Spoilers My Mandalorian Rewatch

[fireproof78]

In the small interest that the "Book of Boba Fett" has garnered for me I opted to do a rewatch of "The Mandalorian." Since the Season 1 thread is long since buried I figured I'll just start my own thread and invite others to comment or share as I do small batches of this show. These will be my honest reactions and thoughts as I try to see what people love in this show. Spoilers are in the title because I will be referencing upcoming productions and the like so it is a polite precaution.

Episode 1: "The Mandalorian." Well, we start off with a bang. As one of my friends would say part of telling a story is getting you introduced to the main character's world as fast as possible. Well, the initial bounty does just that. And, I'll be blunt, I don't like the main character. However, the interactions at the Guild Hall an Enclave are telling, and the action does it's job. The ending scene is definitely one I see being done in concept art and people going, "Yes, that!" Overall, it's OK.

Episode 2: "The Child." Well, the titular child is probably the most entertaining part of this show. A nicely done piece of hinting had possibility. The age thing is stupid, but I'll give it a pass. Notle's Kuiil is an enjoyable character. Would not have minded more of him. The Jawa slaughtered pissed me right off. Still don't like this main character, but seeing him struggle against the mudhorn was odd. I guess animals with horns are more difficult to deal with than people with guns? Props to the prop department. That egg looked appropriately disgusting.

Episode 3: "The Sin." Well, it was bound to happen. We discover that the Mandalorian does have a heart. I guess. The crisis of conscience is well done, if telegraphed, but hey I was looking for something of a measure of warmth to this main character. The fight with Garga and the other Guild members was longer than I remembered and I was surprised a bit by the ending. Then I laughed at how Garga survived. Decent enough episode. Heavy Infantry Mandalorian is a pain. Don't like him too much.

Episode 4: "Sanctuary." And this is where I will be ending the first run. I struggle with this episode not because it isn't well done, but because it takes the show and puts in straight in to the feeling of a tragic story. Despite finding a place to rest they cannot rest, and the Child won't have a normal life. It just grates at me. The Klatoonian raider plot is done well enough, if predictable. The AT-ST and Mando and Cara working together is actually really fun. But, it ends on such a sad note.

 

[Moist_Cake]

Hope you enjoy your rewatch. I have viewed it completely 3 times now and will probably do a 4th before January.

 

[fireproof78]

Hope you enjoy your rewatch. I have viewed it completely 3 times now and will probably do a 4th before January.

Thank you. While I have not enjoyed the characters as much I have definitely enjoyed the worldbuilding. The sound work is kind of an interesting blend of Western and Star Wars influenced Western. Definitely not something I noticed the first viewing.

 

[Timo]

It takes quite a bit of conscious effort to notice they are acting in an aquarium. And there are plenty of "They what? No way!" scenes there in that respect. While the world keeps on building in the second season, it's perhaps at its widest here, in terms of absolute mental acreage...

Timo Saloniemi

 

[fireproof78]

It takes quite a bit of conscious effort to notice they are acting in an aquarium. And there are plenty of "They what? No way!" scenes there in that respect. While the world keeps on building in the second season, it's perhaps at its widest here, in terms of absolute mental acreage...

Timo Saloniemi

I agree. There was one shot in "The Child" (I believe) of Kuiil and Mandalorian traveling on blurgs that has a distinct feeling of unreality. Which, if there was only one shot that stood out I would say it did pretty well. Regardless of story lines and character questions the visuals are extremely well done.

 

[fireproof78]

Well, it took me a loong while to get back to this, which should show how invested I am in in this story so far.

Episode 5: "The Gunslinger": As per usual the side characters end up slightly more interesting than our main character. Toro is too eager for glory but at least stands out, even if his death is well foreshadowed by the opening dogfight. Continues to demonstrate both the show's and the Mandalorian's attitude towards life; cold, unless it is the Child. Peli is fun enough. Overall this episode feels very much like a side quest and so a bit forgettable.

Episode 6: "The Prisoner." I do not care for this episode at all. Mayfeld, Ran, and the rest are completely unsavory, unsympathetic and rather unenjoyable. I suppose that is the purpose given that we think Din has killed them at the end, then leaves them in jail. Kind of funny. Definitely enjoy seeing the New Republic ship and X-Wings. Din shows his true colors only when he is around people worse than he is. And I usually don't make a big comment on this but the cinematography was a bit distracting at times, and very frustrating. The brutality towards the droids was equally annoying.

Episode 7: "The Reckoning." Talk about tone shift. We go from side quest to back in to the main story, with Din suddenly able to get back in to the good graces of the Guild. This episode is actually an interesting one in terms of character building, including with Greef. What was so interesting was the way Greef moves to stop the Client from opening the pram, and how quickly things go south. It was well framed. And then Kuiil dies. Ridiculous.

