It turns out that the one thing to unify the The Mandalorian has been universally hailed as one of the best Star Wars projects since the Original Trilogy, with only two episodes no less.
Many have gone so far as to say that the series itself has already sured the quality of the current era's film releases. But while there are many ways The Mandalorian "gets" Star Wars better than the films, there are other ways it has yet to prove itself. Here is: 5 Ways The Mandalorian is Better Than The New Movies (& 5 Ways it’s Not).
Updated May 4th, 2020 by George Chrysostomou: With a documentary about the making of the show releasing on May 4th, it seems only fitting that we visit this show and its relation to the main movie saga!
Not: Can't Experience On The Big Screen
One of the magical things about this franchise is that a movie based on the galaxy far far away is a cinematic experience unlike any other. When the text scrawl comes down, fans now meet this with cheers.
Star Wars is a very communal experience so it seems like a real shame that this series cannot be experienced in the same way as the big blockbusters. It looks just as good but will never have the same cinematic moments as the movies.
Better: Groundbreaking New Technology
New technology and old techniques have been brought together in order to move Star Wars into the future. The puppeteer work for instance is absolutely incredible and has birthed a brand new character in the child.
What's more, there are now replacements for blue and green screens, using LED boards which allows the actors to feel as if they are in the environments that end up on screen. This can really help the whole movie and television industry.
Not: Becoming Reliant On Other Mediums
Unfortunately, as the series moves forward there seems to be more and more nods to expanded materials. It may be difficult for the average main stream audience member to keep up as it continues to dive further into the mythology of this universe.
Whether its the assumptions that have to be made about the Mandalorians, the existence of the darksaber or perhaps even the rumor that Ahsoka Tano could appear in a sequel series, this show doesn't really stand by itself.
Better: Referencing All Eras
There's a great opportunity here for the series to really reference every era. The Old Republic hasn't really gotten much of a nod so far but everything to the prequels to the final trilogy has been mentioned in some way.
Foreshadowing of the events to come in the galaxy and even battle droids from the Clone Wars helps to make this story feel quite connected to everything that has come before and everything that will come after.
Not: Classic Characters Won't Appear
This is an assumption rather than a fact but it appears that none of the classic characters from the series will ever appear in this show. The era this is set means that any character from the original trilogy could in theory appear.
In all actuality this will probably stay as far away from any major character as possible. That's a shame as it would be interesting to see Mando cross over with recognisable heroes and villains; perhaps a live action Cal Kestis is an option still.
Better: Revolutionizing The Format Of The Franchise
For so long, the only Star Wars projects to translate to the world of television were animated. This is because, through animation, many audiences already suspend their disbelief to engage with the story. Because of budget constrictions, live-action Star Wars TV was never an option.
Now, though, through innovative filmmakers like Jon Favreau and with the right financial backing, the production quality of The Mandalorian is as near to the films as one could get on the small screen. It has merged the gap between Star Wars films and television in a way never done before, leading to a new future for the franchise.
Not: Brought Star Wars Back
While The Mandalorian is bringing Star Wars into a new age, there is no denying the initial magic and success that Disney created through bringing the franchise back from the dead. After the poor reception of the prequels, Star Wars entered another dark time, with only The Clone Wars to satisfy fans.
But with The Force Awakens, Disney accomplished the impossible. Not only did they make a Star Wars movie without George Lucas, but they made one that, for the most part, pleased nearly every fan. The experience of seeing Star Wars onscreen for the first time in ten years was one few franchises could replicate.
Better: Addressing Long-Standing Questions Of The Galaxy
While the films have created fantastic new stories for the franchise, they are limited by their shorter runtimes. With the extended ability to let a story breathe, The Mandalorian has a chance to explore corners of the galaxy we've never seen before.
Obviously, Baby Yoda first comes to mind, as this is only the third example of the species appearing. But even the extended time spent alongside the Jawas in episode two, or the culture of the Mandalorians, or seeing how exactly a bounty is carried out, are all things we've never seen in Star Wars before.
Not: Films Have Explored Multiple Genres
The films have also offered a wider set of storytelling genres for the franchise. The Mandalorian, on the other hand, is firmly set in the tradition of classic Westerns (which looks to be continued through the Obi-Wan miniseries).
Meanwhile, the episodic films have continued in the footsteps of the Skywalker Saga, fulfilling the epic promise of Lucas' space opera. The standalone pictures, however, have exceeded the genre limitations. Rogue One plays out like a classic war film with some espionage to boot. Solo is a mix of swashbuckling adventure, Western tropes, and underground noir storytelling.
Better: Has The Most Diverse Set Of Directors
While the identity of a film's director does not determine quality, it certainly changes perspective and it's a commendable act to hire a diverse set of creators. The films have certainly struggled in this regard, only hiring middle-aged white men — albeit who have all done tremendous jobs.
The Mandalorian, though, has an incredibly diverse set of voices coming from the director's chair. It's the first Star Wars project directed by a black man, a white woman, an Asian woman, and a Polynesian man. The Mandalorian is offering opportunities for creators of multiple backgrounds in a way the films have yet to do.
