The Mandalorian: ‘I Can Bring You In Warm... Or I Can Bring You In Cold’

With episodes one and two of The Mandalorian now readily available to stream on Disney Plus, it stands to reason that any Star Wars fan would jump at the prospect of exploring a new corner of the Star Wars mythos. As anyone familiar with the expanse of content in the wider Extended Universe will tell you, Star Wars is about more than just what is seen in the films. So why then can’t I shake the feeling that we keep endlessly moving in circles?

'The Mandalorian' portrayed by Pedro Pascal — Credit: Disney

[SPOILER WARNING FOR THOSE YET TO WATCH THE FIRST TWO EPISODES]

Don’t get me wrong, the idea of exploring the exploits of a Mandalorian bounty hunter shortly after the events of Return Of The Jedi is heavily appealing, but Disney seem too afraid to make it its own thing. The show presents an interesting chance to explore a dark side (no pun intended) of Star Wars that we have never seen before, following a smaller-scale story which is self-contained. So why in the space of two short — yes, very short — episodes have we already had encounters with the overused Jawas and a Force-sensitive baby built on nostalgia for the deceased Jedi master Yoda?

I’ve seen many comments justifying the use of Jawas, saying they are numerous and that we’re not necessarily revisiting Tatooine for the millionth time. But even if it’s the case that their species is an abundant commodity in a diverse universe, that doesn’t justify the lack of creative substance in harking back to done-to-death concepts. Why not create a new species? Perhaps something terrifying to challenge the intimidating presence of our new masked protagonist?

Now, ‘Baby Yoda’ — as our new companion has been named — is something of a mixed bag for me. On one side, this is a clear attempt at capitalising on an old character’s iconic profile, but on the other hand, a force sensitive 50-year-old baby is such a gripping plot device that I can’t help but want to tune in every week to see how the story unfolds. With such a unique concept blemished by an overused coat of paint, it makes you wonder why they don’t just make a new species that ages slowly and call it day.

The Mandalorian's new companion — Credit: Disney

Merchandising prospects aside, it seems like such a wasted opportunity for innovation. When given a blank canvas, would you expect da Vinci to repaint the Mona Lisa over and over again with slight differences? I doubt it. The same idea should be applied here. Make something new!

This is a complaint that has cursed the Star Wars franchise ever since The Force Awakens practically retold the events of A New Hope; the fans want something new. I can’t tell you how many times I have seen requests for an Old Republic era film trilogy, so Disney’s aversion to risk is just wasted potential.

Imagine a series or film depicting a universe filled to the brim with Sith and Jedi alike… The cinematic potential is boundless! Even if creating something completely new is a concern, it’s not like popular characters such as Revan or Darth Bane don’t exist. They can easily pull from pre-existing material, which is something they have been shown willing to do. Look at the reintroduction of Grand Admiral Thrawn in Rebels as an example. This brought back a fan-favourite character to high acclaim.

Thrawn cover art from Thrawn Alliances — Credit: Del Rey Books

Without mixing my words, I am going to continue watching. Despite my grievances and an abysmal amount of filler for such short episode spans, I am hopeful that The Mandalorian is going somewhere with this plot. It’s interesting to think what happened to this baby when you consider it survived the purge of the Jedi and could still be alive during the events of the new trilogy. Could this be one of Luke Skywalker’s new apprentices cut down by Kylo Ren? If they want to wrap it up neatly, this could be the case.

Moving forward, as much as I am excited for the Obi-Wan show and the resurgence of The Clone Wars, it would be a welcome change to see a deep dive into different eras impervious to the legacy of the Skywalker saga. Take a chance, Disney. Make something new. You might just find it works out in your favour!