Photo Credit: Lucasfilm
Dave Filoni’s latest Star Wars animated series has arrived on Disney+, and critics are already calling it one of the best the franchise has ever produced. The show, which centers on one of Star Wars’ most beloved villains, has earned a perfect score on Rotten Tomatoes just days after its premiere.
Star Wars: Maul – Shadow Lord gets a perfect Rotten Tomatoes score
Star Wars: Maul – Shadow Lord has debuted with a 100% Tomatometer score on Rotten Tomatoes, based on 25 critical reviews. The audience score currently sits at 96% on the Popcornmeter. You can read a full breakdown of critical opinion in our review roundup.
Dave Filoni created the animated series for Disney+, setting it around a year after the Clone Wars. Former Sith lord Maul, voiced by Sam Witwer, attempts to rebuild his criminal syndicate on the planet Janix during the reign of the Galactic Empire. The 10-episode first season premiered on April 6, 2026, releasing two episodes weekly until May 4. Lucasfilm has a second season in development.
CBR’s Jamie Parker awarded it a perfect 10/10, calling it one of “the prolific franchise’s best TV series of all time.” Discussing Film’s Jacob Fisher gave it 4/5, describing it as “an exciting new frontier for the franchise.” Inverse’s Dais Johnston declared that “Star Wars animation has never looked better.”
The 100% score places Shadow Lord among the highest-rated Star Wars TV shows on Rotten Tomatoes. It ties with Star Wars: Tales of the Jedi (100%) and Star Wars: Tales of the Underworld (100%). It edges out Star Wars: Visions (98%) and Star Wars Rebels (98%).
Recent live-action Star Wars entries trail significantly. Star Wars: Skeleton Crew holds 92%, Star Wars: Ahsoka sits at 85%, and Star Wars: The Acolyte trails at 79%. The cast also includes Gideon Adlon, Wagner Moura, Richard Ayoade, and Dennis Haysbert.
