Star Wars: The Mandalorian – A Pleasant Surprise

If you don’t know what a Mandalorian is, you’re not alone. I’m not a Star Wars enthusiast. My knowledge of the lore is solely based on the mainline films. Apparently, if you watch the Star Wars cartoon series, The Clone Wars and Rebels, you’ll learn more about Mandalorian society and their history. I tried watching those cartoons a while back, but never found it engaging enough to stick around.

Still, I consider myself a fan of Star Wars. I remember my father taking me to see the original trilogy when they were re-released in theaters in the 1990s. I can truly say I’ve seen every Star Wars film on the big screen. I even have a soft spot for the prequel trilogy. While not perfect movies, each have their moments that help to expand the universe Star Wars lore.

But there’s something that I’ve always found baffling: why do people think Boba Fett is cool?

If you don’t remember who Boba Fett is, he’s the guy that was tossed into the mouth of a sand creature in the beginning of Return of the Jedi, the bounty hunter in Mandalorian armor who would be later revealed as being a clone of Jango Fett in Attack of the Clones. Jango found himself being easily defeated by Mace Windu.

These two bounty hunters in Mandaloria armor always seemed disposable to me. So, when Lucas films announced that they were producing a series based on a similarly themed character, I was hardly enthused.

We’re in an age of Star Wars over exposure. We films being released nearly every year now. Gone are the days of waiting two to three years for a new entry. It sometimes feels exhausting. Solo: A Star Wars Story was the first film I DID NOT see in theaters, and still haven’t bothered to see.

I think what drew me to the Mandalorian was the fact that it centers around a character that is NOT a Skywalker or a Solo. And of course, there was the online buzz following the release of the first three episodes.

“I have spoken”

– That one character in the Mandalorian played by Nick Nolte

Now that I’ve caught up with the first 3 episodes, I can see why people like it. This show is GOOD. It’s not great, but it’s good. I feel that Star Wars has been a series that relied heavily on exposition. The Mandalorian has more restraint with it’s dialog. It’s a surprisingly quiet show. Much of the story unfold in silence, and that’s new for the franchise.

It’s also not afraid to take some time and go on side quests. Sometimes, things happen to the titular character that requires him to stray off the beating path. He’ll find obstacles that require him to overcome in order to progress forward in his hunt. He’s a competent warrior, but not unstoppable. Overcoming challenges through the connections he make with the people around him.

This show expands Star Wars in a way no cartoon could ever achieve.

It departs from the dated formula of the good guys versus the bad. It’s literally about a bounty hunter navigating through the underworld of the universe.

1. Do you need to watch the spin-off cartoons to understand this show?
   • No. So far The Mandalorian is doing a great job keeping me informed on aspects of the lore relevant to the story being told.
2. Do you need to watch all the Star Wars films to understand this show?
   • Maybe. You really just need a basic knowledge of Star Wars lore.

I wholeheartedly recommend this show to any Star Wars fan; with one caveat. The show is only available on Disney’s new streaming platform, Disney Plus. The world’s largest entertainment company is getting into the Netflix game. If you already have a subscription to Disney Plus through your internet service provider, enjoy. For those of you wondering if you should sign up for the service, that’s for you to decide. I have spoken.

I met Daniel Logan at this year’s Tokyo Comic Con. He played Young Boba Fett in Star Wars: Episode II – Attack of the Clones. More about that exchange in my next post. Stay current by subscribing to Obsidian Perspective.