In 2009, George Lucas started developing a live action Star Wars television series that was rumored to be the next great adventure in the universe. Unfortunately, this project was deemed too expensive, and the entire franchise inside Lucasfilm was sold to Disney in October 2012.
Since then, we have been taken on a joyride of ups and downs from all kinds of different stories and non-conical characters that have thrilled and excited older fans and new Star Wars acolytes alike. Probably none as much as the great helmeted Pedro Pascal, playing the Mandalorian.
As the third season is about to launch at the start of March and a fourth series is already in development, we get to sit back and witness some of the arguably most interesting Star Wars entertainment from Cannon.
It is also critical to understand how interconnected The Mandalorian is with the other properties of streaming shows on Disney+, including the Book of Boba Fett, Ahsoka, and the mysterious Skeleton Crew. With all of this excitement, it seems like a good moment in time to take a pause and review how we got here, and we think we’re going next with the Mandalorian.
How It All Started
The Mandalorian is not as complex as the bigger films and trilogies. When you get down to its roots, it is a beautifully scored and filmed space western. The series was created by Jon Favreau and launched on November 12, 2019, strategically alongside the streaming service Disney+ to get more subscriptions with the promise of a new Star Wars property.
This was an eight-episode season that came with outstanding reviews. So much so that it won outstanding drama series at the 72nd primetime Emmy awards and seven primetime creative arts Emmy awards.
The basic idea is that we follow a lone bounty hunter as he travels the outer reaches of the galaxy beyond the authority of the New Republic. The series is set after the fall of the Empire, but before the emergence of the First Order, placing us wedged in-between two of the classic Skywalker series.
It may seem like ancient history now, but this was a highly anticipated series. With showrunner Jon Favreau and directors like Dav Filoni (Star Wars: The Cone Wars, Star Wars Rebels), Deborah Chow (Jessica Jones), Rick Famuyiwa (Dope), Bryce Dallas Howard (Solemates), and the ever-innovative Taika Waititi (Thor: Ragnarok), this was something most Hollywood films never could rival - a diverse story spanning multiple generations and cultures.
The Mandalorian Season 1: Recap
So the whole idea is that we are in a time with the New Republic has just emerged and is tasked with maintaining order across the galaxy. During these early years, the planets outside control on the galaxy's edge are mostly left to their own devices. Inside this realm is plenty of space for the story of our main character, the Mandalorian. He is one of the fabled bounty hunters from the planet Mandalore - a place most of us may have heard of from the rumors and backstory of the Boba Fett.
The Mandalorians are a warrior, pseudo-religious class of people whose home planet was shattered by the Civil War and then completely dominated when the Empire who occupied their homeland and scattered any survivors to the greater galaxy.
That is the essential background of our main character, lovingly called "Mando" by most of the other players. From everything we see, including the very first scene when this bounty hunter takes on a fight inside of an awfully familiar bar-style setting, this warrior is well-equipped to handle himself on his own.
But the series really built up steam with the introduction of what was then called baby Yoda, but we now know as Grogu. Together this unlikely pair have to make their way in and out of all kinds of plot lines, from dealing with an overly zealous bounty hunter droid to interacting with a controversial shock trooper turned mercenary, Cara Dune. All the while Mando is trying to figure out the unique powers of this young child without breaking too many rules set by his role as a bounty hunter or his faith as a Mandalorian.
By the end of this series, Mando has acquired a jet pack that allows him to kill some stormtroopers, rescue the remaining team, and escape with Grogu in tow. We also see the introduction of Moff Gideon, who will become even more important in season 2. For now, he is best known as the leader of part of the Galactic Empire, attempting to restore its previous might by capturing Grogu. In other words, this is the "big bad" dressed all in black and giving real Darth Vader tones to the series.
Between all of these essential parts is a ton of character development. But the basic premise is this: the Mandalorian accepts a job to recover an asset. He soon discovers that the asset is a child, and then goes against his own personal code to keep that child safe while everyone possibly imaginable is trying to take the child for themselves.
Add on top of that the bounty hunters guild who’s hunting them, stormtroopers, Moff Gideon, and the introduction of the iconic Darksaber to the Star Wars universe, and you have a powerful combination of interweaving plot lines that created a show every generation of Star Wars fan could enjoy.
Popular Parts of Season 1
- Going back to the Cantina on Mos Eisley.
- Getting that gritty, realistic effect instead of too many digital effects.
- Getting to meet Kuill and hearing his favorite “I have spoken" catchphrase over and over again.
- Watching the child Force lift a mud horn to protect the Mandalorian.
- The Mandalorian picking off team members in chapter 6 while flexing his incredible fighting and tactical capabilities.
- The sacrifice of IG – 11 offers an emotional tone to a droid.
- The finale when the Mandalorian takes on the tie fighter piloted by Moff Gideon.
- The reveal of the Darksaber.
The Mandalorian Season 2: Recap
With new equipment and a strong bond between the Mandalorian and Grogu, we enter into a world of new challenges and allies. Season two expanded on the plot of the Mandalorian as characters are introduced from the greater Star Wars universe. The season also dipped heavily into the past of the Mandalorian culture and the history of our favorite bounty hunter himself.
