Star Wars: Maul – Shadow Lord Episodes 5 & 6 Ending Explained: Who Was The First Brother Talking To?

As Episode 4 of Maul – Shadow Lord, Chapter 4: Pride and Vengeance closed out, Two Boots revealed that thanks to Maul’s confirmed presence on the planet, The Empire has now come to Janix to apprehend Emperor Palpatine’s former dark apprentice, Maul. The fallout of this, as seen in this episode, was the torture of Chief Klyce, the branding of Captain Lawson and his son as traitors, and the Inquisitor learning that the Jedi might be in league with Maul.

The Inquisitor that was dispatched to the planet was The First Brother, Marrok, who fans of the franchise would definitely be familiar with. Given where fans have seen him and the company that he was in at that time in the timeline, it would be interesting to see how the relationship between him and Maul grows in the future episodes of Maul – Shadow Lord.

Now, at the end of Episode 6 of the series, Marrok is seen talking to an unseen hologram in his ship. This figure is addressed as Master, which could be Darth Vader, who now knows that Maul is on Janix. However, the episode hasn’t explicitly revealed whether the figure was truly Darth Vader or not.

Chapter 5: Inquisition– Where Have You Seen The First Brother Before?

The Inquisitors are force-sensitive individuals who serve the Galactic Empire, but are not Sith lords. They are dark side force users that are employed by the Empire to hunt and destroy the Jedi and other Force-sensitive enemies of the Empire, like Maul. The First Brother, Marrok, is among these ranks and serves as the chief Imperial presence on Janix, once the Empire arrives.

Marrok was last seen in Ahsoka, the series that follows the former Padawan in the New Republic, which makes Marrok one of the longest-serving Imperial loyalists in Star Wars. Ahsoka encounters him when he is working for Morgan Elsbeth, the Dathomiri Nightsister in the service of Grand Admiral Thrawn.

Now, as is the case with all Inquisitors, the dark side force users serve a single Master. After investigating Maul and coming face-to-face with the two Jedi who are on the planet, Marrok decides to turn to his Master for guidance. While it is not seen whose hologram Marrok is addressing, it could not be clearer who he was talking to. The one master that every Inquisitor serves, and the only one they address, as such, is Darth Vader.

Chapter 6: Night of the Hunted – Is Darth Vader Going to Come to Janix?

As Chapter 6 closes out, Marrok is seen entering a chamber and kneeling as he addresses his Master. Darth Vader is the one who strongly fits that title. It must be noted that Maul and Vader go way back, since even before Anakin was officially a part of the Jedi Order. Maul almost ran young Anakin Skywalker over while trying to get to Qui Gon Jinn on Tatooine during the events of The Phantom Menace. However, Maul and Vader have never shared the screen or engaged in a duel.

While both characters were present on the same planet during the events of Star Wars: Rebels, they did not seem to sense each other or interact at all. It must be noted that this was the time when Maul was in hiding, trying to make Ezra Bridger his apprentice, which would indicate that Maul was trying to actively hide his Force signature from Vader.

Now, with Vader aware that Maul is on Janix, the first time since the events of The Phantom Menace, Vader might take it on himself to finish what Palpatine could not- kill Darth Maul. However, this encounter is likely going to result in Maul surviving, and possibly with Vader assuming that Maul is dead or no longer a threat. It remains to be seen if Vader himself comes to Janix or sends more Inquisitors to apprehend the two Jedi and Maul.

Star Wars: Maul – Shadow Lord is currently streaming on Disney+ (USA).