Welcome back to part four of my passion blog series! I showcase a variety of shows and movies, including key elements that make it unique, as well as a recommendation or type of audience that would enjoy the show.
The show of the week is… The Mandalorian!
The Mandalorian had a lot to live up to when it first aired. Many hardcore fans of Star Wars have high expectations and strong opinions whenever a new film or show airs, but this was the first show to be live-action, making it brand-new territory. The show works to incorporate a new storyline and new characters into an already existing cinematic universe, while also featuring characters and locations from past works. Since there are so many Star Wars films and shows and not every fan has seen them all the key for the creators was to ensure the storyline could be followed and enjoyable for the average viewer, while also including elements that more avid fans could notice.
The plot follows main protagonist Din Djarin, a Mandalorian bounty hunter, who travels the galaxy until he comes across a baby with unique capabilities. This takes him on a journey to protect the child, while also learning more about the child’s powers. Unique plots are intertwined as they travel to new planets, helping those they meet along the way.
A major theme present throughout the storyline is the idea of fatherhood. Din becomes a father figure to the child unexpectedly and has to learn how to fill this uncharacteristic role for himself. Over the course of the show their relationship strengthens and they form a level of trust. Additionally, the adorable child brings in great appeal to a younger audience and is a fan favorite.
Watching a show is meant to be an entertaining and natural experience. Nothing should feel forced. The plot should flow and characters should have a purpose, which is one good aspect to this show. Something that stands out is the representation. For example, there are many strong female characters and even a scene of just them fighting alone. Yet, it feels completely natural and not like the creators purposely did it just to appeal to women, which can be an issue in the film industry.
The show currently has two seasons and is planning on a third. There is still a lot of content to explore, which shows a lot of promise for the future of the show. Overall, I would recommend this show to watch. It does require some knowledge of Star Wars, but the viewer does not have to know everything.
My friends and family always rave about this show. I saw the first episode but I never gave the rest of it a chance. I noticed that is show is fairly easy to follow for people without much star wars knowledge (even though I know everything about it). I’m going to have to watch it through when I get time!
This show was a new chance for Disney to fix some of the mistakes they made in the third movie trilogy, and I feel they did a fantastic job. From the point you mentioned above of it being the first live action Star Wars show, to the filming aspect of using a large screen as a dynamic backdrop, this show has a lot of firsts while making references calling back to past pieces in this universe. I believe this is a clear and accurate description of the show and sells it very well. Thanks for sharing!
As I am not the biggest fan of Star Wars, I cannot personally relate to this blog post. However, I do know family and friends who are in love with the show and use their Disney+ accounts strictly for the Mandalorian. I think it is a smart move by Disney to make the Mandalorian a fresh rebrand to an already, well-established Star Wars series.
I have not seen many of the Star Wars movies, but your description of the plot and themes gave me a good understanding of the show. I remember the hype surrounding the show at the time of its release, but I feel that it matched expectations being that it has been renewed for more seasons and many people were impressed by it. Based on your post, I think that the show keeping certain elements of the original movies while promoting representation was fitting for the pop cultural changes that have occurred since the release of the original movies, especially since the only strong female lead I can recall was Princess Leia from the originals.