A lot has happened to Darth Maul since his final appearance in Star Wars: The Clone Wars season 5, which will be important as he returns in season 7. The final season of The Clone Wars is tying up all loose ends, and will ultimately overlap with Star Wars Episode III - Revenge of the Sith, which comes closer and closer. However, before it can get there a few story points need addressing. Chief among them is Darth Maul, who had an incredible resurgence in The Clone Wars before its cancellation. He was last seen in season 5, but much like after his Naboo duel with Obi-Wan Kenobi, his life did not stop there.
Suffice to say, Maul was a busy man throughout season 5 of The Clone Wars. He and his Shadow Collective successfully took over Mandalore from the Dutchess Satine Kryze. After overthrowing his former ally Pre Vizsla, he took unrightful ownership of the Darksaber and the throne of Mandalore. That is a lot of power, but it wasn't Maul's ultimate goal. To know peace, he needed to kill Kenobi, so he used Satine as bait to bring him to Mandalore. He killed her, but his Jedi adversary escaped just in time. Sensing his former apprentice's power, Darth Sidious arrived to put him in his place, and Maul was last seen being electrocuted with Force lightning, leaving his story on a cliffhanger.
Much has happened since that moment, with Maul held in custody by Sidious and Count Dooku. The two Sith would interrogate him, trying to pry information about the Shadow Collective. They failed and he escaped, which worked in favor of his enemies. Seeking refuge on Zanbar, Maul and his forces were attacked by General Grievous and the Separatists. They would decimate the ruler of Mandalore, leading him to retreat. Lost and frustrated, Maul sought help from Mother Talzin, the witch who was responsible for his resurrection. The two devised a plan to engage the Separatists on Ord Mantell, another unsuccessful fight for the Shadow Collective.
The only positive to come from the battle was the capture of Count Dooku. Maul brought him to Dathomir to restore Mother Talzin's physical form. That plan was thwarted by the arrival of Grievous and Sidious, who killed Talzin and sent Maul into retreat. The planet was overtaken and destroyed by Separatist forces and the Shadow Collective all but disbanded. With nowhere else to turn, Maul went back to Mandalore with the remainder of his Death Watch. There they would remain until the Siege of Mandalore, which The Clone Wars season 7 will chronicle.
The bulk of Maul's adventures were told in the Darth Maul: Son of Dathomir comic series. The events of season 7 were also touched on in other media like the Star Wars Ahsoka novel. The Siege of Mandalore, Order 66, and even the winner of Maul's duel with Ahsoka were all spoiled years ago. It will be interesting to see if the animated series changes any of the previous story details. Either way, the former Sith apprentice has kept busy, for better or worse. He has seen little success, and his misfortune may continue into his final Star Wars: The Clone Wars appearances.