Movies & TV / Columns

Has The Mandalorian Become the New Benchmark for Star Wars?

October 31, 2020 | Posted by Steve Gustafson
The Mandalorian Season 2

I’ll start with confessing that I’m only a few episodes into The Mandalorian season 2 and…wow. This show brings back all the feel of the original trilogy and why I was a fan to begin with. 

And it makes it look easy! Seriously. I know some say they go a little heavy handed on the nostalgia but I have no problem with that. The original trilogy is heavy on the cheese at times and never took itself too seriously. 

That would come later.

This show is fun and uses a simple formula to keep it that way. 

Much is being made about the show’s tone, which feels more like Star Wars than the prequels and sequels to the original. To be honest, I’m all for handing over control of the franchise to series creator Jon Favreau and see what he does with it because if this show is any indication, we’d be in good hands.

The fact that Favreau is becoming more involved in the Star Wars universe isn’t surprising but the fact that he has so much support for fans is. Over the years Star Wars fandom has come under fire for being toxic, attacking the very franchise they profess to love. The prequels and sequels have drawn so much backlash that fans are splintered in their devotion to the saga.
Add in the sad performance of Solo: A Star Wars Story. the surprise gem of Rogue One: A Star Wars Story, and whatever The Rise of Skywalker was and you have a lot to pick through and decipher. At times it has gotten downright ugly, with some fans attacking the actors on social media and each other with arguments of why one movie is superior to another. We’ve even seen petitions started to remake movies in the series. It’s been a dark time for the franchise.

Then came along The Mandalorian and peace has settled across the land. Season Two looks to build on that in all the right ways. 

Positive reviews from fans and critics have installed something in the franchise that’s been long forgotten.

Hope.

I’m sure you’ve seen that as well on your social media timelines and while you’re chatting it up with friends. The Mandalorian has come at the perfect time to give the fanbase something to be thankful for. Not only that, some have made the argument that this show not only pays homage to the source material but surpasses it, which is something I can’t outright reject.

This show does play to the strengths of the original trilogy in ways the movies failed to. So let’s take a few moments and thank The Mandalorian for reminding us why we love Star Wars. And that damn cute baby Yoda.

Now let me get back to Season Two! No spoilers in the comments please.