In the 1980s, there was tv, the cinema and vhs…. We had no internet, no YouTube, no streaming. And all the Star Wars we had were contained in three movies. Movies that we watched again and again as kids and teenagers. Outside of Marvel and Dark Horse comics and the expanded universe novels…that was it!!
We watched and loved those movies again and again. And they were magic! Whatever your criticisms about the movies. This was before Lucas returned to them to begin his unending fiddling with them and the rarity of home video releases of the Theatrical Editions.
George Lucas, the creator, writer and original director in the ‘90, worked on Special Editions. The special editions had improved special effects which were welcome in some respects! But there were also unwelcome changes like ‘Who Shot First’ and the altered Force Ghosts!
I turned 40 this year, last year saw the “end” of the Skywalker Saga with episode 9 of the movies. And warts and all it felt like the end of an era, the end of a 40 year saga and The End of part of my childhood and one of my favourite science fiction sagas of all time!
Until The Mandalorian.
There will be heavy spoilers here, so turn away now. You have been warned.
Still here?
Ok are we ready because I need to discuss this NOW!
When Disney announced the Disney + streaming app and their consolidation of all their owned properties I was a bit jaded and skeptical of course. As is my “right” as a Geek! Disney in their corporate wisdom had decided to end one era of Marvel Comics tv adaptations ending all the current shows and I wasn’t happy as a fan. They announced characters and actors from the Marvel Studios movies would earn their own shows which to me seemed reductive. See, skeptical, right?
And then there was the announcement of The Mandalorian. I was curious and skeptical again because I thought “why create a Mandalorian show and not bring Boba Fett back! Boba Fett being arguably the best known Mandalorian and a huge fan favourite? It puzzled me.
Also, Disney announced the app would launch with the show in November 2019 in the USA and other countries, but later in the UK (where I live) some months later in March. 2019 problems right?
Anyway, I finally got to watch series one and it was a revelation of a show. New characters, fresh storytelling, practical effects. The co-creator and director, Jon Favreau, who directed Iron Man 1 and 2 hit the nail on the head. After Prequels and Sequels and green screen and fumbled sequel plots. He had GOT IT.
THIS IS STAR WARS.
The Mandalorian and “baby Yoda”. Who as it turns out is NOT Baby Yoda. The series being set several years after Toss’s death. The show telling a story after the Return of the Jedi! A Galaxy still in turmoil under the new government of the New Republic…factions of the Empire still everywhere hatching their plots. Survivors of the events of the entire Star Wars saga? Well…
SPOILERS. The Mandalorian, Mando, Din Djarin is charged with a force sensitive Ward of the same species of Yoda to make contact with The Jedi and see The Child Grogu into the safe hands of the surviving Jedi Order. After a great opening act of Season One setting up many characters and plot lines Season Two has been fantastic explosive dangerous fun! Pure Star Wars!
If you’re a fan of the new Canonical Expanded Universe, specifically Star Wars the Clone Wars and Rebels animated series, some fan favourite characters make their live action debut. Jedi Ahsoka Tano played by Rosario Dawson is superbly depicted and gives us more Jedi action! The Mandalorians are represented with more characters in Bo-Katan Kryze portrayed by superb scifi veteran Katee Sakhoff (Battlestar: Galactica, The Flash, The Bionic Woman). And then there was the Return of Boba Fett in Teniers Morrison! The actor who played Boba’s “father” Jango Fett in the prequel movies Episode II The Attack of the Clones and Episode III The Revenge of the Sith! And this was NOT the only full circle that had been created!
In the previous episode Din had taken Grogu to an ancient Jedi prayer location in order to signal in the Force for assistance to any surviving Jedi, if Grogu wants to return to his Jedi training. As Grogu is a survivor of the Jedi temple massacre of younglings at the hands of one Anakin Skywalker! The danger is that Grogu of course at this stage in his training could take the wrong path and become a Sith!
In the finale of season two Din and his allies mount a rescue mission of critical importance as Grogu was abducted and held in imprisonment! With Din and everyone in deadly danger forced into a corner by the Dark Troopers, powerful Droid brutes! Another full circle of symbolism because the previous Droid army was active in the service of the Galactic Senate of the prequel trilogy. Roger Roger!
The Mandalorians and New Republic Marshal Cara Dune are awaiting an impending battle to the death when one loan X-Wing lands on the docking bay. A black garbed figure disembarks. A green lightsaber ignites. The Jedi Knight battles and destroys the Dark Troopers with surgical precision and Force Powers. The Jedi has Returned.
Luke Skywalker enters on a mission of vital importance to the Jedi Order and the Galaxy. And around the world a billion fans cried out in joy and cheered! Luke departs with Grogu in order to resume his training. This has huge implications for the Star Wars saga going forward and raises questions. Not the least of which is did Grogu survive Ben Solo/Kylo Ren’s murderous cull of Luke’s students?
What of Din and Bo-Katan? Will they battle for the right to hold the Dark Saber? Din holds it currently and assumes leadership of the Mandalorian race unless challenged and beaten!
Ahsoka Tano is also on her own mission in pursuit of Grand Admiral Thrawn of the first Galactic Empire. another pivotal figure of the Expanded Universe Legends and Canon. And with the announment of Ahsoka’s own show will it build on the events of Rebels? Will Ezra return too?
And in a post credits scene we see Boba Fett return to Jabba’s citadel and kill everyone assuming the throne of what we can assume is the criminal underworld of the Outer Rim!
All these questions will be answered in more new shows and stories in the future on the Disney + app. Suffice it to say the shows have a high watermark to meet thanks to Favreau, Filoni, Pascal, et al!
One thing we can be sure of, the Jedi has returned and Star Wars is back!
Thank you for taking a moment to read the latest post from my new blog! I hope you enjoyed it and will read more posts I plan to write in the future. Please ‘Like’ my post and share it, and come back to read more! I really appreciate your support!
Geeks Never Say Die 