THE MANDALORIAN -- The First Live-Action Series in the STAR WARS Universe Delivers

12/27/2019

S1E8: "Chapter 8: Redemption"

Review by Sean Boelman

Jason Sudekis and Adam Pally are Scout Troopers in THE MANDALORIAN, exclusively on Disney+.

Picking up after the massive cliffhanger at the end of Chapter Seven, the season finale of the Disney+ series The Mandalorian delivers a thrilling, if somewhat overwhelming conclusion to the saga of the Star Wars universe’s new favorite bounty hunter. Thanks to excellent direction from Taika Waititi, this episode lands firmly on the higher end of the series in terms of quality.

One of the defining characteristics of this series is that it allows the directors’ individual voices to shine through. Since a majority of the episodes (the last two excluded) are relatively self-contained adventures, there is a lot of room for each filmmaker to bring their own style to the table. In Waititi’s case, this allows the series’s final episode to be the most comedic one yet. While there have been plenty of humorous quips throughout the series, the first ten minutes of this episode serve as a welcome comedic relief to the constant anxiety that the previous episode caused.

That said, there is still some very impressive action in this episode. With a longer runtime than any other episode of the show, there’s a lot happening here, and part of it is that Favreau is trying to set up the future of the series. Although there are some developments in this episode that may come as a shock to fans, the quality of this episode fully implies that Favreau and crew have plenty left to explore in this story, if only they keep up the spirit of creativity that it has inspired.

The Mandalorian is now streaming on Disney+.

Rating: 4.5/5

S1E7: "Chapter 7: The Reckoning"

Review by Sean Boelman

Carl Weathers is Greef Karga, Nick Nolte is Kuiil, Pedro Pascal is The Mandalorian, and Gina Carano is Cara Dune in THE MANDALORIAN, exclusively on Disney+.

In what is likely the best episode in the series yet, director Deborah Chow (who also helmed episode three) and writer Jon Favreau have finally started to tie all the threads of The Mandalorian together. While the individual adventures that came before were undeniably fun to watch, this episode is the first half of what promises to be an epic conclusion to the bounty hunter’s adventure.

The thing that makes this episode so compelling is that it reunites the protagonist with many of the supporting characters he met in individual episodes to form a team for a huge mission. In many ways, this plays out like the first half of a heist film, and of course, the end of the episode leaves the audience at a huge cliffhanger, although the episode releasing two days early (presumably so that fans can focus entirely on The Rise of Skywalker this weekend) means that viewers will have to wait longer than usual to see the conclusion.

Chow’s style in this episode is absolutely wonderful. Although each episode has featured some truly wonderful action sequences, this one has one that feels completely unique, having tinges of horror in addition to the standard action. This scene really creeps under one’s skin in a way that the series hasn’t ever before. It will be interesting to see the direction in which the final episode heads.

The Mandalorian is now streaming on Disney+. New episodes stream every Friday.

Rating: 5/5

S1E6: "Chapter 6: The Prisoner"

Review by Sean Boelman

Chapter 6. Pedro Pascal is The Mandalorian, Bill Burr is Mayfield, and Mark Boone, Jr. is Ran Malk in THE MANDALORIAN, exclusively on Disney+.

Since the first episode, most of the entries into the Star Wars web series The Mandalorian have been pretty consistent in terms of quality. Despite flaws in dialogue and sometimes pacing, the individual adventures featuring the eponymous bounty hunter and his young green companion have been mostly entertaining. However, with the sixth episode, an issue that was already obvious has become painfully clear.

One of the few disappointing things about The Mandalorian is that its episodes are so short, often not running much more than half an hour in length. More often than not, this just results in the pacing feeling overly aggressive, but in this case, there is simply too much going on for the story to be communicated effectively in such a short period of time. Even though this episode is still entertaining, it is undeniably the weakest one yet.

Perhaps the most significant issue with this episode is that there are too many new characters thrown into the mix. In past episodes, one or two significant supporting players is introduced, but due to the nature of this adventure, an entire crew is involved in this one. As such, quite a bit of backstory is left underdeveloped and audiences will be left wanting more from some of these extremely interesting figures. Still, with the way that this series has been going, it is unlikely that audiences will have to worry about this comparative dud for much longer.

The Mandalorian is now streaming on Disney+. New episodes stream every Friday.

Rating: 3.5/5

S1E5: "Chapter 5: The Gunslinger"

Review by Sean Boelman

Jake Cannavale is Toro Calican and Pedro Pascal is the Mandalorian in THE MANDALORIAN, exclusively on Disney+.

Maybe the single biggest test of the show’s success as of yet, the newest episode of The Mandalorian proves that there is more to love in the first live-action Star Wars web series than a cute green puppet. Offering yet another space-faring Western adventure, The Mandalorian continues to be the main draw of the Disney+ service.

This episode focuses almost exclusively on the eponymous bounty hunter, with very little time spent on “The Child” who has been the subject of much of the show’s online discussion. By giving the lead a solo adventure and taking the time to develop him on his own, the series is able to show that it really does deserve its place within the Star Wars universe.

Interestingly enough, this episode also manages to fix a lot of the issues with the dialogue that have plagued prior entries. Perhaps this is because the series’s Western influences are more evident than ever in this adventure. Taking the classic story of a seasoned gunslinger taking a rookie under his wing and sending it to a galaxy far, far away, this may not be the most original or inventive story to be seen from the show yet, but it offers exactly what fans want and will enjoy.

The Mandalorian is now streaming on Disney+. New episodes stream every Friday.

