Darth Maul is one of the main antagonists in the Star Wars franchise and the archenemy of Obi-Wan Kenobi. He first appears in Phantom Menace where he is killed by Obi-Wan but later returns in the Clone Wars and in Rebels.
What makes him sympathetic?[]
- He was taken away from his parents by Darth Sidious when he was still a baby.
- He was brutally tortured (both physically and mentally) by Sidious in order to mold him into a brutal murderer who would carry out his commands.
- Maul seems to have some insecurities about his relationship with Sidious, sees him as a father figure and wants to impress. Sidious responds to any such attempts by punishing him severely.
- At an academy for assassins, Maul falls in love with a woman. Sidious orders him to her as well as the other students which leaves Maul heartbroken.
- After Darth Maul fails in his mission, Darth Sidious doesn't try to look for him and has no qualms about replacing him with another student.
- After he is saved by Savage Oppress, Maul starts to feel genuine affection for him and is sad when Sidious kills Savage.
- Darth Sidious kidnaps Darth Maul, takes him to a secret fortress where he is tortured again for a very long period of time.
- He genuinely loved Mother Talzin and is sad when she is killed by Sidious, Dooku and Grievous.
- In Rebels he seems to have some respect for Ezra Bridger and even offers him to take him as his student and train him, saves his life on one occasion and gives him advice to be more ruthless because otherwise he would be killed.
- His death at the hands of Obi-Wan Kenobi is portrayed sympathetically. Obi-Wan holds Maul while he is dying and Maul seems to have reconciled with his archenemy in his last moments. He asks if Luke is the chosen one and expresses hope that he would avenge them both.