Andrew Haskell Saves Television - The Mandalorian Review

Star Wars first foray into a live action TV series was the much anticipated The Mandalorian, built not just on the anticipation for the milestone this represented for the Star Wars universe but because the bounty hunter based show was a featured tentpole of the Disney+ launch, perhaps the most anticipated streaming service yet. Episodic television shows have proved successful for the Star Wars team with The Clone Wars and Rebels both being well received by fans and critics alike. Was Star Wars first attempt into a live action galaxy very very close also a success?

The Mandalorian opens with a new Star Wars title screen, with characters of the Skywalker trilogy flashing on screen. I would figure this will be the new title screen to help tie future Star Wars TV projects together. Our title character, played by Game of Throne's Pedro Pascal but not seen as the character adheres to Mandalorian culture of not removing his helmet, is in action early on as he is on a bounty hunter mission that brings him to a seedy watering hole (imagine one of those in the Star Wars universe). Fearless, stoic, and a tour de force in hand to hand combat we get an early glimpse that the Mandalorian is a bounty hunter to be reckoned with. In an interesting move the opening bounty hunt features former SNL cast member Horatio Sanz and comedian Brian Posehn. Both are impressive in their roles, especially Sanz who plays the bounty hunters target, but to see two predominantly comedic actors early on just borders on the line of taking you out of the universe (Sanz’s makeup and style looks as though it would be more at home in Star Trek or The Orville than in Star Wars). Ultimately the ups outweigh the downs and this opening sequence lays the groundwork for what the show will be and does it in a very Star Wars way (a lawless Wild West style world, minor comic relief, and a mysterious alien monster threat)

We then transition to the strongest portion of this premier episode. The bounty returns to his client, played by Carl Weathers, who tries to pay him in Imperial Credits which are now bordering on worthless and really gives us an idea of what love in a post Empire galaxy will look like. Looking for a big score as the price of bounty hunting is dropping the Mandalorian meets with a mysterious figure played by Werner Herzog who send our protagonist after a 50 year old target. Here is where The Mandalorian really shines as a companion piece to the Star Wars universe, Herzog’s character is guarded by former Imperial Stormtroopers. These storm troopers look beshelved, run down, deeply impacted by the war that just passed giving us perhaps the best insight into the life after the war that Star Wars has ever given us. The history and tragedy of the Mandalorian race is touched upon even showing an underground Mandalorian society (in a stairway and hallway that looked awfully like Maz Kanata’s cantina). Fighting for the Mandalorians gives the bounty hunter a good emotional driving force and keeps the character from appearing to be too much of a heartless Boba Fett copy.

The Bounty hunter is now off on his mission where he meets and is saved by Nick Nolte’s Kuiil. Nolte’s performance is a high point of the episode but this third act is where The Mandalorian wonders a little too close to a fan film. A rushed training sequence, a cinematically inspired but ultimately vapid battle scene, and a mission driven but somewhat lovable droid “sidekick” make it feel as though Jon Favreau and Dave Filoni were checking Star Wars boxes and do so in a rushed and at times unconvincing way.

The final twist, that the target was a 50 year old but still “baby” member of Yoda’s race, pulls you back in. The perfect cliffhanger to this pilot episode. Will we finally get information about Yoda’s race? Is this baby force sensitive? Why are the intentions of the client and his imperial connections? Plenty to leave you wanting more and tuning back in to see how this will all connect to the greater Star Wars universe. Although uneven at times, The Mandalorian took a successful first step into a larger world.