Star Wars fans have much to look forward to with Disney+ content made exclusively for the platform. In addition to being the host for some of your favorite Star Wars shows and film, The Mandalorian joins as the first exclusive to Disney+, and it is a pretty solid start.
While Disney+ launched with record-breaking subscribers in under a day and with a reasonable amount of Disney classics, there really was not a lot of exclusives (yet). However, if there is just one to check out, it is The Mandalorian.
Written by Iron Man writer/director Jon Favreau, The Mandalorian stars Pedro Pascal as the titular unnamed character (although Pascal confirmed himself in an interview that the character’s name is “Din Jarron” [spelling not confirmed]), a bounty hunter for hire. Without going into the details of the plot, the Star Wars mythos within the films doesn’t really touch base on the Mandalorians history all that much, or at all, but shows like Rebels and The Clone Wars did somewhat. It seems that being among the last of a dying or already dead warrior breed makes the Mando a hot commodity among those looking for a mercenary to get the job done.
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From the planet Mandalore, the Mandalorians were a race of warriors who are all but extinct, with very few remaining within the galaxy. After partnering with the Sith, thousands of years before A New Hope takes place, the Sith turn on the Mandalorians all but wiping them out. Of course, this is part of the larger Star Wars mythos not found in the movies, but could likely end up canon throughout the story of The Mandalorian.
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As far as the show goes, and I really do not want to spoil anything, I think it is important to simply highlight the show’s pros and cons. So, let’s just do that.
PROS
- It feels like Star Wars
The Mandalorian may be the first live-action show but it doesn’t lose that Star Wars magic that makes the films so great. The visuals are impressive with CGI that is almost worthy of its big-screen theatrical counterparts and the overall action vibe feels right up there with the best of them.
- The Writing and Tone are Solid
I was worried that The Mandalorian would feel campy, or resemble the prequel trilogy. Well, it doesn’t. In fact, I don’t know why I was worried since Favreau penned it. If anything, it feels more in-line with Empire Strikes Back, but maybe that’s just because the beginning of the show takes place on a snowy ice planet. That said, the show’s initial episode feels very strong and gives off a more serious vibe and tone that is worthy of a story featuring a bounty hunter.
- Pedro Pascal is a Good Fit for a Bounty Hunter
The leading man, Pedro Pascal made his first impressions on me with his incredible performances in Game of Thrones and Narcos, respectively. It only makes sense that he would attract the attention of Disney/Lucasfilm and land him the role of a badass in the larger Star Wars universe. He may not speak much in the series opener, but we have a feeling that he is really going to shine as the series continues.
- The Cast is Strong
Carl Weathers, Werner Herzog, Nick Nolte, Taika Waititi, Giancarlo Esposito, Gina Carano all join Pascal as the core cast for The Mandalorian. Need I say more?
CONS
- We get one episode per week and can’t binge it. This is isn’t exactly a con, since it leaves viewers like myself hungry for more, but part of me is so used to being able to sit down and watch the whole season of something all in one go that I now feel spoiled. Granted, many shows I watch are released one episode at a time but have previous seasons loaded on say Netflix or Hulu, and I could probably wait until all the episodes debut for The Mandalorian and just binge it then. But no way I can wait that long. Oh well, not the worst thing in the world.
The Mandalorian will get one new episode a week starting on Nov 15 with the second episode (with the first episode debuting on Nov 12), and continuing each Friday with the third episode hitting the following Friday on Nov 22.
Season 1 will consist of 8 total episodes, of those there are six that are being written by Jon Favreau, so it is safe to assume the series will be consistent with his planned story and tone. And, as the show seems to be a universally well-received, we may even get a movie tie-in or sequel, so says Walt Disney Studios CCO Alan Horn.
