‘The Mandalorian’ returns for season two; catch up now on the first season

Posted on October 30, 2020

By MARK VIOLA

Anybody who knows me knows that I’m a big “Star Wars” fan. They also know that I have not liked most of the recent “Star Wars” films, going so far as to call “The Last Jedi” my most disappointing film of 2017.

 I watched the original trilogy as a kid, and voraciously read the expanded universe novels published throughout the 1990s, continuing the story of Luke, Han, Leia and the rest long before George Lucas returned in 1999 to begin the prequel trilogy of films.

Those new films paled in comparison to the originals, but hope returned when Lucas sold the franchise to Disney in 2012, and the studio immediately set out to create new movies. Unfortunately, Disney managed to squander much of the goodwill and hopeful expectations of fans by delivering a new trilogy that ultimately made the prequels look better by comparison.

In my opinion, the only good movie to come out of the Disney era, and really the only truly great “Star Wars” film since the original trilogy, is “Rogue One.”

However, as bad as Disney’s missteps have been in “Star Wars” cinema, the same cannot be said in television.

Last year gave us the Disney+ exclusive show, “The Mandalorian” — the first live-action “Star Wars” television series, with Jon Favreau (“Iron Man”) serving as showrunner. Where the films failed, the series succeeds in its eight-episode first season by honoring the legacy of “Star Wars” while not being afraid to take it in new directions. You don’t have to subvert expectation when all people want is a solid story, compelling characters and engaging action.

“The Mandalorian” delivers all of that and more.

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