The Mandalorian (Complete Series 1 Review) – ‘This Is The Way’

Review: The Mandalorian Complete Series 1 by Jon Favreau (7/10)

For those of you unaware, The Mandalorian is an attempt to bring the world of Star Wars to the small screen, airing exclusively on the Disney Plus streaming service. While far from a perfect show, it establishes itself as a refreshing yet familiar take on the Star Wars universe, encapsulating all the familiar tropes that fans know and love while bringing a new perspective on established lore. With many fans not taking to Disney’s continuation of the big screen blockbuster film saga, this could not have come at a better time.

The Mandalorian — Credit: Disney

With the inclusion of a stellar list of directors, including Thor: Ragnarok creative Taika Waititi and famed film actress Bryce Dallas Howard, The Mandalorian is not shy of bringing in talented help. The show further bears the fingerprints of acclaimed Clone Wars director Dave Filoni, which thankfully establishes with it the iconic Star Wars feel. However, this is not without its faults, similarly bringing with it a lack of urgency in pushing the plot forward, as the writers focus too much on filler. With The Clone Wars driving the expanse of its storytelling across upwards of 20 episodes per season, it is clear to see why this may have hindered Filoni's well-regarded expertise.

As you would expect from a talent list as long as this, the show bears much potential but is too heavily reliant on fan service, no matter how cool it is to see direct and indirect references to mythology recognisable to hardcore and casual fans alike — such as the iconic Filoni Dark Saber making its first live-action appearance.

Despite this minor setback, this is a show I would recommend to any fan of Star Wars and even to those younger viewers who are completely unfamiliar. Ultimately, unsurprising to any of you who have encountered these actors and the creative team behind — and in some cases in front of — the camera, The Mandalorian is a series with heart, reminiscent of the original Lucas films. It brings with it all the emotional beats fans are seeking from a Star Wars cast — something wholly missing from the sequel trilogy.

As a small shoutout, I would like to give credit to the musical score of the series, composed by Ludwig Göransson. Keeping up the tradition of John Williams’ excellent compositions, The Mandalorian provides a memorable soundtrack, fitting with the setting in which it occupies and helping bring the show to life as it complements the on-screen characters and visuals.

Speaking of characters, Pedro Pascal is the undisputed lead of this show as the titled Mandalorian, even if the fan-named ‘Baby Yoda’ likes to steal the spotlight whenever he’s on screen. As ‘Mando’ takes on the charge of protecting this child, we get to see what makes this faceless character so compelling. He’s not the chosen one like Anakin or the legendary Jedi Knight Obi-Wan, but it doesn’t matter; we can route for him, and that’s what you want out of any good Star Wars protagonist.

Pedro Pascal as 'Mando' — Credit: Disney

As you would expect, Mando is not alone in his journey, encountering various droids and aliens alike across his travels. While I wouldn’t necessarily describe any of them as spectacular, the bounty hunter droid IG-88 is a notable standout who will go down in the Star Wars history books. It’s a shame, however, that the eight episodes we have been given lack a compelling villain to compliment its strong lead.

Perhaps as a result of this lack of a notable villain, pacing and structure could use some improvement. This first series lacks the urgency necessitated by an eight-episode span, made worse by an underwhelming run time for some episodes, falling below the mark expected by a series of this calibre. I can forgive that this is both the leading attempt by Disney Plus and the Star Wars brand at a high-budget, high-investment TV show, but as the show stretches on, fan fare will only be able to take it so far.

The Mandalorian encounters various alies and foes across his journey — Credit: Disney

Even with this handicap, I am happy to report that it does end strongly, with a breadth of character building explaining why the title hero is so compelled to protect the young child. It's just a shame it took to the final episode for things to become truly engaging. However, I am willing to stick with it, as the potential for greatness is apparent.

Putting aside the minor gripes I have with The Mandalorian, the show poses interesting concepts and is a strong first attempt at adapting Star Wars in live action for the small screen. With increased focus, a follow-up second series could be the best thing to come out of this universe.

With season two set to hit screens at the end of 2020, we don't have to wait too long to re-join the exploits of Mando and his lovable companion. Hopefully with the establishment of a firm following, the showrunners will be more willing to take risks and push the plot forward in new and interesting ways.