DICE

yapping about episode 8 because I have many thoughts on it, but the most interesting to me was how confused Maul seemed throughout his flashbacks. Specifically when it came to Savage.

He almost looks and sounds like he can't believe what he's seeing, especially when we get to the flashback of Savage finding Maul and calling out "is that you, brother?" Maul watches this and echoes back the word "brother?" Now, you can take that one of two ways:

1. This is Maul reliving this moment, just echoing the confusion he felt about hearing that for the first time during his time on Lotho Minor.

...or 2. This is Maul genuinely remembering that he and Savage grew up together. And honestly? I'm inclined to consider this second option.

Savage has a good reason not to remember that he had another sibling outside of Feral. He's essentially lobotomized into the character we become familiar with in clone wars. But if the story we're supposed to believe is that Maul somehow remembered all of his past, even after Talzin restored his mind, I still find it hard to believe they wouldn't have shared more of a closer bond in clone wars or at least mentioned their past. While he might have believed or entertained Savage telling him they were siblings, can we be certain he even remembered growing up with him?

This would make sense given Maul mentions to Ezra that he once had a real name, but can't remember it. A name is something easily remembered, as is something like your brother. Maul's memory issues come up just enough to make me really wonder if his flashbacks were the first time that he remembered actually growing up and having a relationship with Savage. Which makes this scene all the more tragic.

If my theory is right, Savage's death and the reliving of it must've been brutal. Not only did he lose someone he saw as brother, he lost someone he didn't even remember as one. Someone he couldn't even cherish as one because he doesn't remember life before Sidious--and Sidious made certain of that. Not to mention, Savage's last words to Maul were deeper than we initially thought. "I'm not like you, I never was" isn't just insinuating that the nightsisters turned him into a monster against his will, Savage likely had a moment of clarity in remembering who Maul was and what happened to him in their childhood. Maul went with Sidious, Savage stayed on Dathomir. Their lives split then and there. And Savage knew that in his final moments.

Childhood trauma, especially that as bad as Maul's, has a way of repressing itself until later in life. It wouldn't be a far stretch to say he's repressed his fond memories of Savage in favor of his conditioning.