Disney’s very own streaming service, Disney Plus, just launched on Nov. 12th, and with it, the first episode of The Mandalorian, the first ever live-action Star Wars TV show. Taking place after episode six, Return of the Jedi, The Mandalorian follows a lone gunfighter in the outer reaches of the galaxy after the fall of the Empire. He also happens to be a bounty hunter, which makes for quite the interesting protagonist. The first episode was mysterious, action-packed(and a different kind of action than Star Wars fans are used to), and it opened up many interesting plot points and stories to expand upon and reveal. 

 The Mandaorian opens with a scene showcasing the abilities of our protagonist, who we know little to nothing about. The show thankfully decides to show, not tell, and it definitely shows well. Through the opening scene, and the first episode in general, the audience gets a feel for the kind of person the Mandalorian is: he’s a powerful warrior with a scarred past, and just cares about finding and turning in his bounties(he also never removes his mask). While most Star Wars protagonists start out kindhearted (key words “start out” because well, Anakin Skywalker exists) and wanting to help others, this character seemed to just want to make a living and survive. He also may look familar to some, donning similar armor to the villains Boba and Jango Fett, so there’s that.Although, the reveal at the end of the episode opens up questions about his true nature. Already the audience can theorize and nit-pick every little motion and word, making this show very interesting.

  One thing Star Wars is definitely known for is its lightsaber and space battles. Two people wielding legendary

weapons, duking it out, or pilots in starfighters flying and shooting at the same time are some of the most iconic aspects of Star Wars, but The Mandalorian, so far, seems to be trying something very different. Rather than one-on-one sword fights or high-speed dogfights, this series is focusing on Old Western-esque standoffs, and it’s executed spectacularly.  The battles are mainly blaster versus blaster, and have been between many people at a time. Suspense and danger feels very real in these battles. Multiple enemies shooting at once, blaster bolts flying everywhere, and the protagonist hiding behind a crumbling pillar makes for a thrilling watch. 

  One thing a first episode has to do besides introduce the main character is introduce the world. While it should be

different for Star Wars, a world that has been heavily expanded upon, it isn’t. The audience is watching a new kind of Star Wars, a world where there are no laws and a time that hasn’t been explored much. What does a galaxy that has lost its main authority(tyrannical authority, but nonetheless an authority) look like? The Mandalorian depicts a lawless world where people are doing unspeakable things. Episode one even gives short flashbacks to the main characters past, raising questions about what really happened to his home planet, Mandalore, which was taken over by the Empire, and its people. The final scene opens up a possible answer to a question that fans have had since 1980, when Empire Strikes Back came out. This episode opens up so many intriguing story lines to follow that affect not only The Mandalorian, but Star Wars as a whole. 

  This show can be action packed, but it can also be slow. The quietness is a great addition to the eerie Old Western feel, but sometimes it’s just plain boring. This really isn’t too noticeable, but there are a few scenes where the Mandalorian is literally walking through the streets to get to another place, and nothing happens. Besides this, almost every part of this show keeps you wanting more.

One thing that clearly stands out about The Mandalorian is the quality. The action, the costumes, and the

environments all look phenomenal and very cinematic. TV shows usually don’t have huge budgets because they have many episodes compared to movies, which have bigger budgets for shorter run times. The Mandalorian is definitely something new for for the world of TV, introducing the idea of TV series with the same quality as cinematic blockbusters. Disney has so much money that they can pull this off, and it makes the future of TV, and especially the future of this series, all the more exciting!

  The Mandalorian represents the future of Star Wars. With the final movie of the Skywalker Saga releasing in December, fans needed reassurance the the franchise wouldn’t nose-dive. This is it. An Old-Western-esque, somehow quiet and action-packed, mysterious, and overall fun Star Wars story is really what The Mandalorian is. New episodes air every Friday on Disney Plus for a few weeks, so be ready for more stories with your new favorite Mandalorian bounty hunter (not Jango and Boba Fett anymore)!

9/10