Clone Wars' treatment of Darth Maul in the series paved the way for The Mandalorian's much-praised handling of Boba Fett's return, which has set a positive precedent for other returning Star Wars characters. Both Darth Maul and Boba Fett have been long-term fan-favorite characters in the franchise since their respective introductions. Even though Boba Fett's actual presence in the films was decidedly small, this only further amplified the mysterious presence he was perceived as, and thus he and Maul were beloved to some degree for the same reasons - as potentially underutilized characters who clearly had fascinating backstories that were as of yet not expanded upon.
And although both would receive extra detail in the likes of the Star Wars books, these novels wouldn't end up factoring in the canon, as in 2014 Lucasfilm would announce the Expanded Universe books would be removed from the continuity. While it was clear characters like Boba Fett who were still selling merchandise were well worth including in future films and series, the question became what way was best to handle this matter, as the entire point of the 2014 retcon had been to simplify matters - so fumbling with an iconic figure could prove disastrous. Similarly, merely having Darth Maul or Boba Fett appear to menace or murder some people wouldn't have had the impact of Darth Vader's surprise appearances in Rogue One: A Star Wars Story or Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order; firstly because Vader is a more iconic villain, and secondly because they'd only be repeating what he'd done in these moments.
Although a cartoon may have not been the place many fans thought they'd get their next fix of Darth Maul, it certainly proved effective to bring him back into the fold via Clone Wars. The real blessing was that this allowed Maul to be a reoccurring villain who had significantly more screen time given to him, allowing for his character to be fleshed out, parts of his backstory filled in, and for his general presence in the Star Wars franchise to be enhanced. All this said, though, the creators carefully skirted around making his appearances feel too much like fan service, as while the Dathomirian got his fair share of impressive fight scenes, he was also shown completely out of his mind and unintimidating before his return to glory, too. Though The Mandalorian certainly has more inspirations than just Clone Wars, the way in which they handled bringing in Boba Fett - letting him be both a badass unstoppable warrior, and also a sunburnt old man looking for his suit - certainly rings the same bell.
And it's a mercy it does, as dealing with the legacy of what has come before will arguably be the most challenging part of any future Star Wars installments, in whatever form they come. The fact that Star Wars has such a prolific and popular history is a blessing and a curse - as while many are sure to give anything with the franchise name on it a shot, they also have pre-established expectations of what the ideal film or series looks like, and these expectations are often understandably high. This is especially true with characters who have long been adored, as finding the right balance between giving these figures suitably exciting moments without it feeling like pandering to the audience is both integral and immensely challenging.
But both Darth Maul and Boba Fett are treated in the way future Disney+ series and films should continue to try and handle famous faces; with respect for the reputation they have, but still keeping in mind that they are fallible figures who sometimes get cut in half or eaten by a Sarlacc. Had either come into Clone Wars or The Mandalorian all guns blazing permanently and without a single human (or Dathomorian) error, their reintroductions would have felt contrived. As it is, instead it feels as though viewers are able to see the real lives of their favorite characters, further improving the lore of the universe at large.