The return of The Mandalorian did not bring the same kind of praise that the popular Star Wars series has been used to in the past, with some fans less than impressed with the opening episode of the third season. The long-awaited arrival of the season premiere, and its second episode, saw a considerable drop in both critic and audience scores, with the show only managing a 78% audience approval rate compared to over 90% for previous seasons.
From fans' reactions, it is clear that there is one main reason for the sudden loss of love for The Mandalorian and the adventures of Din Djarin and Grogu: Andor. Since the Rogue One prequel series arrived on Disney+, the powerful drama, acting, and storytelling of that series have changed some people’s expectations of what a Star Wars series should be. This has led to complaints of The Mandalorian being too childish and focusing too much on its “obsession with Baby Yoda” to be a truly enjoyable Star Wars show anymore. However, this kind of reaction misses the mark on what the Star Wars franchise was always about and what it should be.
The Mandalorian was seen as a huge breath of fresh air to the Star Wars franchise when season one debuted in November 2019. After so many complaints about The Last Jedi and, subsequently, The Rise of Skywalker, The Mandalorian was hailed as the perfect remedy for those who had become a little disillusioned with the path the space opera had previously taken. At the time, the consensus on Rotten Tomatoes reads, “Action-packed and expertly-crafted -- if at times a bit too withholding -- The Mandalorian is a welcome addition to the Star Wars universe that benefits greatly from the cuteness of its cargo.” The strange thing is that now, four years later, this same cute character is cited as the reason some are ready to abandon Mando in mid-journey.
How Has Andor Ruined The Mandalorian For Some Fans?
The problem with this is that Star Wars was always based on being fun, full of monsters and aliens that were fantastic and weird in equal measure, and having spectacular fight sequences through both aerial dog fights and lightsaber battles. The Mandalorian excels at this thanks to the fully immersed minds of Jon Favreau and Dave Filoni, who live and breathe the franchise and understand what makes it tick. Balancing the expectations of fans while trying not to get too lost in clever cameos, Easter eggs, and callbacks is a tricky tightrope to walk, but it is something that the series has managed to do almost flawlessly.
Andor does not sit in the same arena as The Mandalorian in the same way that Rogue One did not deliver the same kind of experience as any other Star Wars movie. In many ways, it is unsurprising that both Rogue One and Andor have some of the highest ratings of any project in the franchise. Both delivered something that fit in the Star Wars universe but also delivered something that had never been seen before; a serious, mature adventure that pulled back on the fun factor and focused on something grittier.
While the spectacular delivery of Andor cannot be ignored, The Mandalorian’s charm and less serious approach should not become its downfall, as that is where Star Wars began and where its greatest attributes lie. From the opening moments of A New Hope, the Star Wars franchise has brought to life some of the most notable characters in sci-fi history, debuted some of the most memorable creatures seen on the big and small screen, and provided a piece of escapism that can make anyone feel like grabbing a stick and making “zshu-zshu” noises as they battle Darth Vader on the Death Star.
How Does The Mandalorian Stay True to the Star Wars Experience?
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The Mandalorian’s third season is a continuation of that kind of escapism. It should not be overlooked as being childish and unworthy just because Andor pushed the drama bar so high. The Mandalorian is and was always about the journey of Din Djarin and Grogu; it was always about expanding the world of Star Wars with new and old characters, monsters, and lore that allow audiences to slip right back into the feeling they had watching Saturday morning cartoons and not caring about what was happening in the real world for a little while. It is the same reason fans from around the world are happy to spend huge amounts of money to immerse themselves in the Star Wars universe at Galaxy's Edge in California and Florida.
The Mandalorian is a continuing celebration of the magic the Star Wars franchise has put on screen for over four decades. While it is nice to have something a little more raw and grounded every now and then, the franchise should not stray too far from the things that have kept its popularity as one of the biggest and most popular movie and TV sagas in history so high for so long.