[TV] The Mandalorian (*Spoilers*)

[rhorle]

I disagree, in the sense that the seasons each pay off a singular arc while tying back all the interesting characters at the end to be important and play their roll.

You can disagree but it still doesn't change that the inspiration for The Mandalorian westerns and a rotating cast of people he encounters on his Adventures. Yes they have had themes or a over all arc but it is still a show intended to have a rotating cast of characters. Which means any detailed or interesting character can be around for just one episode. The only other option is a glorified extra which makes for a boring show.

Cobb Vanth is literally the same thing as what you describe for Ashoka. We just don't know if he will get a spin off or appear in other shows like we did with Ashoka. So it is a bit weird for you to praise one but not the other. A nothing planet fighting a faceless enmey is essentially the core of theme of the show. Because it is a space western following a space cowboy (bounty hunter) on his travels around the Galaxy.

[PACOX]

My worry is that they’re effectively spinning all their interesting Characters off into their own shows, leaving the mandalorian to, ultimately, be resolved to episodic “character Of the week” pieces, rather than having seasonal or even cross-season arcs that are far more compelling.

Mando is the guy we know, and I’d rather focus on having one good show telling a compelling story with lots of repeating, interesting characters than a bunch of sort of disparate characters ping-ponging around in their own shows.

I don't think they are trying to do that. It's just SW is known for its insane deep dives into every little character and they are trying to bring some canonical order to the property. So we're going to see a lot of world building on screen versus say the MCU where at least characters have decades of multiverse stories to fill in gaps ie being able to completely skip the origin of Spider-Man.

[Kaleredar]

You can disagree but it still doesn't change that the inspiration for The Mandalorian westerns and a rotating cast of people he encounters on his Adventures. Yes they have had themes or a over all arc but it is still a show intended to have a rotating cast of characters. Which means any detailed or interesting character can be around for just one episode. The only other option is a glorified extra which makes for a boring show.

Which is what I'm saying is the danger of spinning off a bunch of characters into their own shows. You're taking all the most interesting characters and removing them from the show's equation. Meaning all that remain are just... glorified extras.

Cobb Vanth is literally the same thing as what you describe for Ashoka. We just don't know if he will get a spin off or appear in other shows like we did with Ashoka. So it is a bit weird for you to praise one but not the other. A nothing planet fighting a faceless enmey is essentially the core of theme of the show. Because it is a space western following a space cowboy (bounty hunter) on his travels around the Galaxy.

My notion with Cobb Vanth is that the plot of is episode is far more interesting than Ashoka's episode, which, aside from the dressing of what specific step of the fetch quest Mando is on, was ultimately very little different than him helping Bo Katan kill storm troopers in a hallway on a ship or helping Carl Weathers kill storm troopers in a hallway on a volcano base. They were just killing random thugs in hallways on a polluted planet so that Ashoka could fight some character that doesn't end up meaning anything or contributing anything important (if they even bothered to give her a name, I've forgotten it) to the overall story other than a fancy spear for Mando to wield as he continues on to do what he was sent to Ashoka's planet to do in the first place.

Perhaps an example more relevant is Bill Burr's character. Introduced in the show in a prison break where we get to see actual characters bouncing off of Mando and their personalities clashing until it all comes to a head where Mando's character and abilities are tested against theirs. Then Mayfeld comes back where he and Mando are forced to work together and once again their characters clash in a way that both informs Mando's arc in a significant way and also gives us relevant backstory into Mayfeld and shows us exactly why he is the way he is. But if we were getting the Mayfeld show, well, boom, him reoccurring in the Mandalorian is made a lot less likely or special.

Way more interesting than "Mando gets told by some lore figure to go here and help them kill stormtroopers in a hallway so that he can find where he needs to go next to kill stormtroopers in a hallway so that he can be further kicked down the curb to kill further stormtroopers in further hallways"

And again, you can excuse that unfortunate trapping of the show all you want as being referential to a TV western format that largely disappeared in the 1960s, but it doesn't make that specific well they unfortunately fall back into repeatedly particularly interesting. And as I said, that's unfortunate because the show has proved that it can certainly do more dynamic things when they feel properly motivated to do so.

[rhorle]

Which is what I'm saying is the danger of spinning off a bunch of characters into their own shows. You're taking all the most interesting characters and removing them from the show's equation. Meaning all that remain are just... glorified extras.

