4. Darth Maul
Speaking of red lightsabers, let’s talk about the coolest one in the entire “Star Wars” universe (or should I say the coolest two?). Darth Maul and his signature double-bladed lightsaber were the epitome of the word “menace,” and it’s no wonder that he became the most recognized and most beloved part of that movie.
He was vicious, ruthless, efficient, and with his horns and make up, he looked like a demon made flesh. His fighting style was rapid, fluid, and aggressive – unlike anything else seen in “Star Wars” before, and nothing has really matched it yet. In a lot of ways, he was like the Boba Fett of the prequel trilogy: an iconic look, hardly any dialogue, saying all he needs to say with actions, and garnering many fans as a result. When Maul reveals the two blades to his lightsaber, you know he’s dangerous – capable enough to fight two jedi at once! He didn’t need all the boasting and pomp as his forgettable successor, Count Dooku, did.
Really, among the many criticisms there is to give to the prequel trilogy, I think one of the biggest missteps was getting rid of this amazing antagonist way too early. Darth Maul deserved better. Here’s hoping that J.J. Abrams knows when he’s got a good thing with Kylo Ren in the upcoming films.
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