Maul: Shadow Master and May the 4th Celebrations: Enjoy Star Wars to the Fullest

The day that every die-hard fan of a certain galaxy far, far away looks forward to is here again – May 4th is knocking at the door, and with it, Star Wars Day. If you happen to be wondering why fans celebrate this specific date, it’s simple: it’s a clever pun. In the classic movie quote "May the Force be with you," the word "Force" is replaced by the ordinal number "fourth." Combined with "May," it creates the perfect date – the Force simply demands it. Unfortunately, the Czech translation doesn't align with any date on the calendar.

A lesser-known but equally fun "unofficial" Star Wars holiday is Revenge of the Fifth. It follows the day after May 4th, playing on the title of Episode III – Revenge of the Sith, where "Sith" is replaced by "fifth." Star Wars fans just love their puns.

Various themed events are happening all over the place. If you want to honor this day in a way other than just watching a Star Wars movie on Disney Plus, you can visit one of them. If you live in a larger city like Prague or Brno, there are some much more interesting options.

Celebrations in Prague and Brno

In Brno, you can join fellow enthusiasts at the Žlutý kopec water reservoirs for concerts and tours as part of the Hvězdné vodojemy event. While concert tickets sold out in a flash, the website indicates that tickets for the reservoir tours will be available on-site later in the day (and you want to go, as it’s almost like walking through the mines of Moria—a great experience even without the music). At 7:30 PM, there’s a fan meetup in the adjacent park for those in costume and with lightsabers. So, dust off your tunic, and maybe we’ll run into each other there. Thanks to a collaboration with the Brno Observatory, visitors will even get a close-up look at an asteroid—plenty to look forward to.

In Prague, they are a bit ahead with their celebrations, enjoying their Star Wars Day on Saturday, May 2nd, when a costumed parade sets off from Wenceslas Square at 9:30 AM, followed by a packed program of lectures and workshops at the Cross Club in Holešovice. As always, the event will be supported by official Star Wars costuming organizations in the Czech Republic—Rebel Legion Lion Base for the "good guys" and the 501st Czech Garrison for the servants of the Empire.

Animated Series: Maul: Shadow Master

If socializing isn't your thing and you know it's still too early for The Mandalorian in theaters, don't despair—I have a great tip for you. A new animated series, Maul: Shadow Master, recently landed on Disney Plus. If you haven't caught it yet, tune in and get started. You can binge all eight released episodes before the final two drop on May 4th.

Maul began airing on April 6th with a weekly release schedule—two new episodes every Monday—with the finale arriving exactly on Monday, May 4th. So, if Brno is too far for you, Disney Plus has your Star Wars fix covered.

As the wise already know, Darth Maul didn't die after his epic duel with Obi-Wan Kenobi in Episode I (The Phantom Menace). He lost, was cut in half by a Jedi, and fell down a shaft, but he managed to crawl into a trash container that transported him to the planet Lotho Minor. He survived thanks to his unyielding hatred for Obi-Wan and the dark side of the Force, which also played its part. It was also convenient that the duel was fought with lightsabers—Maul lost his legs, but the wound was cauterized, preventing him from bleeding out.

If you don't know this history and have only seen the movies, don't worry—you don't need to study the entire canon to watch the new series. However, if you're interested in Maul's fate, definitely check out Star Wars: The Clone Wars. This seven-season series fills the gaps between Episode II and III and introduces us to the clones in much greater detail, giving them names and featuring various Jedi and their enemies. If you haven't watched any animated Star Wars yet, go for it—there's plenty of content to keep you entertained for a while. Star Wars is a rich universe, and fans live for more than just the movies…

But back to Maul—in his new story, viewers can look forward to a thrilling ride from the very first episode. Don't expect epic duels (though there are a few, even without Obi-Wan) or a black-and-white battle between Good and Evil. We are diving into a narrative that navigates various shades of moral gray, with our main villain building his place at the top of a criminal syndicate. It takes place primarily in the period between The Clone Wars and the Solo movie.

At the beginning, we find ourselves on the planet Janix, which has been lucky enough to avoid the iron grip of the Empire so far. Darth Maul enters the scene driven by revenge—he wants to take down a few crime lords. When his path crosses with a young Padawan traveling through the planet with her master while on the run from Imperial troops, he considers finding an apprentice of his own. After all, it might be better to have a partner for the ultimate revenge against his former master, Darth Sidious, right?

Janix is home to ordinary people as well, and from the start, we meet the long arm of the law—police officer Captain Lawson. Unfortunately, he has the luck (or misfortune) of having a droid partner with rigid protocols. Despite the police's persistent efforts to delay calling in Imperial reinforcements, it’s not enough, and a big mess is brewing.

Add a hunt for Jedi to the mix, and the once-peaceful planet starts to boil. Hopefully, the final episodes will provide a satisfying conclusion to the open plotlines, and based on what we've seen so far, I don't fear it will be a major flop. This series has started off well. Plus, Disney has already promised a second season, and who knows—if it’s a success, maybe we'll see more of the criminal activities Maul hides in the shadows. I say bring them on—I would have watched the first season in one sitting if the plot hadn't been released gradually.

So, let's get to the finale, and until then, may the Force be with you (regardless of whether you root for the dark or light side of the Force).