Those "interesting" characters though were never guaranteed to reappear. Nor does having their own show mean that they can't show up again if the story calls for it. It doesn't stop interesting characters from being added to the show either. Bill Burr being more intersting from some lore figure has nothing to do with a character getting a spin off or not. It just has to do with your personal taste of past appearances. Migs Mayfield, and his superior played just as much to lore as Ahsoka did. Operation Cinder is the entire reason why that episode had any kind of excitment.

But lore in a case you like is good. But lore in a case you don't personally like is pandering.

[Kaleredar]

Those "interesting" characters though were never guaranteed to reappear. Nor does having their own show mean that they can't show up again if the story calls for it. It doesn't stop interesting characters from being added to the show either. Bill Burr being more intersting from some lore figure has nothing to do with a character getting a spin off or not. It just has to do with your personal taste of past appearances. Migs Mayfield, and his superior played just as much to lore as Ahsoka did. Operation Cinder is the entire reason why that episode had any kind of excitment.

The vast majority of people who watched the Mandalorian would have had zero idea that they were referring to a specific operation from a video game, and the episode is written intelligently enough that that doesn't matter. Mayfeld and the officer they confront give more than enough context to what happened to show both the furthered insidiousness of the remains of the empire AND that Mayfeld does indeed have more of a conscious than he lets on.

That episode is not "good" because they named dropped a mission from Battlefront 2, it's good because it's a character piece that both pushes Mando AND Mayfeld's character in a way and shows us how far Mando has come in doing what he knows is right versus doing what he was taught to believe by his sect of Mandalorians. They could have just made up some new nefarious imperial scheme that Mayfeld regrets having been a part of and it wouldn't have changed the quality or the actually important character turn that we see Mando take as motivated by Mayfeld of the episode one bit.

But lore in a case you like is good. But lore in a case you don't personally like is pandering.

Because meanwhile, Ashoka's episode ultimately does nothing but give grounds for own TV show. Hell, the literal reason that Mando goes to her is shunted off to them finding the Jedi rock formation to then try and do what they were sent to Ashoka to do. Other than gaining a cool spear and Baby Yoda's name, that entire episode does nothing to inform us of what we know of Mando's character, nor does it test him in any particular way.

And again, you can excuse that by calling up antiquated TV show formats, but again... that doesn't make it interesting when they do it.

[rhorle]

The vast majority of people who watched the Mandalorian would have had zero idea that they were referring to a specific operation from a video game, and the episode is written intelligently enough that that doesn't matter.

Then they also wouldn't have any idea who Ashoka was right? Operation Cinder was not just from a video game but in a few different Star Wars fiction https://starwars.fandom.com/wiki/Ope...er#Appearances

You just keep reinforcing the point that it is about your personal taste rather then using lore figures. That episode is only good because of relying on existing lore in the Star Wars universe. With out that point of conflict their would have been no reason for Din to reveal his face. They also likely wouldn't have drawn the attention of the officer since it was Din's refusal to verify his face scan that drew attention.

Ahsoka was not just there for her own shown. What Jedi would Din have found? Ahsoka is related to Bo-Katan which Din was led too. Again it is weird how you ignore past lore events when you have a personal distaste for Ahsoka but don't also apply that reliance on past lore events for other story events. Ahsoka has reasons why she does not want to train a Jedi and of course only a Jedi would likely know about a special Jedi rock. It doesn't make it interesting to you when you can't look past personal distaste.

The antiquated formats is exactly what Bill Burr's character was before he came back for a second episode. And you have spent a few posts now gushing over how great his character was in both appearances. Weird right? You support that use of one off characters and "antiquated formats" when it is a character you like. But say it doesn't make interesting TV when it is a character you don't like. That is a stupid double standard.

The episode also tested Din in a few ways. You know since he took a job to kill her but didn't. And she also "lied" to him about training Grogu. Plus the spear he gained was pretty integral to the final battle. You hand wave anything you want which is silly. Anything is not interesting or great if you ignore parts of it.

[Kaleredar]

Then they also wouldn't have any idea who Ashoka was right? Operation Cinder was not just from a video game but in a few different Star Wars fiction https://starwars.fandom.com/wiki/Ope...er#Appearances

Ashoka was in far more Star Wars media for far longer and in a far more accessible form.

