The Mandalorian: Season 2 - SPOILER-FREE Review
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Directed by: Jon Favreau, Peyton Reed, Bryce Dallas Howard, Carl Weathers, Dave Filoni, Robert Rodriguez, Rick Famuyiwa
Written by: Jon Favreau, Dave Filoni, Rick Famuyiwa
Starring: Pedro Pascal, Gina Carano, Carl Weathers, Giancarlo Esposito, Temuera Morrison, Ming-Na Wen, Amy Sedaris, Bill Burr, Katee Sackhoff, Michael Biehn, John Leguizamo, Rosario Dawson, Timothy Olyphant
The Mandalorian (Pedro Pascal) and The Child continue their journey, facing enemies and rallying allies as they make their way through a dangerous galaxy in the tumultuous era after the collapse of the Galactic Empire.
*** SPOILER-FREE review for SEASON TWO, but it might address SPOILERS from SEASON ONE ***
2019 was probably one of the most anticipated years of all-time when it comes to cinema and television. Epic conclusions to genre-defining sagas (Avengers: Endgame, The Rise of Skywalker); the final season of the biggest TV show ever (Game of Thrones); two of Disney's most hyped live-action remakes (The Lion King, Aladdin); M. Night Shyamalan's end to his trilogy (Glass); the unavoidable Joker; and so many more films related to cinematic universes, franchises, or some sort of original source with a massive fandom. It was impossible for everyone to be astonishingly pleased with every result. I got a few disappointments, but honestly, most of the year actually met or even surpassed my insanely high expectations.
Right before the year ended and also before the last installment of the Skywalker Saga, The Mandalorian: Season One premiered. It's safe to write that a vast majority of an increasingly toxic fanbase (that made me quit discussing such a beloved saga of mine) absolutely loved this show, which I believed was a sign that 2020 would be another amazing year… until a global pandemic emerges, and suddenly, everyone is stuck at home with no movies to watch. Most of the highly anticipated films and TV shows of the year were delayed to the next one, and the "cinema vs. streaming", "theater experience vs. home viewing" debates never had so many people arguing about it.
This prologue serves to establish that, even though I was extremely fortunate to get access to a lot of movies, 2020 was still a dull, empty, uninspired year for me. Looking back at the original list of My Most Anticipated Movies of 2020, I was only able to watch seven out of the fifteen films I was really excited to see, one of them at home (Mulan). However, knowing that I would have the second season of The Mandalorian at the end of the year made me feel confident for the conclusion of such a terrible year…
My only (minor) issue with the debut season was the lack of a central story that connected everything. It felt like an episodic adventure with no real consequences, but I don't mind any of that as long as every chapter is entertaining in its own way. Not every single piece of Star Wars needs to have an absurd amount of emotional depth. In fact, I sincerely welcome a more simple, straightforward show with random characters just traveling through the galaxy trying to survive. The Mandalorian convinced me with an incredibly compelling protagonist and a charming baby, but I still wanted something more from the new eight episodes.
Without spoiling anything, it's a pretty "fan-servicey" season. Regarding this matter, I don't mind fan-service if it makes sense in the narrative and if it doesn't get overwhelming or too on the nose. Analyzing the episodes, I don't feel like these moments were forced, incomprehensible, or illogical. In my opinion, the best episode of this season is Chapter 13: The Jedi, and it brings back a fan-favorite character from another Star Wars media. I don't view it as fan-service because the story leads the protagonist to that encounter, as well as some others throughout the season. With that said, I have to praise the action displayed through every single chapter.
With seven different directors (Peyton Reed helmed two episodes, one of them the finale), it's astounding how I'm constantly blown away on a weekly basis. From the terrific camera work (Barry "Baz" Idoine, Matthew Jensen, David Klein) to the phenomenal, addictive score (Ludwig Göransson), Disney offers their outstanding production value to the series without any restrictions (except for one specific detail of the finale). The Mandalorian looks and feels much more cinematic than many big movies out there, and I will never have enough words to compliment every technical department involved in this beautiful-looking television project.
Pedro Pascal's face remains hidden for most of the season, except for a couple of adequate, justifiable moments. Nevertheless, Pascal's voice work is more impactful than people might think, as is his distinct physical movements. Many people care so much about a character whose face is rarely visible across dozens of episodes… this is a brutal achievement from Jon Favreau, who does most of the writing. A lot of new (some familiar) characters show up, and every actor nails their role perfectly, especially Rosario Dawson and Katee Sackhoff. Giancarlo Esposito is definitely menacing as Moff Gideon, but unfortunately, his screentime is surprisingly limited, leading me to my main problem with this season.
Despite the addition of new characters and a bigger focus on developing a central plot, there are still too many filler components. Each episode takes Mando one step closer to complete his main mission (deliver The Child safely to someone of his kind), but at least a couple of episodes feel too inconsequential looking back. I understand that Favreau and co. are having fun with this season, and I truly believe every chapter is at least "good", while some of them are really "great", which I can't say about last season (Chapter 5: The Gunslinger continues to be the show's worst). However, the stakes and my own expectations are higher now, which means they still need to perfect their storytelling structure in order to make every episode count.
As I mentioned above, Chapter 13: The Jedi is my favorite of this season, and I only "just like" a couple of episodes, but as with every other film/series, the finale must be spectacular. Action-wise, as packed and exciting as it could be. Character-wise, almost everyone offers a helpful hand. Story-wise, well… Emotionally, it undoubtedly reaches the high levels it warrants. It's a finale filled with tension and suspense, but also a genuinely heartwarming, tear-inducing scene. However, a Deus Ex-Machina moment featuring a horrible, embarrassing, distressful face replacement partially ruins an otherwise exceptional conclusion. It's a shame because it really affected me in a negative manner, but far from diminishing the love I have for this season.
All in all, The Mandalorian: Season Two continues the episodic-style narrative from its debut season, but with an admittedly more significant focus on developing a central arc. Every single chapter is packed with jaw-dropping action, stunning visuals, and a ridiculously addictive score. I have no words to properly praise the impressive technical attributes that transform this show into such an incredible cinematic experience. Jon Favreau and his team of talented directors all deliver remarkably well-directed episodes, but the storytelling structure needs to be calibrated to avoid some of the filler elements. Despite the more fan-servicey season (which ultimately led to a technically embarrassing, dreadful moment in the finale), its narrative never forces inexplicable plot points, following a consistent and continuously entertaining path that allows for the exciting addition of fan-favorite characters. With Pedro Pascal as the compelling protagonist and The Child as his irresistibly adorable sidekick, I can't wait for season three!
