Why “The Mandalorian” Should Only Last Five Seasons.
The problem with any successful show is knowing when to call it quits. The Mandalorian has only been out a few years but is already considered the top pick when fans are asked “What is the best Star Wars content,” but is there a danger in letting it run for too long?
Now the Star Wars fandom is complicated and unforgiving but warmed up to Pedro Pascal’s Din Djarin and “Baby Yoda” (later revealed to be Grogu) immediately. The Mandalorian (at first) departs from the more popular known narrative of the Skywalkers, Empire and Rebellion and chooses rather to follow a single bounty hunter as he rejects the only life he knows as he decides to protect his high valued target, the child. The child is later revealed to be force sensitive. Which comes as a surprise to Din but not to viewers familiar with what a member of Yoda’s species could represent. This sets Mando and the viewers on a fresh new take into the Star Wars universe.
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The Mandalorian is a great place to start if you have never seen any Star Wars content, but to long time viewers of animated shows like The Clone Wars and Rebels, it serves as almost a part III to the narrative Executive Producer (and sometimes Director) Dave Filoni has crafted. It is littered with Easter eggs that range from showing the Death Watch symbol to the protagonist eventually meeting Ahsoka Tano and holding the Darksaber. The shows creator Jon Favreau was adamant about returning Star Wars to the old Samurai/Western style that shaped George Lucas‘s vision of Star Wars back in 1977. This perspective and his success w launching the MCU led to Favreau being given almost total control of Star Wars first live action TV show and he has not disappointed.
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The Mandalorian is about to enter its third season and while most feel the narrative has barely scratched the surface, some feel the story has passed its midway point. The show ended its previous season with Mando giving Grogu to Luke Skywalker and him returning to his old life. However, that was quickly negated during a cameo in The Book of Boba Fet where Grogu is presented with the choice of Mandalorian armor or a lightsaber. Considering what eventually happens to Luke’s school, we are all happier he decides to return to Mando. This sets up season 3 to be similar to season 2 but without the remnants of the Empire hot on their tail. The narrative is rumored to head towards Mandalore where Din will eventually have to deal with his past and future.
One of the best things about the Mandalorian is it knows what story it wants to tell. Each episode is a different length and has its own distinct purpose. Serving to always build the narrative but also connecting the larger universe. Most of us want Grogu and Mando to stay together forever but that can’t happen. Grogu could live to be a thousand years old and Star Wars directors (cough cough Filoni) love to take away found family in the most devastating way. If you drag that inevitably out, then you water down its impact and run the risk of disappointing viewers with a finale (Game of Thrones) or dragging it out to where fans lose interest (The Walking Dead.) Grogu eventually needs to lose Mando but in a way that is too soon for him but not for the viewers.
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