Star Wars: The Mandalorian

Review Time! A simple man trying to make his way in the universe. A mysterious child. And a galaxy full of danger and violence. Set 5 years after the Battle of Endor, the New Republic is on the rise and the Empire is all but extinguished. In the Outer Rim, however, lawlessness has descended, and often times to make ends meet men have to take on dangerous and unethical jobs. For one Mandalorian, it involves finding a 50 year old target for a local Imperial Warlord. However, when the target turns out to be an alien child who can wield the Force, this sets off a chain of events that will forever alter the Galaxy, and Star Wars itself! With outstanding visual effects, tense action, unique characters (along with returning favorites from Clone Wars, Rebels and more), an engaging and memorable soundtrack, and a love for Star Wars that pervades every scene, Star Wars: The Mandalorian is love letter to fans and a wonderful introduction to the Galaxy Far Far Away. While there are some story issues (some plot holes, inconsistencies or nonsensical character choices), the writing does improve dramatically in Season 2, and you often start to care about the characters, which is more than I could say about ANY of the Sequel Characters. Pedro Pascal is impressive in his subtle performance of Mando, given that most of his scenes are with a helmet on. Gina Carano is also great as Cara Dune, and is just one of several awesome women in the show. What strikes me the most is that, unlike the highly divisive Sequel Trilogy (which seems to go out of its way to either insult the fans, George Lucas or both, when it isn’t cannibalizing itself), The Mandalorian is universally beloved by the fans, and goes out of its way to incorporate elements of Legends into canon, which is a welcome sight for old fans. Jon Favreau and Dave Filoni love Star Wars with a passion and this show is the result of that love, a love that has brought back many of the fandom and gives me hope for the future of Star Wars. With more shows on the horizon, I will watching Star Wars with great anticipation, but for now I will say, The Mandalorian is what Star Wars, and the fans, needed. This is the Way, I have spoken!