Episode 8: "The Redemption." Well, the scout troopers could have been right out of Red vs. Blue, and made for a chuckle. IG-11 proved more useful than I thought, which again speaks to the strength of the characterization of the secondary characters. Gideon is super annoying, so credit to Esposito on the acting job. I appreciated a little more in depth development with Din, making him slightly more sympathetic than the killer before. The Armorer scene is well done, as is the TIE fighter battle. Din feels a little more like a character that could be a hero, rather than just the protagonist.

Season 1 impressions: The biggest comparison I can make is that this feels like an RPG with the main character killing NPCs with a fair amount of abandon, a super tragic backstory, and a great deal of useful skills. The episodes don't have a strong main thrust, aside from "Protect the Child," which makes a little more sense at the end of the series. The connection for Din and The Child is a little more apparent, based upon Din's history, as well as the new objective. The show feels more focused right as it ends.

As part of the Star Wars lore it is well done in terms of world building, seeing the actual consequences of the fall of the Empire, and setting up attitudes that would lead to the First Order making a power grab. The New Republic is not a powerhouse out in the Rim, and it shows that the peace is rather fragile. That part I like.

The characters are extremely mixed bag. The main character is not sympathetic until the very end, while the secondary characters are able to establish their story quickly, gain sympathy and leave an impression on me. Characters like Kuiil and IG-11 evoked a stronger emotional response than Din did. And that's frustrating because I want to be along for the ride with Din and his quest, but it doesn't quite land.

Overall, Mandalorian Season 1 leaves a good impression in terms of fleshing out ideas from the Star Wars world, and does well with using familiar elements to build up it's locations. It just doesn't hook me beyond small moments.

 

[ichab]

Doing a rewatch myself. Picking up things I missed or forgot from season 1.

I was hooked from the very beginning. I had always wanted a movie or series based on Boba Fett or a character similar to him. This is a character that makes his living collecting bounties. He's not into small talk nor wasting time. He's all business. He's more interested in doing jobs than making friends so he doesn't talk much. I can see how that would be a turnoff for some viewers, but I can identify with that. Then he comes upon baby yoda and his whole world changes. His soft side is shown when he breaks the rules and steals the baby back. No extraneous dialogue is needed because we get it with the way the movie is shot and edited.

I like getting to see more of the Mandalorians and their culture as well as the bounty hunters guild. Plus characters and plot points are added gradually enough so that you can still follow without being overwhelmed.

I'm almost done with season 1 and hope to finish season 2 in the next few days.

 

[fireproof78]

Doing a rewatch myself. Picking up things I missed or forgot from season 1.

I was hooked from the very beginning. I had always wanted a movie or series based on Boba Fett or a character similar to him. This is a character that makes his living collecting bounties. He's not into small talk nor wasting time. He's all business. He's more interested in doing jobs than making friends so he doesn't talk much. I can see how that would be a turnoff for some viewers, but I can identify with that. Then he comes upon baby yoda and his whole world changes. His soft side is shown when he breaks the rules and steals the baby back. No extraneous dialogue is needed because we get it with the way the movie is shot and edited.

I like getting to see more of the Mandalorians and their culture as well as the bounty hunters guild. Plus characters and plot points are added gradually enough so that you can still follow without being overwhelmed.

I'm almost done with season 1 and hope to finish season 2 in the next few days.

Appreciate your comments. If Din's "all business" type approach appeals then I can see how such a character would be enjoyable, as well as the desire to see more of the bounty hunting profession and Mandalorians. None of that specifically appeals to me, but I can appreciate the point of view.

I do agree that seeing his soft side with the Child is well shot and well done. It doesn't require much exposition because it is well done from a visual standpoint. The rest of the season just doesn't feel like it unpacks quite as well as it could have.

Looking forward your season 2 comments.

 

[fireproof78]

My idle Season 1 musings upon further reflection:
-The Client died rather ridiculously. I feel like for Moff Gideon to have this history of Din, Cara, and Greef to drop in the second to the last episode was a bit overdone. The Client had a much more interesting point of view to die by the hands of his "boss."
-I allude to Season 1 feeling like a tabletop RPG in pacing and Gideon's last minute appearance and shared history feels like that, especially after several episodes of side quests.
-Din's interactions with the Tuskens compared to just slaughtering the Jawas still annoys. I appreciate that it shows Din is willing to negotiate when it suits his purpose with supposed "monsters" of the STar Wars universe, but he looks downright irritated that Kuiil wants to negotiate with the Jawas.

 

[Ar-Pharazon]

bluray.com is showing blu rays for S1 & S2, but only Mexican releases?

Has there been no release for this show in DVD or BD?

