This Isn't the Way

I would be fine if this was the last episode of The Mandalorian.

Hey there,

I recently finished the season finale of The Mandalorian and I have to say, it fell short for me. Don't get me wrong, I enjoyed it, but it didn't live up to my expectations. I know, I know, (See Riley’s previous post on this).

TLDR:

Here’s the thing. I wanted to see Din to evolve and grow over time, facing actual challenges and overcoming them. Unfortunately, the challenges presented this season felt like plot devices to blow past to move the story along rather than fully realizing character growth.

Full Review:

While we did learn about Din's (and Bo's) backstory, his emotional journey was largely put on hold, and we rushed through the plot of reclaiming Mandalore (which was awesome BTW) but it needed way more screentime and less exposition.

This really comes down to my biggest disappointment, the u-turn away from Din's sacrifice giving up Baby Yoda to Luke Skywalker at the end of Season 2. That moment was powerful, showing his growth as a character, as he was willing to let go of someone for their own safety, which was very Jedi-like. However, by immediately taking Baby Yoda back in The Book of Boba Fett, the impact of this sacrifice was lessened. It also felt like a missed opportunity to explore the emotional fallout of the decision. Din could have struggled with feelings of guilt and regret over his choice, but instead, the show quickly moved on.

Recent reports suggest Boba Fett actor Temuera Morrison was disappointed with The Mandalorian’s latest season, as he expected to make an appearance that never came to fruition. I get this. The Book of Boba Fett essentially shoehorned in Baby Yoda and the Mandalorian, taking away from the show’s ability to stand on its own. It's important to remember that character development is crucial in storytelling, and it's not enough to just rely on the meme-worthy characters and their popularity. It's a reminder that quality writing should come before Baby Yoda merch sales.

I have so many questions. What really happened with the darksaber? It was set up as this opportunity for Din to learn about himself and overcome the weight of the blade. Similarly, the fallout of when he removed his helmet to let Grogu see his face could have put him at odds with his clan, but there was no struggle or conflict. He essentially just took a quick bath. I feel like Din is just spinning his wheels and not progressing as a character, and this was all a setup to conveniently get Mandalore back in the hands of Bo and Baby Yoda back in the hand of Din… all just in time for all the cool stuff, which seems to have been saved for Ahsoka.

Overall, I'm excited for Ahsoka, but I would be fine if this was the last episode of The Mandalorian. Am I being too critical? Perhaps, but it's frustrating to see so much potential character development go up in smoke like Uncle Owen and Aunt Beru.

I know.

To soon.