I love that Maul’s betrayal of Daki was subtle and unplanned.
I mean, we know it’s Maul and at the end of the day, he’s going to do what it takes to further his goals and keep himself alive. But I truly don’t think he would have sacrificed Daki, at least at this point in time, unless it were absolutely necessary. Because I think he wants to have other Force users around.
Maul sees Force Users as existing on a different plane from other people. So if the only Force Users alive are himself, Sidious, and Sidious’ minions, it’s like he’s trapped alone in a room with his abuser and extensions of his abuser. If there are other Jedi survivors, there are potential allies who are definitely NOT working for Sidious. At the very least there is a buffer between himself and Sidious. It doesn’t matter if they don’t particularly like each other. What matters is he’s not out here facing this alone.
So when he’s fighting Vader alongside Daki, they are working together. They cover each other. They’re not perfectly in sync and they aren’t winning, but they are putting up a fight.
Then, Maul’s leg gets completely fucked.
Not just his leg, but his hip too. He can barely walk and if he keeps on fighting, he is going to get himself killed. Not only that, but Devon is off fighting an inquisitor alone and might get killed as well.
So here’s where the cockroach Sith instincts kick in. Daki is no longer an ally. He is a piece on the chessboard. A piece Maul is willing to sacrifice to ensure his own survival.
So he gives Daki a little push. And this push is so interesting to me.
For one thing, it’s pretty half-hearted as a far as Maul betrayals go. We’ve seen him kick the shit out of Pre Viszla then chop his head off. If he really wanted to ensure Daki’s death, he might have sent him into the path of Vader’s lightsaber. Instead he just knocks Daki off balance a bit.
The other thing that makes this moment interesting is that it doesn’t really change the end result. Daki loses balance, but he regains it quick enough to continue trading blows with Vader. The duel probably would have ended the same way, push or no push.
But Maul can’t help himself. He can’t just walk away and let events take their course. He has to grasp as some semblance of control and have a direct hand in the situation, regardless of if it actually changes the outcome.
But his effect on the end result isn’t going to matter if Devon ever finds out. What’s going to matter is that Maul did it. Maul, with that one push, ensured his bond with his future apprentice, is doomed.
