I took some time to watch Episode 1 the other day and I will admit that as a lifelong Star Wars fan the first time I watched it I was not blown away. I liked it, and watched many times, but it didn't register to me the way it resonates in me now. In going back and watching it again with the knowledge I know have and the benefit of having the whole story well in hand, I felt a deeper connection to Qui Gonn, Anakin and Obi Wan and it raised new thoughts and answered old questions for me.

Darth Maul, it occured to me that this Sithlord was but a tool for Sidious and a short term one at that. I now believe that Darth Maul was dispatched so that he could be dispatched by the Jedi, I firmly believe that Sidious wanted him dead to make way for Tyrannus and finally Anakin.

It almost makes Darth Maul a sympathetic character looking back, I mean here is this guy who apparently devoted his life, his body, and thoughts towards becoming the Sithlord, but he was being set up to die all along , especially knowing that Sidious had known about Anakin all along, or at least the prophecy.

more to come....