Reviews of The Mandalorian Season 1

This post will be a series of reviews, episode by episode, of this show's first season. For now I will keep it spoiler-free.

Chapter 1

I loved a lot of things about this episode.

• The reliance on practical effects makes this feel a lot like the Original Trilogy.
• In the same way, there's a satisfying blend of recognizable species, technology and other elements from the films—Quarren, Kubaz, the reception droid, stormtroopers, Nikto—and new ones.
• The same goes for elements added in the books and comics, including beskar steel and other elements of Mandalorian culture.
• The attachment on the end of the rifle is a nice nod to the old Star Wars Holiday Special.
• Carl Weathers' appearance on the show also adds to that back-in-the-80s feeling.
• Others have already written about it, but I also really like the Ughnaut character Kuill, voiced by Nick Nolte.
• IG-11 gives us another interesting, and different, droid personality.
• There's a good mix of humor, action and story development.
• The music is good, too; I'm wondering if Disney will release the soundtrack.

I also had some questions and/or concerns.

• There are hints about the Mandalorian's background, including a certain f-word that is used to describe him.
• I want to know more about this Dr. Pershing.
• I feel sad for the caged Kowakian lizard-monkey.
• I also want to know more about the other Mandalorian character who has lines in this episode.
• Flashback scenes are also tantalizing, and I assume that we'll learn more about the story at which they hint.
• Some of the characters we've seen in the trailer are not in this first episode, hinting at developments in future episodes.
• The big reveal at the end of this episode raises many questions, of course, and only time will tell when, if or how they will be answered.

All in all, I'm quite satisfied with this episode. I loved the Ewok TV movies when I was a kid, and there's even a special place in my heart for the Holiday Special. Now I'm very pleased to see Star Wars make the transition to a live-action TV series.

I have spoken.

Chapter 2

I loved a lot of things about this episode.

• There is a lot of character development, both for the bounty hunter and his target.
• There's plenty of action, too—especially the battle that leads up to another important reveal.
• I'm happy to see the Ughnaut Kuiil in this episode, too.
• I also enjoyed a deep delve into Jawa culture, something that has been developed in expanded universe books but not in canon material.
• This episode gets down and dirty.
• I always enjoy a good montage, but I feel that Carl Weathers should have been a part of it.

I also had some questions and/or concerns.

• Why do these Jawas have red eyes?
• I still want to know what world this is, and how the Jawas have spread from planet to planet.
• The sometimes slapstick tone in my mind contrasted with the amount of violence.
• As an RPG player, the potency of the Mandalorian's rifle raises difficult questions about game balance.

Shuka! Shuka! (Transliterated from the Jawa)

Chapter 3

I loved a lot of things about this episode.

• I'm glad that this episode moved back to focusing on the main plot.
• While I don't love “grim and gritty” Star Wars, I did appreciate that, for much of this episode, I wasn't sure what the Mandalorian would do with his quarry.
• That's a whole lot of beskar.
• I enjoyed the deeper glimpse into Mandalorian culture, including conflict between members of that society.
• Also, Echuta!
• Similarly, it is fun to see familiar elements—such as the greeting droid—used in new ways.
• We see all of Mando's weapons put to work.
• At the same time, stormtroopers are being... well... stormtroopers.
• There's a moment akin to an Amber Alert that carries a lot of tension.
• The showdown is awesome.

I also had some questions and/or concerns.

• I still want to know on what world the Mandalorian meets Greef Karga and The Client.
• The little being in a spacesuit seemed to be making sounds like an Arakyd Viper probe droid.
• I find myself wanting to see the faces of all the Mandalorian characters.
• And I want to know more about the Twi'lek Healing Baths.
• What does it mean to “Extract the rest of the material?”
• I'm not sure that I want to see RPG stats for “whistling birds.”
• Well, now: Where is this series headed next?

This is the way.

Chapter 4

I loved a lot of things about this episode.

• This one feels like it sets the tone for a lot of the forthcoming episodes, and has kind of an old A-Team vibe to it.
• I really like this new character, Cara Dune, and hope that we see more of her in the future.
• I love a good training montage.

I also had some questions and/or concerns.

• I still have concerns about how some of the technology—namely the disintegration rifle and the tracking fobs—would be used in the RPG.
• Was I the only person who had flashbacks to Army of Darkness during the training scene?
• I can't help but wish that, in a future episode, we'll see the Mandalorian call all of his former allies together to fight some greater enemy.

Till our paths cross again.

Chapter 5

I liked a lot of things about this episode.

• I like the in media res opening.
• I also enjoyed revisiting some familiar territory, in the form of Mos Eisley Spaceport.

I also had some questions and/or concerns.

• We learn that this is where the stormtrooper helmets are posted on spears; I wonder how they got there.
• What is this sign language that the Mandalorian uses with the Tusken Raiders?
• Is that a Rebel Alliance/New Republic soldier being dragged by the dewback?
• I have mixed feelings about the pit droids in this episode.

Chapter 6

I liked a lot of things about this episode.

• I like the interesting cast of what in game terms could be called NPCs, especially the ones who accompanied Mando on the mission.
• There's plenty of impressive action, too.
• The end of the mission brings up an intriguing dilemma for Mando, and he handles the dilemma in a fun way.
• There are fun appearances by some familiar faces, too, along with some that weren't so familiar.

I also had some questions and/or concerns.

• I question why a New Republic prison ship would carry so many criminals with only one non-droid crew member.
• I am hoping that this series will continue for some time; it's building an interesting cast of characters, and I'd like to see them pop up again in the future.

Chapter 7

I liked a lot of things about this episode.

• It definitely advances the overall storyline of the series, and moves us toward what should be an important confrontation in Chapter 8.
• I really enjoyed seeing Mando reach out to some of his prior associates in order to prepare for this business.

I also had some questions and/or concerns.

• Given the cliffhanger nature of this episode's finish, there are many questions that I'm looking for Chapter 8 to answer.

Chapter 8

I liked a lot of things about this episode.

• This episode has really satisfying development for IG-11.
• Moff Gideon makes for a highly intriguing character, and I wonder if we'll learn more about his background next season.
• The same goes for Cara Dune, Greef Carga and Mando himself, given what Gideon mentions about them.
• E-WEB!
• The Armorer has a nice bit in this episode, too.
• There's an interesting variation on the familiar R2 unit.
• The fight at the end of the episode is a really fun one, as is the revelation that comes afterward.

I also had some questions and/or concerns.

• While the banter between the scout troopers made for a nice break from the serious action in the rest of the episode, I worry that too much of this could affect the overall tone of the series.
• I question why Gideon would give them so much time to make a decision, trapped as they were.
• The aforementioned revelation at the end of the episode raises some big questions, but I won't go into details so as not to spoil anything.

Come on, baby, do the magic hand thing!