You just keep reinforcing the point that it is about your personal taste rather then using lore figures. That episode is only good because of relying on existing lore in the Star Wars universe. With out that point of conflict their would have been no reason for Din to reveal his face. They also likely wouldn't have drawn the attention of the officer since it was Din's refusal to verify his face scan that drew attention.

Again, that it was operation cinder is irrelevant. They could have made up any operation that Mayfeld regrets having been a part of.

Ahsoka was not just there for her own shown. What Jedi would Din have found?

Luke, apparently.

Ahsoka is related to Bo-Katan which Din was led too.

Again it is weird how you ignore past lore events when you have a personal distaste for Ahsoka

I have zero negative opinions about Ashoka as a character. I simply think the episode she was in was fairly bland and ultimately not very important, save for it being another fetch quest in the middle of a series of fetch quests.

but don't also apply that reliance on past lore events for other story events. Ahsoka has reasons why she does not want to train a Jedi and of course only a Jedi would likely know about a special Jedi rock. It doesn't make it interesting to you when you can't look past personal distaste.

No, it doesn't, because I care about character in a show, and not name dropping various Star Wars names.

The antiquated formats is exactly what Bill Burr's character was before he came back for a second episode. And you have spent a few posts now gushing over how great his character was in both appearances. Weird right? You support that use of one off characters and "antiquated formats" when it is a character you like. But say it doesn't make interesting TV when it is a character you don't like. That is a stupid double standard.

That Burr's character came back and the fact that both the episodes he was in acted as a means for the audience to get to know the characters better by revealing things about who they are as people is what distinguishes The Mandalorian, as a show and at times, from that antiquated format. Something I wish they'd do far more wholeheartedly. Especially because we're only dealing with 8 episode seasons here.

The episode also tested Din in a few ways. You know since he took a job to kill her but didn't.

There was never any doubt that he wasn't going to kill her. He didn't arrive on the planet to get a cool spear, he did it specifically to find a Jedi to train baby yoda. Something that, at the end of the episode, he's effectively no closer to doing than if Bo Katan had said "I knew someone who was a Jedi once, a long time ago... she told me of a rock that was sacred to their jedi order. It's on planet XYZ" in the previous episode and they had dug a stolen Beskar spear out of one of the containers before they took the imperial ship down. And before you hit me with a "well that would be awfully convenient," I contend that that explanation I just came up with is about 1,000 times more plausible than a random alien that Peli Motto was playing space poker with who happened to overhear their conversation and then said alien knowing a frog lady who knew where he could find Mandalorians.

That whole Ashoka episode could have been skipped, and all we would have lost is a Thrawn name drop and a plug for a new series. Hell I'm sure the youtube video rumor mill would have had a ball if Bo Katan had mysteriously name-dropped Ashoka like that and that's all we heard of her within the Mandalorian.

And she also "lied" to him about training Grogu. Plus the spear he gained was pretty integral to the final battle.

That a character hands another character a Mcguffin doesn't make them important any more than the Jawas that sold uncle Owen R2 and C3PO were "important."

You hand wave anything you want which is silly. Anything is not interesting or great if you ignore parts of it.

I prefer things in my story-driven TV shows that reveal character or test it in either interesting or novel ways, especially when we only get 8 episodes per season, and not just watch them tool around bland corridors fighting bland enemies. Those old 1960s westerns at least had the benefit of having to fill like, 40 episodes a season. And again, it's clearly not a matter of themnot being able to do more interesting stuff because they clearly can.

[rhorle]

Ashoka was in far more Star Wars media for far longer and in a far more accessible form.

So? Lore is Lore. Could they have made up any operation? Sure. They didn't though. Just like Din approaching Luke after finding Mandalorians wouldn't make much sense. Bo-Katan and Ahsoka make sense given the existing lore. A fetch quest in the middle of a fetch quest is the entire core of the show. That is what it is styled after. Of course they can do more interesting stuff it just isn't the style of show they set out to create. We covered this already so maybe the show just isn't for you? Which is perfectly fine but it is not fine to want to change the show simply because you think it would work better as a different style at its core.

It is also hilarious to say you don't care about name dropping characters despite saying Ahsoka is of more importance because of past lore appearances. Which is it. Name dropping matters or it doesn't? Just like you keep hand waving away the things we learn about Din and Ashoka's character while at the same time praising what we learn from Migs and Din. Same situations that once against get treated differently simply because one you like and one you don't. A recurring theme in all your responses on this topic. Weird huh?

