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(SeaPRwire) –   Following the Republic’s collapse, Darth Vader received assistance in hunting down and eliminating the Jedi who survived Order 66. As first disclosed in Rebels in 2014, the Inquisitors tracked surviving Jedi from the end of the Clone Wars right up until the formation of the Rebel Alliance. However, who was the initial Inquisitor wielding a red lightsaber?

Until recently, the answer derived from Wookieepedia likely pointed to the Grand Inquisitor, the character voiced by Jason Isaacs in Rebels and portrayed by Rupert Friend in Obi-Wan Kenobi. Alternatively, after the debut of Tales of the Jedi in 2022, one might have assumed the Clancy Brown-voiced Inquisitor with the bird-like helmet was the earliest, as the 2024 book The Star Wars Encyclopedia erroneously referred to him as “The First Brother.” This was an error, as the true “First Brother” and potentially the earliest Inquisitor, Marrok, has resurfaced in Star Wars: Maul —Shadow Lord, which, in terms of actual chronology, marks his debut.

Puzzled? Here is the explanation for why Marrok, first glimpsed in Ahsoka — represents one of the earliest instances of the Inquisitors in Star Wars canon.

Spoilers ahead for Shadow Lord Episode 6, “Night of the Hunted.”

Who is Marrok?

Referred to as the “First Brother,” Marrok is the Inquisitor prominently featured in Shadow Lord Episodes 5 and 6. He is clearly dispatched by the Empire to pursue the two Jedi central to the series. This makes him a significant threat to Maul, who had previously been the sole character utilizing a double-sided red lightsaber. Interestingly, like many Inquisitors, little is known about Marrok, and his first live-action appearance was in Ahsoka Season 1. The peculiarity lies in the timeline: Ahsoka Season 1 occurs roughly five years after the Empire’s fall, whereas the Shadow Lord version takes place about 19 years prior to Ahsoka. Consequently, the Shadow Lord Marrok is approximately 30 years younger than his Ahsoka counterpart. In Ahsoka, Marrok’s demise suggests he was under a Dark Side spell, as dark green mist emerged from his armor upon being pierced, implying Morgan Elsbeth used Dathomirian techniques to reanimate him. Regardless, the Ahsoka Marrok appears to be a mercenary, while the Shadow Lord iteration represents an early Inquisitor in his prime.

Shadow Lord Episode 6 Ending: Who is Marrok’s Boss?

Following Maul and Devon’s escape from Marrok, the Inquisitor reports his progress to an unseen individual he addresses as “Master” via hologram. The episode concludes without revealing the figure’s identity. If this individual is simply the Grand Inquisitor, Marrok is merely another red-bladed warrior following orders. However, he could be taking commands directly from Palpatine or, more plausibly, Darth Vader. While Maul’s fate in the Rebels timeline is known, the number of Inquisitors he faced prior to that point remains a mystery. It is worth noting that during this era, Darth Vader was just beginning his role as the Emperor’s right-hand man, making it possible—and perhaps likely—that before Shadow Lord concludes, Vader and Maul will cross lightsabers, positioning Marrok’s introduction as a potential Sith-related red herring.

Star Wars: Maul —Shadow Lord airs new episodes on Mondays on Disney+.