WHEN SITH'S COLLIDE! THE 'SHADOW LORD' MEETS HIS MATCH!

He's back, and badder than ever in Maul - Shadow Lord's gripping opening season finale.

It was the showdown worldwide Star Wars fans always wanted to see made a reality away from prior comic interpretations, as a non-speaking Darth Vader, a Sith Lord with slaying on his mind, menacingly took on the renegade Darth Maul, now out to build a new criminal enterprise for himself across the galaxy, and his reluctant fugitive comrades (including two runaway Jedi), all of them trapped within the jungle outskirts of the planet Janix, a world to which there now looked like no escape from. The confrontation/unleashing of Vader was a big surprise and it proved a stunning action sequence to watch, certainly earning its place in the Saga's pantheon of classic scenes. And it was a fine and exciting finale to Maul - Shadow Lord (one clearly acting as a tribute to a similar, if smaller in number, duel partaken by Vader against Luke and Leia on Mimban during the climax to 1978's Splinter of the Mind's Eye novel - the first Expanded Universe tale), whose opening season I thought started off quite dull, littered with mostly uninteresting supporting characters (who could have been in any bland police procedural drama) and a thin overall story arc. Thankfully, as ever, Vader knows how to save the day and the streaming ratings! 

I'm sure fans will completely disagree with my assessment of the show as it so far stands. Nonetheless, as we all await the eventual second season, I hope it will ultimately prove more inventive in further showcasing one of the Prequel saga's greatest villains beyond small-time criminality, and more of his fight against the Empire whilst his so far struggling empire builds further. If so, will there be a Vader re-match? 

Scene Breakdown: Darth Vader Duels Maul | StarWars.com

One against many, but Vader will always get the upper hand!

Duelling in the forest of doom.

'

To slay a Jedi!

The clash continues!

The grip of evil!

Great character poster art promotion for the season finale.

REBELS IN PERIL!

Within the control centre/briefing room area of one of the Yavin IV temples being used by the Rebel Alliance, a concerned Princess Leia with General Dodonna (Alex McCrindle) and a key Rebel technician (Burnell Tucker) will soon monitor their Gold and Red Squadrons' flight to the Death Star, in a memorable photo from Star Wars.

I was sorry to hear the news that accomplished British/Canadian actor Burnell Tucker passed away earlier in the year at the age of 91. Tucker was a mainstay of all the mid-seventies blockbusters made in the UK whenever a supporting player was needed for an American role, including such greats as Rollerball, The Omen, Superman the Movie (plus Superman II), Flash Gordon, and, of course, returning as a Rebel for The Empire Strikes Back. Sadly, I'm not aware of the late Mister Tucker ever doing any signings, appearances or interviews for some unknown reason. Regardless, R.I.P., and thank you for your contributions to both Star Wars and movie history.

EPISODE III: READY FOR LANDING?

Anakin Skywalker's legendary piloting skills are certainly being put to a formidable test as the wrecked Invisible Hand prepares to crash-land on Coruscant, of which Artoo and the rescued Supreme Chancellor Palpatine are likely very stressed accompanying passengers, in this interesting screen combination from Episode III.

CLASSIC ART: TO ESCAPE AN APOCALYPSE!

The Empire has been defeated, the Death Star is ready to destroy itself, and a son, who has prior rescued and helped redeem his late father from darkness, rushes to escape with his armoured body, in this superb art celebrating the emotional ending to Return of the Jedi, in 1983. An emotional death scene that brought the cinema houses down with tears worldwide.

If anyone knows the name of the artist of this super piece, please get in touch.

EPISODE VIII: CRASH DOWN!

They say any crashlanding you make that you can walk away from is a good one, so well done Finn for surviving this and the Battle of Crait, as seen in this great conceptual art by Nick Ainsworth for The Last Jedi.

EPISODE II: CAPTURING AN ASTEROID PURSUIT!

                                           

It's a busy time for Obi-Wan Kenobi on film as he chases after the bounty hunter Jango Fett. And it's a busy time filming the scene for actor Ewan McGregor too, in this great behind the scenes image from Episode II.

DELETED SCENE: PROBOT vs WAMPA!

The ice planet Hoth is not only dangerous for its inhospitable weather conditions, but also for the deadly creatures that reside there. For example, the deadly Wampa, who prey on and attack from their snow camouflage anything they think they can eat. Unfortunately, one such wild beast becomes easy prey to another type of creature, an Imperial Probe Droid, which finds its icy lair and soon destroys it before moving on in its search for any signs of human Rebel activity.

A storyboard to a deleted scene from The Empire Strikes Back that was partially filmed on location in Norway with the Probot prop back in March 1979 (the Wampa likely changed to a rodent). The scene can also be found in the original Donald Glut novelisation of the film, released in 1980.

EPISODE VII: THE HAN SOLO LEGACY!

"I didn't really like Han Solo at all." So said Harrison Ford in an American press interview during the mid 2000's. But we don't care about that. We'll always enjoy the actor in his first greatest screen role on and off from 1977 to 2019 and captured here in all his smuggling hero glory via this terrific character celebratory art from Joe Corroney.

EPISODE I: JOHN AND JAR JAR!

Amidst the 100 degrees-plus heat of their Tunisian location filming, John Knoll uses the reference head of unique comedy Gungan Jar Jar Binks for the camera/lighting rehearsal of an upcoming Episode I scene linked to the Homestead, and our heroes readying of Anakin's repaired podracer.

CLASSIC IMAGE: 'IT'S TOO LATE!'

As Han Solo generates continued cover fire, knowing that the Death Star hangar bay will soon be full of Imperial troops if they don't escape soon, Princess Leia tries to snap Luke Skywalker out of his violence with the loss of Ben Kenobi, in this great rare-ish rehearsal image from the original Star Wars.