easily Anakin Skywalker. He’s the tragic hero of the SW universe. Nobody else comes remotely close.

[@desmondnaugler4452]

There is nothing tragic on being a spoiled brat who went on to be a mass murderer.tragic is being Tuscan raider.or a Palestinian.

[@tomrobins5765]

There’s no such thing as grey Jedi. It goes against everything George has said about the force

[@havi8-0-9]

he still wouldve fell to the dark side he was the chosen one he had to destroy the sith to fulfill his destiny

[@greyjedi6430]

​@@tomrobins5765I beg to differ Tom lol

[@justvincenturb]

Maul: I will get my revenge!! Kenobi: Bro, you killed my master first??????

[@TheBlckMandalorian]

I kno Maul’s body isn’t with Thrawn, or even on Dathomir (most likely) BUT….How awesome would it be to resurrect Maul?! Having him be taught Magick & combining it w/his Sith training. Take plot points from Lucas’s Sequel Trilogy nd Legends. I kno Clone Wars adapted some & Solo showed him as Crimson Dawn’s leader, BUT we need MORE MAUL!!

[@rajeshvaria5003]

Bringing Mual back was Lucas's idea and one of the last things he did before selling out to Disney.

[@DarthlyMaul]

Everyone forgets about darth maul😭

[@AlexMeyer327]

I like how Maul's Mandalore takeover was a micro version of Palpatine's plan to take over the galaxy

[@Mister_Mag00]

Sam is so perfect as maul god he brought SO much emotion to it

[@bennozoid1]

Great video - thanks! Would love to see your summary of The High Republic: the area of new Star Wars I know least about....

[@SM_AsheZ]

Does this mean that maul could be a force ghost? He reconciled his hate at the very end like vader did

[@nicholaseaton6161]

I have been saying this for years. He is the most tragic character in Star Wars. Even more so than Anakin.

[@xenoluck]

great video. i love the amount of lore and detail, yet how easy to digest you make it. youre very knowledgable of star wars and at times it has me coming to you for star wars content. you seem to be doing better for the community than the star wars centered creators

[@matthewdavies2057]

Formerly Darth... Now just Maul.

[@Amplifymagic]

I’m a massive Ray Park fan but I would love to see Sam Witwer take on the live action role as well.

[@madtitan0825]

It’s awesome they brought back Ray for the mo-cap of Maul’s fight with Ahoska

[@Rrrafael.00]

I think Ray park is just slightly too large for the character anyway. It makes since for someone of witwers body type. I think Sam is one of the greatest talents in starwars. I hope he gets a bad ass character to represent in love action someday.

[@davidwilliams1853]

Scream crush please just do another video of how maul could come back in Asoka season two just please do it

[@madtitan0825]

@@davidwilliams1853 please don’t, his death is perfect as it is no need to bring him back, also his corpse is somewhere on Tatooine, only Obi wan knows cuz he probably buried him

[@Amplifymagic]

@@madtitan0825 it could be a flashback to his death scene in Rebels, also Solo 2.

[@allenfoster8524]

This explanation video was amazing. Hats off the the guy trapped in the TV! But I'm curious during the end of the siege of Mandalore when Maul offers a hand to Ahsoka to defeat the Emperor together, then Maul mentions Anakin and Ahsoka goes into fight mode. And the best fight in the Clone Wars happens. If that didn't take place and Maul and Ahsoka decided to go take on The Emperor, would they have been able to get off Mandalore to fight Palpatine before Order 66 Was initiated? Seems like a mute point if they could not do that in time.

[@fightingfaerie]

The way it went there seemed to be no rush. Maul was defeated, Dooku was killed. The war was all but won and their guard was down. Now if Ahsoka believed him I’m sure they would’ve rushed to get back to Corusant. Possibly getting there just in the nick of time to at least delay the Order

[@muffinmc4462]

I think the biggest difference between Vader and Maul is that Anakin finally got to die in peace, whereas Maul died, not having accomplished any of his goals, still wanting revenge. The only thing he had was hope, that Luke was gonna be able to avenge them.

[@onion4620]

Darth Vader had a choice. He chose the Dark Side. Darth Maul didn’t have a choice, he was a victim.

[@jedimindtricks5880]

So are you saying Aniken wasn't a victim to Palpatine??