[Ginny0]

aww,I adore Mandalorian

[PC2]

Finally watched this. Pretty cool series, I never get tired of Grogu getting into trouble, and that last scene with Skywalker was badass.

I just looked for season 3 and I found out its not even coming out this year. Lame!

[eschatological]

Finally watched this. Pretty cool series, I never get tired of Grogu getting into trouble, and that last scene with Skywalker was badass.

I just looked for season 3 and I found out it's not even coming out this year. Lame!

I thought s3 was December of this year. Unless it's been pushed?

Also, the Book of Boba Fett (teased in an after credits scene) had a hard date of December 2021 as well, which is a standalone series.

[Syegfryed]

I thought s3 was December of this year. Unless it's been pushed?

Also, the Book of Boba Fett (teased in an after credits scene) had a hard date of December 2021 as well, which is a standalone series.

gonna be honest, by mostly watching the movies, i always though Boba Fett was a stupid character with a retarded name(on my language at least is goofy as f) and i never understood how he was so hyped by people.

The serie made me change 180° perspective. on him and im rly excited for his own series

[PACOX]

Finally watched this. Pretty cool series, I never get tired of Grogu getting into trouble, and that last scene with Skywalker was badass.

I just looked for season 3 and I found out it's not even coming out this year. Lame!

I don't think they ever said Season 3 isn't dropping this year. What we got from Disney is that Season 3 has always been slotted for 2021 and they said the Boba Fett thing definitely wasn't season 3 and has its own date. I don't think they'll end up showing both at the same time but it seems like they do plan two (they are flexible with their dates).

[Yunru]

A bit offtopic, but The Bad Batch did add some new lore now

[Ihavewaffles]

I think s3 is scheduled for after the Book of Boba. So early 2022.

Not if book of boba is short, starts lets say dec 1, and Mando s3 starts dec 31st, then it's still 2021

[Ihavewaffles]

It’d have to be exceedingly short then, 4 episodes starting the 3rd and ending the 24th. Somehow I doubt it’ll be less than 6.

well, rumor has it it's 4 episodes, but if so, we don't know how long they will be, might be very long episodes to make up..

[Shadowferal]

As usual, I'm late to the party, and this is less a review and more a ramble of the two seasons I binged.
Indulge me please.
I knew very little beyond baby Yoda," aka, " Grogu." (rumor says this is Gungan meaning "little shit." Obviously this is vicious slander from a particular pissy Gungan who feels upstaged.)
Heck, had I known the series was Jon Favreau's baby I might have had higher expectations. As it was, what with all the shit that followed in the years after RotJ, I had none.
The whole of this seemed to me an immense love letter to the fanbase. This touched on everything that most, if not all, really liked, ending surprisingly with the one person that we all knew that could protect and train the child. (And perhaps just as important, the intimidation factor that a bounty hunter would feel of facing someone that went toe-to-toe with the dreaded Dart Vader)
Easy to our hero seeing himself in Grogu... We see and like that crack in the beskar armor. What began as two orphans...one who couldn't reveal his face to anyone, ended with a son touching his father's face...bared for all to see.
Of course the series sets the stage for sooo much more.
But I'm certain we haven't seen the last of our little boy. Even if for a cameo over a vid-feed to say "Hi papa!"

[Fayolynn]

I can't wait for season 3. Still annoyed over the implication that Grogu is doomed to die at the hands of Kylo.

[Shadowferal]

I can't wait for season 3. Still annoyed over the implication that Grogu is doomed to die at the hands of Kylo.

Have doubts about that.
Just a hunch really. I need to believe that Disney isn't so tone deaf to realize that the last trilogy isn't well accepted at all. I mean at this point they could make a Mandalorian movie, and if Grogu makes an appearance then they have a hit...assuming Jon Favreau remains firmly at the helm.

[Fayolynn]

Have doubts about that.

I mean based on what we know if Grogu stays with Luke then he has to die at the temple, otherwise Luke isn't "The Last Jedi". The only other possibility is to have Grogu leave the temple prior to being trained and join back up with Mando but that would completely undo the main storyline of season 2. The way Favreau wrote things either an already existing narrative gets undone or Grogu dies.