I have so much to say about these episodes.
this show is doing a perfect job at highlighting the circular tragedy of Maul and I feel so frustrated for him
The tea scene is fascinating. he wants to connect and relate to Devon, but because of who she knows maul to be, it's impossible for her to show him the same reciprocity.
He comes to the table open, honest, earnest, and even kind. He's making an effort completely out of the realm of what comes normal to him in an attempt to connect to someone like him.
She comes to the table (albeit understandably) standoffish, unwilling, untrusting, and irritated. She already knows enough about who he is to give him a chance so she is unwilling to humor him.
There's a moment when she can choose to accept the tea he offers but she ultimately decides to steal his weapon instead, rejecting his gesture of good faith.
The result pushes Maul back into being who he normally is; Threatening, violent, angry.
Even when he tries to be something more than what he was forced to be, the damage of that perception will never leave him in the eyes of those around him. The people who could help heal him want nothing to do with him, so he stays stuck in his narrow world view when another perspective is potentially all he needs to break out of his own self limiting prison. Maul is a damaged individual with so much potential for growth, not easily or cleanly, but the cracks are there.
It happens again in this encounter. Maul was anticipating Devon bringing her master back to him in hopes of reaching out to him as well as her. But just as devon did, Daki does not want to reciprocate Maul's invitation for conversation.
Maul is doomed to be a villain despite desperately not wanting to be, or knowing that he is. It's frustrating to watch, because you can see the potential of support changing maul for the better. He needs people around him Who align with his goals to offer different perspectives, and come to compromises. Show him a different path to success. Is it possible for Maul to get out of his own way? Maybe it could have been if he managed to find someone else willing to see past his flaws. It's very possible, and it makes him so compelling and tragic af. But at the same time you can't fault anyone for it, because would you trust someone like Maul?
In this moment right before Maul is about to kill Daki, Devon steps in to save her master. maul has this moment of envy as he is confronted by his own loneliness. He craves that loyalty and comradery with people he can relate with.
Maul could have been a killer asset to the rebellion, but he died a nobody.
So anyway, fuck sidious. This show is incredible so far.
