Words can't describe how much I appreciate this interview with Sam that delves into a lot of the questions and thoughts that I had on the finale. If anything, the answers given just make me love Maul more as a character and validate a lot of the queries I had going on.
One of the things that gets explained, which had been on my mind a lot, was Maul's betrayal of Daki.
When I watched episode 10 for the first time, I initially had a bit of a knee jerk reaction to Maul pushing Daki into Vader, thinking that maybe he'd regressed after episode 8 but now after re-watching the ending a few times and thinking about the dialogue leading up to it, Maul's warped sense of right and wrong due to his upbringing, as well as the tense circumstances all of them were in, it makes a lot more sense now.
Maul genuinely didn't want anyone to die, we can see this in episode 9 when he encourages members of his team to cross the acid lake before he does, he even ends up being the last one to get to the other side, while putting up an intense fight the entire time with a fucked up leg. Even in episode 7, we see him leading Marrok and Crow away from his group because he probably knows they don't stand a chance against them, he even fucks up his knee from doing this by making such a daring jump between the platforms.
Obviously, everything changes once Vader shows up, the ultimate big bad. He realises Vader is all about brute strength, something he can't really go up against with his fighting style, especially when you consider how broken his right leg is now, something that Sam also points out. Vader probably has had a good soak in the bacta tank, eaten and slept, he's at full health, while battling people at half, maybe even quarter health. Maul's leg is buggered and causing him constant grief, Daki's ribs are still broken, his body likely sore all over from his fight with Maul, he's sleep deprived and hungry, Devon, while only having a small injury, is likely exhausted herself.
Maul quickly realises that they're fighting a losing battle, he tells Daki and Devon that they need to give into their rage if they stand a chance at winning. Daki is firm with his principles and obviously Devon is going to follow her master. Maul is pretty much internally flailing at the situation, especially when the tension is escalated by the return of the inquisitors, Crow and Marrok. Devon has to take them on both, alone, while Maul and Daki try and handle Vader. Devon already struggled with Marrok by herself, so she's really been pushed to her limit here. Daki is sure that if they work together, him and Maul, they can defeat Vader but Maul knows it's not possible, that they're fighting a losing battle, he can barely fight efficiently as is and he's partnered with someone who he believes is giving them both a handicap.
In that moment, he realises that Devon is losing as well, he knows that if he doesn't make a decision soon, everyone will die pointlessly. At the very least, if he abandons this fight alongside Daki, he can go to the aid of Devon and give her a fighting chance. When you look at him in that scene, he even seems to be struggling with the decision he has to make.
Realistically, Daki likely would have wanted Maul to go help Devon if she was in danger, even if it meant losing his life in the process but because they're in such an intense situation, it probably doesn't even cross Maul's mind to simply say, ''Hey, your padawan is about to die, I can sense her struggle, I'm gunna go help her, that okay bro?''. It kinda sucks nothing is said because the scene frames Maul as this ruthless villain again, what he does to Daki, but genuinely, what could have been done in that fight against Vader? Nothing, it was a fight bound to be lost with Devon's life being lost in the process.
Maul really did the right thing but it was done in a way that was framed as ruthless, despicable and betrayal.
Ultimately, after everything that has been said in that podcast, I love that the finale wasn't solely about Maul being selfish and simply wanting to find a way to get Devon to turn to the dark side and get her to agree to be his apprentice. He truly wanted to get everyone out alive, he wasn't bullshitting but the Empire threw a massive curveball at him which he had to figure out on his toes.
Sam really is out here giving us such a nuanced look at Maul that isn't always entirely clear in the show from an initial watch.