Rating: 4.5/5

S1E4: "Chapter 4: Sanctuary"

Review by Sean Boelman

Chapter 4. Pedro Pascal is The Mandalorian and Gina Carano is Clara Dune in THE MANDALORIAN, exclusively on Disney+.

Proving itself to be one of the most unpredictable series streaming right now, the fourth episode of The Mandalorian continues to follow everyone’s favorite bounty hunter (and perhaps more importantly, “The Child”) on the run. Directed by Bryce Dallas Howard, this episode contains the show’s best action yet, but also has some shortcomings.

Perhaps the most interesting thing about this episode is the addition of Gina Carano to the cast. Thanks to the inclusion of the fighter-turned-actress in the action scenes, the choreography becomes much more complex and exciting, even if the brevity of the serialized nature of the show prevents these sequences from going as long as they likely should. As with much of the rest of the series, it’s a lot of fun to watch, but it simply isn’t long enough.

That said, Carano is certainly much more adept at the action sequences than she is at delivering her lines, and as such, the flaws in the dialogue (which have been there since the beginning) become even more evident. Many of the prior episodes haven’t featured a ton of dialogue because of the eponymous protagonist’s soft-spoken nature, but as the series continues, it is clear that this is the area in which the show will struggle most.

The Mandalorian is now streaming on Disney+. New episodes stream every Friday.

Rating 4.5/5

S1E3: "Chapter 3: The Sin"

Review by Sean Boelman

Chapter 3. The Child and The Mandalorian (Pedro Pascal) in THE MANDALORIAN, exclusively on Disney+.

The first two episodes having left the future of the series wide open, episode three of The Mandalorian seems to finally set clear the direction in which the show is heading, and it is one which will undoubtedly satisfy fans of the lore. Featuring some of the series’s best action yet, this episode is sure to be a hit.

The biggest strength of this episode, without doubt, is the way in which it builds upon the mythology established by the first two entries. It has become obvious that the best part of this series is going to be what it has to offer within the greater context of the Star Wars universe, and the end of this episode promises to take the world to some very interesting places.

That said, the weaknesses of the episodic structure of the show are more prevalent than ever in this episode, as it feels like the creators were trying to cram everything into a nice half-hour box. Some of the action sequences feel extremely rushed, and it would have been nice to see them play out for longer. Still, this is effective in that it does leave viewers wanting more and will ensure that they tune in to the next episode.

The Mandalorian is now streaming on Disney+. New episodes stream every Friday.

Rating: 4.5/5

S1E2: "Chapter 2: The Child"

Review by Sean Boelman

Pedro Pascal is The Mandalorian and Nick Nolte is Kuiil in THE MANDALORIAN, exclusively on Disney+.

After a huge cliffhanger at the end of the pilot, the Star Wars web series The Mandalorian returns with a follow-up that shines some light on the direction in which the show’s arc will be heading. Although this second episode isn’t quite as mind-blowing as the pilot, it still contains plenty of what fans will hope to see.

In this episode, the strengths and weaknesses of the series have become abundantly clear. Although it is entirely possible that some of these issues will resolve themselves in future episodes, there are some areas, particularly in regards to the writing, that could use some additional work. The dialogue, for example, doesn’t always work. At times, it feels like the show can’t decide whether or not it wants to be serious or witty.

That said, the series does contain some exhilarating action sequences that are likely to be the main draw of this show. Additionally, the film explores the Star Wars mythology in extremely interesting ways both by revisiting some fan-favorite characters from the saga’s past and by addressing some questions that viewers have long had about the characters. And while this episode doesn’t end with a bombshell revelation like the first one did, it still leaves the door wide open for future episodes.

The Mandalorian is now streaming on Disney+. New episodes stream every Friday.

Rating: 4.5/5

S1E1: "Chapter 1: The Mandalorian"

Review by Sean Boelman

The Mandalorian, created by Jon Favreau, is the first ever live-action web series in the Star Wars universe, making it the flagship offering of Disney’s new streaming service Disney+. Offering what is perhaps the most fun adventure to come out in a long time from a galaxy far, far away, this series absolutely lives up to every bit of hype that was set for it.

The series follows a lone bounty hunter as he travels around the galaxy hunting his targets. Set between the events of the original trilogy and the sequel trilogy, the series seems destined to bridge some of the gap that exists between the time of the Empire and the rule of the First Order. Though it is different from anything else to come out of the Star Wars saga before, the first episode offers plenty of the sci-fi thrills which fans have come to expect of the series.

By emphasizing the western elements that have always been present in the series, Favreau’s script manages to be one of the most intriguing explorations of the universe since the original trilogy. More so than any other recent adventure, this series was able to capture the sense of wonder and fantasy that made the original film by George Lucas so appealing yet balance it with the thrills and exciting action that fans have come to demand.

The amount of money that Disney put into this series is obvious. In less than forty minutes, the first episode explores multiple new settings that are completely immersive and beautiful. The effects and design of everything in this series lives up to the level of detail that fans would expect. With this show, Favreau has expanded this beloved universe in a way that fans likely didn’t even know they wanted, but they truly needed.

The film’s cast is led by Pedro Pascal (Game of Thrones), but the story limits him to using his voice to perform by keeping him under a mask for the entirety of the episode (and, presumably, the series). There are also some recognizable faces in the supporting cast, including Nick Nolte, Werner Herzog, and Carl Weathers. It will be interesting to see the direction that the series takes these characters in the future.

With The Mandalorian, it seems like the folks at Disney have finally figured out a way to make a compelling story not centered around the Skywalker saga. With the cliffhanger ending of the first episode, it is clear that this is destined to be a worthy and action-packed entry into this world beloved by many.

The Mandalorian is now streaming on Disney+. New episodes stream every Friday.

Rating: 5/5

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