Released: 30th October 2020
Number of Episodes
Certificate: 12
Created by: Jon Favreau
Where to Watch: Disney+
As Star Wars shifted its priorities, The Mandalorian was quite the hit when it launched last year, having made up massively for its lacklustre brothers on the big screen. Jon Favreau and Dave Filoni have wasted no time in putting together a second offering; for the most part it remains a thrill to watch.
Immediately after the events on Nevarro, Din Djarin (Pedro Pascal) continues his search to find a home for the child under his protection. His task is to find the Jedi, who can provide the best refuge, but in a post-Galactic Civil War world, this is easier said than done. Once again, Djarin finds himself outwitting monsters, cutting deals and steering clear of the New Republic’s jurisdiction with each episode telling its own individual story. While the middle of the season does slump slightly with an inconsequential return to Nevarro, the other episodes work incredibly well to pick up the slack. An excursion into an imperial refinery in the second half is a real treat, as is an aerial assault on an escaping cruiser. The season is topped off by a great and conclusive episode which features a satisfying incorporation I won’t spoil.
Star Wars has always relied on its strong yet simple characters and The Mandalorian’s second season is no different. The titular, jet-packing warrior himself is still put front and centre. He expands as a character, beginning to question and interpret the moral code of his faction as well as holding greater responsibility for the child. The same development isn’t carried through to his brothers and sisters in arms, but they instead lay the groundwork for some awesome team-ups across the eight episodes. A band of fellow Mandalores (played by the likes of Mercedes Varnado and Katee Sackhoff) provides much of the backstory that changes the protagonist’s thinking and the return of a few familiar faces is handled brilliantly all the way through. There is one gap however and that’s the villain, Mof Gideon. Giancarlo Esposito has done some great work before and while his introduction was well done at the end of the first season, he doesn’t have so much to do here. Despite taking the mantle of lead antagonist, it’s often the troops that do the work for him. To make him a more tangible threat, he needed to play a greater role in the action throughout.
As for said action, it remains as bombastic and entertaining as ever; unlike the recent films it isn’t afraid to put the characters through some adversity. Season 2 of Mando really ups the scale on the set-pieces, involving larger creatures and vehicles. Fight scenes of both the human and alien kind are in no short supply, the cinematography keeping a level-headed viewpoint. With the show’s mixture of practical and computer-generated effects, all of it is visually stunning. You get a greater variety of environments too from dense forests to vast oceans which further expand the diversity of this side-story. The music by Ludwig Göransson is again excellent and this time it gets more specific with its themes to flow with the action and the adversaries. As the premier TV series for Star Wars today, Mando still offers the best visuals that can easily match the films.
Though it is held back by a weaker mid-point and villain, The Mandalorian’s second season continues to lead the charge at the top of the Star Wars heap. It’s slowly crafting a world of its own within the galaxy far far away, while incorporating some shared elements only where needed. The series still comes highly recommended to fans.
Rating: 4/5 Stars (Great)
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