The big Mandalorian rewatch

Cathy and I started rewatching the Mandalorian series before seeing the film that was released in the summer. After seeing the film we completed the whole story arc so I thought it would be fun to publish a mega-review. The film is now streaming on Disney Plus and we've watched it again.

Spoilers follow - read on at your own risk!

Season 1

Synopsis: The Mandalorian is a bounty hunter named Din Djarin, who is given a commission to find a mysterious child of an unknown species. His client is a former high-ranking officer in the Empire. He discovers the child has special powers when the child saves his life. Feeling indebted to the child, the Mandalorian reneges on the bounty and goes on the run with the child, taking on various jobs while trying to keep ahead of Imperial warlords.

In the finale, another Imperial faction led by a new main antagonist, Moff Gideon, appears and comes after the child, leading to a massive shoot-out. 

(I blogged a detailed review of the first series back when it came out.)

Favourite episode: probably episode 6, 'The Prisoner'. It's a prison break episode with some interesting other characters, with guest stars Bill Burr and Richard Ayoade (voicing a droid), and it adds to the wider narrative of the post-Empire rebuild of the New Republic. There's lots of action and I think it has the best dialogue in the series. 

Least favourite episode: although it's pivotal to the Mandalorian's relationship with the child, the second episode where the Mandalorian's spaceship is stripped for parts by thieving Jawas is probably my least favourite. 

Departure point: The child is identified as a Jedi and the Mandalorian is quested to return him "to his own kind".  So, off they go... 

Meanwhile, in a very end scene, Moff Gideon is shown to be in possession of the darksaber, a potent Mandalorian weapon that imbues authority to rule on any Mandalorian who wields it.

Season 2 

Synopsis: The Mandalorian tries to find a Jedi who will take responsibility for training the child. Moff Gideon intensifies his hunt for the child, needing his Jedi blood for a mysterious cloning project.

There are throwbacks aplenty. The Mandalorian meets former Jedi, Ahsoka Tano, first introduced in the Clone Wars and Rebels cartoon series and now played in live action by Rosario Dawson (who went on to lead the Ahsoka series shortly after). Ahsoka reveals the child's name is Grogu.

Another character making the jump from animation to live film is Bo-Katan Kryze, deposed ruler of Mandalore, played by Katee Sackhoff. And then the last few episodes reintroduce the legendary Boba Fett, who allies with the Mandalorian, and Luke Skywalker, who promises to train the child.

Favourite episode: I think episode 7 of the series, 'The Believer', is the absolute pinnacle of Disney Star Wars. It brings back Bill Burr's character from the first series. It's a dangerous heist plot. There are loads of lore references, like a discussion of Operation Cinder, and there is a philosophical conversation that was so surprising I blogged about it when I first watched the episode.

Least favourite episode: the second episode with the ice spiders, Grogu eating the frog lady's unhatched children and a deus ex machina rescue.

Departure point: with Grogu heading off to become a Jedi with Luke Skywalker, the story arc was kind of done. There was a hanging thread left regarding the darksaber and the restoration of the planet Mandalore, but that could have been left dangling.

The showrunners had also nicely set up the Rangers of the New Republic series with Cara Dune officially a New Republic marshall. However actress Gina Carrano imploded her career and subsequently got fired from the project. (I blogged about it at the time.) The Rangers series never happened. Cara Dune was erased with a passing reference at the start of season 3.

There's also a tiny post-credits scene where Boba Fett returns to Tatooine, as a trailer for the new series: The Book of Boba Fett. 

The Book of Boba Fett (episodes 5-7)

Synopsis: Boba Fett is trying to establish his authority on Tatooine. He needs help and hires the Mandalorian. But actually, the Mandalorian is the sole focus of a full episode and Grogu's Jedi training takes up a good chunk of another episode. There was some discussion at the time about how the series was clunky and the inclusion of the Mandalorian and Grogu was a "rescue mission". (Read my full blog about it.)

In terms of the wider Mandalorian story arc, though, these episodes are essential because it acts as a jumping off point to season 3 after reuniting the Mandalorian and Grogu.

Favourite episode: The Return of the Mandalorian (episode 5) includes a stunning city on a ringworld, where the Mandalorian learns more about the darksaber. He also takes possession of a new starship. 

Least favourite episode: all 3 are essential for the ongoing story arc but episode 6 drags a bit. Uncanny CGI Luke Skywalker is a bit boring for a Jedi master.

Departure point: After helping Boba Fett beat the Pyke Syndicate, the Mandalorian and Grogu fly off in their starfighter to their next adventure.

Season 3

Synopsis: The Mandalorian and Grogu are reunited. Seeking absolution for breaking the creed, the Mandalorian visits the devastated planet Mandalore, with Bo-Katan. They work together to reunite the Mandalorian factions to re-colonise their homeworld, only to find it's being used by Moff Gideon as a base for his experiments with clones and 'dark troopers'. 

Favourite episode: possibly episode 5, 'The Pirate', as it features lots of Mandalorians in action against a space pirate who has taken over the planet Nevarro. Although the next episode, 'Guns for Hire' has a very unusual focus - a hitherto unseen droid subculture when they are off the clock - and references to Clone Wars era politics. But it also guest stars Jack Black and a very unconvincing Lizzo as the planetary rulers who hire the guns of the Mandalorian and Bo-Katan. So, a real mixed bag episode. 

Least favourite episode: episode 3 starts and ends with the Mandalorian and Bo-Katan as they shoot their way out of trouble and start their journey together. But most of the episode follows two ex-Imperials on Coruscant in a story that is visually very interesting but isn't particularly relevant to the ongoing story. It ties up a loose end with a side character and adds some depth to the back story of the New Republic, but it's not necessary. (The two bits either side are necessary, though.)

Departure point: after the destruction of Moff Gideon's horrifying project, and the Moff himself, the Mandalorian formally adopts Grogu so the child can become a Mandalorian apprentice. The Armourer tells Din Djarin that he must take Din Grogu on "his journeys". The Mandalorian makes a pitch to the New Republic to work for them as a private contractor. He then heads to his new, gifted dwelling on Nevarro to wait for a commission.

The Mandalorian and Grogu 

Synopsis: The Mandalorian is now working as a freelance contractor for the New Republic. The film works as three episodes. Part 1 shows the Mandalorian hunting down an Imperial warlord and being tasked to find the "missing" son of Jabba the Hutt, Rotta, a character first introduced in the Clone Wars animated series. Rotta's aunt and uncle, known as the twins, want the Mandalorian to find him and bring him back to them. Part 2 is about finding Rotta and making sure he is safe from both his captor and his conniving aunt and uncle. Part 3 pitches the Mandalorian and Grogu against the twins, who are angry at being double-crossed.

(Read more in my review of the film.)

Favourite bit: The opening section with the Mandalorian taking out an Imperial warlord by blasting his way through a column of AT-AT walkers is highly enjoyable. Particularly the bit where Grogu is trying to hurry him up before the AT-AT they are in explodes.

Least favourite bit: The aftermath of the escape from the Hutt twins where Grogu is caring for the wounded Mandalorian is cute but a bit sedate.

Departure point: With their enemies vanquished and all their friends safe, the Mandalorian and Grogu take off from the New Republic base for an unknown destination. Possibly just heading back to their homestead on Nevarro.