#janix

From the outset, the design brief for Janix, along with every aspect of Maul – Shadow Lord, was to convey a loose, impressionistic style. According to Joel Aron, Lucasfilm Animation’s Director of Lighting, Cinematography, and Visual Effects, “there's a more painterly style in the assets and in the buildings and the ships and in the matte paintings. Even in the smoke and the fire, everything has a hand-painted look. It's still CG, but we wanted to push those bounds.”

Aron worked closely with Senior Lighting and Visual Effects Artist Valerie Perez to develop software tools that allowed them to directly incorporate brushstroke accents into their CG paints and textures. Aron took that one step further by actually applying physical swatches of different paint colors onto clear glass (not unlike a traditional matte painting) and then photographing them as high-resolution elements to be utilized in CG. Soon Aron’s entire team was painting brushstrokes onto glass.

“Senior technical director Alex Shaulis came up with a really cool method of using brush strokes to distort even more of our visual effects. [...] The practicality of it is the soul of everything.”

She’s been taken away from all she’s ever known, her culture, religion and way of life stripped and banished, and she’s rightfully in a contact state of what I like to call… sad/mad. When I was a teenager I constantly used to say that I was always angry, and I don’t want to be this angry girl anymore (literally Verbatim) for many years.

I feel like Devon expresses that sentiment in the most accurate way. When she’s fighting Maul and he keeps beating her you can see her visually getting increasingly more frustrated, not only the active situation she’s in but the way she can hear that Maul is correct in his berating. When she’s finally had enough she just screams. It’s visceral and real, I really felt that.

Another scene that was impactful to her character was when she tells Master Daki that she’s confused. It’s a genuine and simple statement that everyone understands, so much of what she’s feeling is encapsulated in those words, we as an audience understand that she wants to keep her Jedi morals but isn’t in a place where that is a sustainable way of life, Maul is her enemy but shows her compassion, but also has no problem almost killing her and telling her how worthless she is, but wants her to become his apprentice. It’s all very confusing, being in her position must be hard and… I get it.

Eeko-Dio Daki

Rylee Lawson

Maul's new lightsaber

Janix Central Tower

Janix

Rheena Sul's office & aquarium

Bonus:

And so she steals. And it's a mistake - she gets caught, instantly, it doesn't work and only makes things worse for her. And even with a friendly cop, even with a guy who genuinely just wants to help and keep people safe, she gets tossed in a cell. And started on a much darker path.

The system isn't built for kids making mistakes. It's built to punish those who break the law - no exceptions. No forgiveness. And no mercy.

“Look, Maul, I know that you’re a wanted fugitive, and the Empire has locked down an entire planet/city, and their active manhunt has flushed you out of three different bases and also nearly killed you. But I think now is the perfect time for us to meet!!!”

Unless Vos is planning to extract Maul from Janix so they can meet somewhere safer, IDK why he’d think this is a good idea, especially now.

Maul was so bad at being a “shadow lord,” he got the Empire to show up after he’d been on Janix for like a week. So, why exactly would you want to team up with this guy???

Chapter 1: The Dark Revenge

The opening heist that’s being led by Rook Kast had me on the edge of my seat. We know that it’s Maul who’s the brains behind this brazen heist, especially when we learn that it’s a bank that belongs to Nico Deemis. This immediately gave me throwbacks to Heath Ledger’s Joker heist of the mob bank in the Dark Knight.

We’re not only reintroduced to Rook Kast and the Mandalorians, but also introduced to Scorn and Icarus, two Nightbrothers from Dathomir, and undoubtedly had been part of the Shadow Collective since Mother Talzin dispatched Brother Viscus and his Nightbrothers to aid Maul and the Collective during the Battle of Ord Mantell in the Son of Dathomir comic.

We also meet Spybot, Maul’s new droid companion, and one who reminds me of the Decepticon, Frenzy from Bayverse Transformers, movie 1. Everything from his frantic speech, murderous programming, and his maniacal cackling had me cracking up.