From the beginning of the season, we see Jon Favreau lean way more into the space western aspect when we are introduced to the Marshall, played by Timothy Olyphant. This is when he gets to don the Mandalorian armor that is supposed to belong to Boba Fett. The showrunners do an excellent job of introducing the different abilities that are present in the unique armor and expanding on the legend of the Mandalorians as a culture.
Throughout the rest of the season, we go into all kinds of new situations, like a cave full of spider creatures straight out of the imagination of famed creator Ray Harryhausen. We are also introduced to Ahsoka Tano, who is highly interested in the Darksaber and the child. We even get to be a part of the destruction of an older Imperial base with the help of Cara Dune and so much more.
It should also be noted that we get to see the introduction of Ahsoka Tano, a famous Jedi leader who is highly interested in Grogu, but refuses to train the child on her own. Shortly after, we also get reintroduced to Boba Fett teasing his own spinoff series on Disney+, and playing a critical role in the season finale, where they have to rescue the child and take on the dark troopers with a recovered spear as well as the Darksaber.
Of course, the biggest shocker to the season was the introduction of Luke Skywalker and R2-D2 at the end. This is when Grogu goes with him to complete his training as Boba Fett travels back to Tatooine to begin the first part of his series spinoff.
Popular Moments of The Mandalorian Season 2:
- Watching Grogu scarf down frog eggs.
- The character development of Bill Burr as he plays Max Mayfield.
- When we finally learn the name of the child: Grogu.
- Ashoka Tano and the hunt for Grand Admiral Thrawn
- The fight on top of the juggernaut mirroring old western train robberies.
- Watching any battle that has Boba Fett in it
- The battle between Mando and Moff Gideon at the finale.
- Seeing Luke Skywalker take on the dark troopers at the end of the season.
What to Expect in The Mandalorian Season 3
Okay, there was a lot to take in there if you haven’t watched the two seasons before season three. This article would be the size of a book if we had to include everything, so we’re counting on you having at least heard of the Mandalorian before and knowing some of those names.
We’ve all been patiently waiting for the new season as things were slowed down slightly by COVID-19. As of right now will kick off the season with the Mandalorian, still played by Pedro Pascal, who has become even more famous in his role as one of the leads in The Last of Us on HBO, still in possession of the Darksaber, and with Grogu now back at the side.
Odds are, we’re going to hear a lot about atonement. The Mandalorian has to make good with his culture and atone for his sins, which is likely to mean liberating every last remnant of Imperial control over the Mandalorians as a culture. So this is probably going to mean traveling back to his homeland to unite all of the different Mandos that are glimpsed in the trailer.
The first question is how the Mandalorian got off the cruiser at the end of the second season. How did he get a hold of the Darksaber again? And who is the actual heir to the legitimate throne of Mandalore?
We’re most likely going to see Greef Karga played by Carl Weathers pop back in to the plotline. We are also likely to see quite a bit of Ahsoka as her series is going to be highly reviewed when it comes to Disney+.
One of the more interesting character developments to pay attention to is probably going to be Grogu. The child chose to stick by the Mandalorian instead of being trained by Luke Skywalker. He still has force capabilities, but now doesn’t have the control and dedication of a Jedi warrior.
That could mean Grogu is second-guessing himself or that there is far more to do with this unique creature than any of us have guessed. We just want to see a lot more of him going after eggs because quite frankly, it’s cute.
Popular Theories for Season 3
- Learning more about the Death Watch.
- Epic space battles as the Mandalorian ventures back to his homeland.
- More about the legend of the Darksaber
- How the Mandalorian fits into the more extenstive Skywalker trilogies.
- Plenty of antics and side quests about Grogu’s personality.
- A plethora of additional Mandos waiting for an epic battle.
- What the heck the “Living Waters” means.
- A showdown with Moff Gideon as he seeks revenge.
Wrapping it Up
Be sure to watch the latest trailer from Disney+, and we will announce any news that we hear about the upcoming season as it occurs. The truth is there are a lot of rumors happening right now in the fan world because this is one of the most anticipated releases from the Star Wars universe.
The original Star Wars series did a balancing act between a gritty world where people struggle to survive and the classic fantasy tale of the middle of nowhere nobody becoming the most critical player in a grander story. While the Mandalorian may not be Luke Skywalker, the way that he is at the center of a more incredible story is what draws us all into our streaming services every night.
We know for sure there is bound to be a lot more interaction between the Mandalorian and Grogu. That almost father-son relationship is crucial to the development of the series and something Jon Favreau has been tasked with cultivating so that no one‘s heart is broken. Disney has a unique opportunity here to pull on our heartstrings and deliver some of the best action sequences that we’ve ever seen in the Star Wars universe.
While we at SabersPro are in the business of crafting incredible lightsabers for dueling, cosplaying, and collecting, including the famed Darksaber, we are just as interested in seeing all the droids, new characters, creatures, and planets likely to be explored in season three of the Mandalorian.
