The Mandalorian Is the Star Wars Story We’ve Long Deserved

What can I say about The Mandalorian that has not already been expressed somewhere in the cosmos? Not only is this series what Star Wars fans been deserving and long searching for, but it could very well be the best addition to the canon in quite some time. But why is this such a great show? Baby birds, would I leave you hanging?

The Child, AKA Baby Yoda. Disney+

Let’s get this out of the way first: Baby Yoda. Without ruining anything for those who have not caught up on the entire season or even begun watching, no, this is not the Jedi master Yoda as an infant. The series makes it quite clear in the beginning that the time period is about five years after the fall of the Empire, and, spoiler alert, Yoda died before the Empire fell. With that said, so-called Baby Yoda (who in the show has yet to be named and is merely referred to as the Child) is 50 years of age but still an infant, which helps expand on Yoda’s 900-year lifespan. A long-living species to say the least. Now, is this the spawn of Yoda himself or merely a being from his homeland? The Child is, shall we say, gifted in the ways of the Force; this leaves many questions and will leave the viewer wanting to watch more. Also, watch out, Kermit the Frog—your crown in the realm of tea-sipping memes may be at an end.

Mando himself. Disney+

It’s odd to cover the title character second, but what are you gonna do? The Mandalorian, or “Mando” (Pedro Pascal) as he is typically referred to, brings to mind the coolness of Harrison Ford’s Han Solo, yet he’s more stoic and not nearly as braggadocious. Mando is always covered in his armor (helmet included), shows little emotion, and seemingly speaks only when it is necessary. Mix in his awesome weapons training and fighting skills, and he is lethal—but not evil, as the viewers will quickly catch on to. This isn’t a true plot spoiler, but if you haven’t finished the season and want to be surprised by everything, skip along to the next paragraph . . . An interesting thing we learn is that Mandalorian is not a race, as fans had theorized. Rather, it is a creed, something to be honored and respected, which Mando indeed does throughout the series, quipping “This is the way” when questioned. The character is a badass with a heart of gold, but you must watch to truly get why.

Cara Dune. Disney+

Next, the other supporting characters. No, Mando does not go through this series alone, though that could be possible. Carl Weathers plays Greef Karga, who initially hires Mando as a bounty hunter and appears in several episodes. Though he’s not fleshed out to the fullest of his potential, it’s intriguing to see a 1970s–1980 legend from another franchise (Apollo in the Rocky films) join the Star Wars family. And what’s any series without a badass female character? Honestly, without Cara Dune (Gina Carino), The Mandalorian would be less awesome. Dune is a former rebel shock trooper turned mercenary who Mando befriends and has for backup in some situations. I want to be clear here: any person can be portrayed as powerful regardless of stature. Daisy Ridley plays a powerful Jedi in the new trilogy, for instance, despite being petite. That said, Carino brings some realistic physicality to the series with her imposing stature—she’s ripped, and a legit fighter in real life. So, when Dune makes a move, you believe it! Another personal favorite of mine is the hunter droid IG-11 (voiced by Taika Waititi). Though simplistic in its design, this droid proves a force (pun intended) to be reckoned with. You look at it and think, “That’s the design Disney sprung for?” But when the droid engages, it’s something you did not see coming. A very nice surprise.

Mando (Pedro Pascal), Burg (Clancy Brown), and Mayfield (Bill Burr). Disney+

There are also some very prominent actors who show up in the series for smaller or one-episode roles . . . at least for now. Nick Nolte voices a character, Kuiil, who shows up fairly often. Something about his voice just adds to the production of it all. More on the entertainment side of things are Bill Burr, Natalia Tena, Clancy Brown, Richard Ayoade, and Mark Boone Jr. all familiar faces to the eyes of geeks, and all appear in the episode “The Prisoner.” If you aren’t a fan by the start this episode, you will be but the end of it. And let us not forget the man responsible for this show. He is the head writer, one of the directors, and, of course, the creator of this great series, the one and only Jon Favreau. You may know him as the man who directed Iron Man, the film that resurrected Robert Downey Jr’s career. He’s also directed two films that brought our childhood favorites to live action, The Jungle Book and Lion King. Love or hate those films, they are all financially successful, and Favreau is dead center in all of it. This man knows a thing or two.

IG-11 (Taika Waititi) courtesy of Disney+

So, folks, be it the coolness of the Mandalorian character, the badass supporting characters, the amazing direction and writing from individuals like Jon Favreau, or goddamn baby Yoda, this series has a lot to offer viewers of all kinds. Whether you’re one of the die-hard Star Wars fanatics out there or the most casual of fans, go watch it. All you need is a Disney+ subscription, and you’re in! For those of you still without the app, all I can say is get it, for this is the way!