[@onion4620]

well… Anakin was made by Palpatine and his master. He was manipulated his whole life, so yes, he was a victim. however, he was trained to deal with life people how to deal with the Darkside he was taught better he had choices he had help if he had asked for it. Darth Maul was taken against his well tortured manipulated, taught hate treated with hate, vile, abandonment, loneliness, disgust and pain and told lies about the Jedi then told to blame everyone else to take it out on everyone else then let loose on the whole galaxy. So he was a complaint of a victim

[@julianozaur444]

You gotta remember to put Grievous in a long list of possible worst fates from SW. If you know why, bless you.

[@CannabaeCG]

This was an excellent breakdown. I only know as much as I do about these characters because of you guys. Fantastic work as always.

[@hunky_dory_7021]

Fantastic video!

[@maksymilianziele28]

Not that being cut in half and driven mad for over a decade is a better alternative, but maybe it's still better than remaining as Sidious' apprentice. His master sooner or later would order him to massacre every Nightbrother & Nightsister on Dathomir, as a sign of loyality, including his own mother. Still enthralled to Sidious, he would fulfill his mission., but definitely with unspeakable pain. And it would be still for nothing, because Sidious would only keep him, until Anakin would be strong enough to beat him and replace him, just like he did with Dooku.

[@andrewgonzalez9460]

Maul is as tragic as he is epic. Not many characters like him.

[@walkerlamebrain]

Maul is more tragic. I was hoping he finally gets redemption until I saw the Rebels episode where he dies. But even now, I still think he deserves a redemption arc. Vader got it, why not Maul.

[@HACKTACULAR.]

It’s pretty save to save that Obi-Wan Kenobi is the GOAT!

[@daddydojang]

3:34 Yoda’s species was a sith. See?

[@emory442]

I never cared for Maul until watching Rebels. Once he figured out Sidious, he immediately became great. He was the only one who did figure it out.

[@Qicksilver0075]

Everyone Sidious touched was cursed

[@wajidhussain5305]

We need a Darth Maul movie or TV Series

[@drewsears2959]

Top notch analysis. Would have loved if you went into a little more detail on the last fight Obi wan and mail had. The changing of the stances and all that. Overall, such a tragic story.

[@s3cunit]

How do the stances of the last fight add the Maul's character story? There are thousands of little tidbits like that they could have included, but none add to the story Ryan is trying to tell.

[@insanityang]

There's already a lot of good videos, including interviews with Sam Witwer (Voice Actor for Maul). The changing of stances at the beginning of the fight emphasizes the point in this video: Maul is still filled with aggression and hate, and hasn't moved on. He tries the same move he used to kill Qui-Gon on Obi-Wan. But Obi-Wan has moved on, found balance, so changes his stance from a defensive Form 3 to Form 4, which was favored by Qui-Gon. He doesn't need to prepare for a drawn out fight, Obi-Wan can end it quickly because Maul is unbalanced.

[@drewsears2959]

@@insanityang @s3cunit this

[@drewsears2959]

@@insanityang massive game of chess. And it really shows Obi wans development and maturity.

[@Mgidynasty]

He was able to have that hope, but it was still centered around revenge 😞

[@jaddenmark8583]

Very good episode. Well done

[@adrianreevers891]

I read Maul’s death as even more tragic, because his final words weren’t of understanding of Obi-Wan, but as a desire to seek further vengeance for himself, his brother, and his people. Even as he lay dying from what was essentially suicide-by-Jedi, he simply could not let go of his hatred, choosing instead to at least direct it in a different way, which was as close as someone who lived his life could come to true forgiveness. He died with nothing but hate in his heart, alone, save for the person he hated most, who had long since left his own anger behind. Obj-Wan grew into someone Maul was never given the chance to be, which to me was more tragic than even what Anakin endured.

[@mgw9127]

Maul is one of my favorite characters along side Ahsoka and Asajj Ventress. They all suffered in different ways, Asajj was taken from her family and lost her master at a young age, and then Dooku/Sidious betrayed her. Ahsoka had to be a soldier in a war as a child, turned away and not believed by the Jedi, survived Order 66, then lost her friend and master.

[@soularprimestudios5930]

I feel like Maul should have been the new Son.....just like Ahsoka is becoming the new Daughter

[@BeeaReyoU.]