 

[fireproof78]

bluray.com is showing blu rays for S1 & S2, but only Mexican releases?

Has there been no release for this show in DVD or BD?

No, I don't believe so.

 

[Xerxes82]

-Din's interactions with the Tuskens compared to just slaughtering the Jawas still annoys. I appreciate that it shows Din is willing to negotiate when it suits his purpose with supposed "monsters" of the STar Wars universe, but he looks downright irritated that Kuiil wants to negotiate with the Jawas.

Context matters. The Jawas had just looted his ship, stolen literally all of his stuff that he wasn't wearing and left him stranded in a barren desert. Would you want to sit down and negotiate with them after that?

 

[fireproof78]

Context matters. The Jawas had just looted his ship, stolen literally all of his stuff that he wasn't wearing and left him stranded in a barren desert. Would you want to sit down and negotiate with them after that?

I mean, I would. But, it isn't just that. He looks at Kuiil like he is a crazy person for wanting to negotiate. Din always feels a second away from killing and it's not endearing.

 

[ichab]

No, I don't believe so.

I was looking everywhere for Season 1 and 2 on blu-ray or DVD so that I could get them for my parents. Looks like Disney is going to hold them off home video so that you are forced to pay for their network. It makes no sense because people like my folks will NEVER stream no matter how much studios try and force them to. They'll just do without and stick to local T.V.

 

[Reverend]

I mean, I would. But, it isn't just that. He looks at Kuiil like he is a crazy person for wanting to negotiate. Din always feels a second away from killing and it's not endearing.

That's what makes it a character "arc". Not a "character stays the same, never grows and was always unimpeachable". He's gotta start somewhere.

 

[fireproof78]

That's what makes it a character "arc". Not a "character stays the same, never grows and was always unimpeachable". He's gotta start somewhere.

That's not what I am saying. He is just very hard to sympathize with when killing is his go to. So, as far as a protagonist go there is no investment for me, no desire to watch him arc. He's just a killer in a galaxy of killers. Unenjoyable.

 

[Reverend]

That's not what I am saying. He is just very hard to sympathize with when killing is his go to. So, as far as a protagonist go there is no investment for me, no desire to watch him arc. He's just a killer in a galaxy of killers. Unenjoyable.

That's kind of baked into the premise. It's literally what he does for a living. besides, they're literally channelling the likes of 'Lone Wolf And Cub', 'Logan' and 'Last of Us'. Seeing the empty hearted merciless killer slowly learn compassion through protecting an innocent is kinda the whole point.

 

[fireproof78]

That's kind of baked into the premise. It's literally what he does for a living. besides, they're literally channelling the likes of 'Lone Wolf And Cub', 'Logan' and 'Last of Us'. Seeing the empty hearted merciless killer slowly learn compassion through protecting an innocent is kinda the whole point.

Perhaps but it is lacking here for me.

 

[Reverend]

Oh well . . .

 

[fireproof78]

So begins my Season 2 adventure. Sadly work has taken away from my ability to get this done before Book of Fett begins but I shall continue on regardless

Episode 9: "The Marshall." This episode is going to get a little longer write up for two reason. One, this was the stand out episode for me from the Season, and two it highlights what I both like and don't like about this series.

The episode has an interesting set up, with Din heading in to a hive of scum and villainy, and apparently discovering that his market value has gone up, if only because beskar is so rare. Now, this opening is pretty standard Mando fair, where he of course has the upper hand because punching him is a bad idea, and Mando is a bad ass as the episode calls for it. However, it was nice to see the variety of aliens even as Din fights them off.

We head back to Tatooine, and I'll give the show this; it has made Tatooine a far more interesting place. We get to see that Din's change of heart toward droids is sticking for the moment, and he has a good moment with Peli, before riding off and meeting the titular Marshall, one Cobb Vanth. Cobb does extremely well, and demonstrates a wonderful reasonableness, that I appreciate. Once the dragon attacks Cobb has a nice little character arc of being willing to put aside his prejudice to save the town.

The krayt battle is over the top and ridiculous and impressive in scope for a show which prides itself on stepping up the action quotient. But it does it very well, and there is never a sign of either the Tuskens or towns people not giving it their all. Din saves the day and hopefully makes the sacrifices worth it.

As episodes go this is the best of the batch. It shows the nature of Din's world, his efforts to make changes within it, as well as how creative he can be. Cobb Vanth demonstrates the power of the guest characters to really take the episode and make it their own. The score is well done. The world building and contributing to the growing facets of Tatooine life makes it feel even more lived in.

The down side is that Din feels still very uneven in his temperament. He is again uneven in terms of when is he willing to negotiate and willing to kill. As far as sympathetic protagonists he still has a long way to go. Cobb Vanth feels more sympathetic.