Released: March 1st to April 19th 2023
Number of Episodes: 8
Certificate: 12A
Created by: Jon Favreau
Starring: Pedro Pascal, Katee Sackhoff, Carl Weathers, Emily Swallow and Giancarlo Esposito
The Mandalorian kick-started a new frontier for Star Wars media when it launched in 2019, utilising the smaller screen to create episodic stories that stood outside of the mainline films. After an extended break and some sideshows, the jet-packing hero has returned to take back his home planet. Anyone who got into previous seasons will enjoy this third season, but the action is held back by an unbalanced plot.
Following Grogu’s Jedi training and picking up a new ship, Din Djarin (Pedro Pascal) returns to his Mandalorian brothers and sisters, but his actions have not been well received. To regain his place in the faction, Din must journey to Mandalore and find the lost smelting mines. A one-man operation evolves into a grand undertaking with the scattered group slowly coming together to reclaim their former glory. Meanwhile, as the New Republic builds up a new order, a hidden menace threatens the peace. The eight episodes do feel very one-sided. When the story focuses on the Mandalorian’s adventures and his efforts to bind the people together, you are invested in the group. However, when the series moves sideways to develop the imperial operatives hiding in the ruins of the empire, you will be left wanting. As a result, the finale, for all its high flying action and clashing blades, is quite rushed, diminishing the overall intensity. Still, many of the objectives undertaken are worth getting invested in; an aerial dual with a winged beast and a mystery involving repurposed battle droids on Plazir-15 are very enjoyable. It’s just too bad the other half of the show doesn’t get far.
With an added surplus of cast members acting without removing their helmets, the third season maintains a sense of calm confidence. Din Djarin has the same honourable persona and his bond with Grogu plays a more active role in combat this time. Bo Katan (Katee Sackhoff) gets a lot more to do here, acting as a rallying leader for the armoured warriors; her rise to the top is the most interesting arc on offer. Outside of the clan, character interactions have become rather samey; Greef Karga (Carl Weathers) is very standard fare despite becoming the leader of his settlement. The return of a major villain is quite obvious and when he does show up, it’s too late to give him any more depth or dimension. The same can be said for his hidden agents; one finds himself tricked and cornered by the authorities but his story thread is never touched again afterwards. These side characters needed more than a passing integration into the main plot thread. Outside of this, we have several character actors who make their presence felt in single episodes. The most notable are Jack Black, Lizzo and Christopher Lloyd who all make memorable appearances despite their brief screen-time.
Mando continues to deliver some of the more run down locations in the Star Wars Galaxy; for the lead character, it’s all about Mandalore, a ruined landscape with dangers both organic and robotic. The sense of danger as Din explores alone gives way to more militarised operations, especially in the closing episodes. Every environment, including returning ones like Navarro, are beautifully presented with another fine blend of practical and computer-generated imagery. The fight scenes are well choreographed and edited with the use of multiple ships and extras making the action feel larger in scale. Joseph Shirley replaces Ludwig Göransson for the score and he delivers some foreboding tracks that complement the barren wastelands. You won’t be faulting the technical presentation at all from start to finish.
Round 3 of The Mandalorian is a fun if conflicting package. The eight episodes take a step forward by focusing mainly on the venerable warriors and the way they form up into one unified platoon. But the show also takes a step backward with weaker showings for the villains and the imperial remnant. It works as a straightforward offering from the ever-expanding Star Wars canon; anyone expecting more will put this season aside.
Rating: 3.5/5 Stars (Good)
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