I remember i dressed as Maul for elementary school halloween costume day. Props to my mom and cousin because they painted my face so well I got way more attention than i knew that I could take. As soon as I had a chance I went to the restroom and washed that shit off. Ive been doing Maul dirty since before the Clone Wars

[@TheBeencalled]

Just want to say, I’ve been enjoying Cogburn’s videos to the channel. (Yes, I know that’s not his name, but that’s what my brain came up with when I was trying to remember it.) I knew Maul’s story was sad, but this video really did it justice. Anakin at least gets redemption in the end; Maul just gets the sweet relief of death. 😢

[@WIBeek]

Maybe it's a different story line or I'm recalling incorrectly but I think from the book Darth Plagueis by James Luceno Maul's mom brought him to Palpatine. She said she wanted a life for Maul unlike his brother.

[@GGBlaster]

I think that Anakin is still just above Maul as the most tragic. Sidious destroyed Maul’s people (or a portion ig), the Nightsisters. But Anakin destroyed his own people, the Jedi. Sidious killed the only people Maul loved, Savage and Talzin, but Anakin killed his own loved ones. One was made victim to destruction, the other manipulated to destroy himself.

[@phatkiddre]

Great take... Maul never truly evolved past his hate even when he had the throne of Mandalore... He's always been an outsider

[@botz77]

Actually it's C3PO, they just keep erasing his memory so he forgets how depressed he really is. I can relate.

[@Marvelfanatic3658]

You can relate to getting your memories wiped?

[@abelvalle6188]

​@@Marvelfanatic3658self medication with yummy whiskeys will do that to ya

[@abhijithmalangi4610]

Anakin had the most tragic life because of what happened to his mom and what he accidently did to Padme

[@juan-josegarza7039]

I can't wait for the updated video where we learn why and how his crime syndicate falls apart or destroyed.

[@MegaMaster1021]

Maul is someone that tries really hard to think he's the main character/villain of the series only for him to realize he's not

[@JustinBuell]

Sithyphus

[@mikechicago6200]

He is way more tragic then Anakin Skywalker!

[@josermaiz]

I will love to see tales of the sith tile the story of young maul and palpatine

[@JedTVOfficial]

14:49 Yes, Rick the door technician is the most tragic

[@josephfriedrich9792]

I saw episode one with my father opening night. To this day, im convinced Obi wanted Qui Gon to parish. They use a force speed run at the beginning of movie to escape the droids, and could have easily done the same for the gates at the end.

[@insanemakaioshin]

Sidious openly said Maul was a grave loss to him, but Dooku was a disposable torpedo. Maul was going to stay his apprentice, while filling Dooku with false hope.

[@ultramaximusreviews]

Just a shame we won't see Maul in the Filoniverse

[@thewulfffff8853]

You should do a video on Mother Talzeen, never heard of this character before. Is she similar to Mother Talzin?

[@positivevibetec]

Bro Qui-Gon jinn is the only person in Star wars history who has not come back from the dead. Now that's tragic

[@BenzoMerranzan]

This great video is missing a moment of recognition for Sam Witwer's contribution to the character of Maul (and Sidious!). PLEASE edit and re-release? Or just do a whole video on Sam Witwer's effect on the franchise. Thank you. 🙏

[@Battledroid672]

Strong the force is with this one🥶🔥

[@joshualovins4983]

I was thinking about all this on a walk last week. Leia, chewy, r2d2, obiwan, maul, anakin had it the worst.

[@KevinAJKline]

Come on C-3PO is the most tragic character. He ended up with a red arm! What a fall from grace

[@geniejunkie]

Is there Droid spider thing Mando fought on mandalore similar to the thing maul used for legs on the trash planet?

[@TokenDrew]

That's interesting because I always interpreted it as he was talking about Anakin, the chosen one and that he as vader will avenge us, the sith. And obi Wan pitied him for dying still in the dark side, obsessed and vengeful till the end.

[@spacemadnesstv]

Maul is A LEGEND!

[@juanhenriquez6855]

It's like poetry...

[@seankingdon8346]

Rick the Door Technician definitely had it the worst dude

[@CATDRL2]

Please do a Dathormerian that had a great Redemption Story, Ventress.

[@commandZee]

New Maul stories without any more resurrection shenanigans is possible with a Lando and Qi'ra, Solo sequel or spinoff; movie or series.