After the release of Rise of Skywalker, many were disappointed at the difference and lower quality of story it had in comparison to other movies in the “Skywalker Saga.” However, this is far from the end of Star Wars. Released earlier in November, the new series The Mandalorian was released on DisneyPlus, Disney’s own streaming service. But is it any good?

Characters

The Mandalorian is far from a show with lots of cast, but with the few characters it works with, it creates a wonderful story. Nearly all of it is in our main character’s point of view (a Mandalorian bounty hunter) and the things he experiences, which gives us an intimate character/viewer relationship with him and his hidden struggles. However, there are no other characters that have their own large development yet outside the main character. 

Score: 8/10

Plot / Story

The story of the series so far is pretty well done. It may be a little too fast paced for viewers who like to get into the drama. This is my main nitpick about The Mandalorian. The pacing can be all over the place sometimes. Another complaint I have is that some episodes can suddenly change in mood from your standard teen/young adult space adventure to some sort of spy movie. However, these are all minor grievances. Like many other shows, The Mandalorian is using its first season to introduce us to the setting and characters. The second season is coming out later this year, so we’ll have to see if the story can build from the exposition of this first season.

Score: 7/10

Animation / Effects

All films and live action media in the Star Wars franchise, from the original trilogy to the prequels share one thing in common: their awesome use of animation and effects, and The Mandalorian is no exception. What makes this show’s animation better, or possibly nostalgic for some viewers is their reliance on practical effects instead of CGI, only using it for animals and spaceships and the such. This gives a spark of realism to what we’re seeing and fully emerses us into the show.

Score: 10/10

Script and Acting

The script is able to hold up for the show. There isn’t much to say since our main character doesn’t seem to talk much, especially early in the season. You won’t find any cool one-liners, but it’s not unbearable. As for the acting, some parts are good and some parts aren’t. Pedro Pascal does a good job with our title character, and there is a lot of other good talent in the show. However, some people didn’t give their best. Raunchy comedian Bill Burr appears in an episode. When he was on screen, my mind was thinking about his sub-par acting and how the heck he actually wanted to be on this show in the first place.

Score: 8/10

Final Review

Even with minor nitpicks with the pacing and some acting, The Mandalorian is still a very worthwhile watch, especially to fans of the old Star Wars movies. The series is a fun adventure, a unique point of view besides our main Skywalker heroes, and a beautiful space art peace. This series proves that Disney, with the right team, can do Star Wars justice. I cannot stress enough how much I recommend this show.

Final Score: 8.25/10