The Star Wars Universe is finally delving into the dark side… or at least the non-Force side – The Mandalorian Chapter 1 Review
The day has arrived. Disney+ has launched and has injected the world with a backlog of heartstring-tugging nostalgia, as well a whole new realm of possibilities. On the side of possibilities, Disney+ makes an incredibly powerful debut with The Mandalorian. From the opening scene, you get a familiar cantina-feel that drops you into the Star Wars universe. It hits the same notes as A New Hope then quickly takes a turn for the dark side. The Mandalorian, who I’m not sure what his name is or what else to call him, but he’s played by Pedro Pascal, is a no-nonsense bounty hunter that takes names and kicks ass. Someone tries to say The Mandalorian made him spill his drink, he just offs them. The tone is immediately set, and you know that this is a whole new side of Star Wars.
The episode continues to follow the Mandalorian as he takes a new job, one that they really don’t say anything about. Times are tough for bounty hunters as the fall of the empire makes their imperial credits less valuable. Thus, this little to no info job, given to The Mandalorian by Werner Hertzog, is kind of unavoidable since it is the only decent payday. It even has an upfront downpayment of one bescar (I don’t know if it’s spelled right). The bescar seems to be a Mandalorian metal, because The Mandalorian takes it to a Mandalorian smith and she turns it into a new shoulder plater for his armor. The job takes The Mandalorian to a planet where he needs to learn how to ride a blerg in order to reach his destination. When he gets to where he needs to be, a droid bounty hunter is also there, and they have a pretty epic team-up. After laying waste to all the guards, they finally find their target, however The Mandalorian is tasked with bringing it in alive, while the droid is tasked to kill it. The main character of course prevails and the episodes ends with The Mandalorian staring at a baby.
In terms of events, not a lot happens in this episode. It’s pretty direct and to the point. However, everything that happens is executed magnificently. First, and probably my absolute favorite part of the episode, THE ARMOR ACTUALLY WORKS. The Mandalorian is shot several times but is okay thanks to his armor. FINALLY! Star Wars has some of the coolest armored characters, and not until now, and maybe a little bit of Captain Phasma, has it really seemed to matter. Watching shots repel on the armor is much more gratifying than you’d think it would be. Second, the show looks incredible in every aspect. It is very cinematic, and the use of practical effects really brings the universe to life. I think this is the aged up Star Wars longtime fans have been clamoring for. Lastly, the lack of Jedi/The Force really helps the series. I don’t know what it is, something about knowing about Jedi and The Force, and having them be absent really makes me like the show even more. I don’t know what it is, but I feel it really helps the show and the franchise overall.
The Mandalorian is a powerful opening move for Disney+, and one that I think is paying off for the platform and the acquisition of the Star Wars franchise. Not since Rogue One have I been this interested and invested in Star Wars. I am hoping this is a sign that Disney is taking steps in the right direction for Star Wars, regardless I am definitely excited and onboard for what The Mandalorian has in store. For so little to have been said and, when you think about it, so little actually happened, The Mandalorian masterfully creates one of the most interesting and gripping Star Wars experiences out there. My The Mandalorian Chapter 1 review gets a 4/5
The Mandalorian pilot is now streaming on Disney+ with episode 2 releasing Friday.
The Mandalorian Chapter 1
TLDR
The Mandalorian is a powerful opening move for Disney+, and one that I think is paying off for the platform and the acquisition of the Star Wars franchise. Not since Rogue One have I been this interested and invested in Star Wars. I am hoping this is a sign that Disney is taking steps in the right direction for Star Wars, regardless I am definitely excited and onboard for what The Mandalorian has in store. For so little to have been said and, when you think about it, so little actually happened, The Mandalorian masterfully creates one of the most interesting and gripping Star Wars experiences out there.