The visuals, and animation is PHENOMENAL. You can see the improvement in animation and see the brushstrokes of color in the sky, lightsabers, and blaster fire; it’s unique, new, and beautiful all at the same time. Not only that, but the music has you fully immersed in the galaxy of Star Wars, and every scene made you feel tense, taking in the new world that is Janix, and the action taking place makes you sit in the edge of your seat.

Meeting Brander Lawson and Two-Boots has been fun. If you got to read issue 1 of the Shadow of Maul comic, it introduces both Lawson and Two-Boots and gives us a general idea what to expect within the police force on Janix. There’s a few dirty cops within the department’s ranks, which is why I’m guessing most of the officers are droids. Maybe not, but I’d say that’s a pretty good guess. Lawson is also a single father trying to make time for his son, Rylee Lawson, who appears to play space lacrosse. According to the new Shadow of Maul comic, Brander is a former bounty hunter, so I wonder if that part of his past will come into play in the show or not. So far he seems to have a good head on his shoulders, and he doesn’t want the Empire trampling over the delicate ecosystem of Janix between civilians, law enforcement, and crime.

Seeing the differences between Devon and her master, Eeko-Dio Daki, as Jedi reminded me a lot of Obi-Wan and Anakin. You have one Jedi who is older and follows the teachings of the Order strictly, applying it to every aspect of your life. And then you have the Jedi who is younger, and will bend the rules to get quick results, which will often lead to painful or even fatal consequences. This is a side of Jedi survivors living in a post Order 66 era that I love to see. We know these Jedi survivors have to worry about threats like Darth Vader and the Inquisitors hunting them down, but the need for basic necessities of physiological needs (survival): water, food, shelter, sleep plays a huge role in whether or not it’s worth the risk of exposure or not. You may have to go several days without these necessities, but at the end of the day, what are you going to do to ensure your survival? Stay true to your morals and faith? Or waver and become someone unrecognizable?

I feel as though Devon is dangerously close to crossing the line to the dark side, not for the sake of turning evil, but doing what’s needed to survive.

So far, this is the most calm I think we’ve ever seen Maul. If this were Clone Wars Maul, he would either be having a fit or rage or have a hair trigger temper. I think because of all the losses he’s suffered from both Obi-Wan and especially Darth Sidious, he’s learned to temper himself and think more clearly, especially now that the Empire is in control of the galaxy; Maul can no longer afford to act with haste or be led by his base impulses. Of course, we all know the Empire is on its way eventually, but I love seeing Maul being more calculating and patient, especially since he’s a man driven by his desire for revenge.

One thing that both surprised and confused me was how Nico Deemis and Looti Vario were part of the Shadow Collective. But then I thought back towards the end of the Son of Dathomir comic, when Black Sun and the Pykes withdraw their support after being attacked by the Separatists droid armies, maybe Maul had to make deals with smaller syndicates to recoup his losses. After all, Maul said this concerning Deemis after Rook and her team completed their heist: “He thought he could take what was mine. He was mistaken.” So most likely these guys, although smaller gangsters, they still have resources Maul could utilize. And now that Maul is targeting Marg Krim next, I wonder if he and the Pykes hold the majority of Maul’s former assets and resources.

Regardless, I’m looking forward to seeing Krim and his Pykes being taught a lesson why it’s not smart to steal from someone like Maul.

Maul’s attack on the police headquarters alongside Scorn and Icarus was dark, gritty, and brutal. I loved every second of it, and I loved seeing Lawson, despite facing three horned, devilish men, he isn’t afraid to try and protect Vario from being assassinated. But the moment Maul makes eye contact with Devon was the big moment in this episode; after having visions of her, it would seem that fate has allowed the two of them to cross paths, and I’m excited to see what their dynamic will be as a duo. By now, we know Maul is manipulating her and will use her, having said as much to Rook Kast, but I hope something genuine blooms between the two of them. I read on one of the interviews online concerning Maul’s emotional state its that he’s still reeling after the deaths of his brother, Savage Opress, and Mother Talzin, the only family he’s had, and both of whom were snatched away from him by Darth Sidious.

I really hope Maul doesn’t relive that trauma by watching Devon die before his eyes. That man better count his blessings that he has someone to teach and protect!