What sets The Mandalorian apart from other SW live-action content??

I just do not understand the need to categorize The Mandalorian, or any TV show for that matter, as either 'episodic' or 'serialized'. I have spent the past 3 days not only rewatching the entire series, but reading through the threads here. Throughout the series, the constant is complaining and griping with the 'monster of the week' episodes and then griping and complaining when there is no action. That's not entirely fair, there is also a few who consistently enjoyed the show and trusted the creators, but there is COPIOUS amounts of nitpicking and silly debate about things that just don't even factor into the formula of the story.
So, as to the point of this thread...

The primary difference between The Mandalorian and other live action SW series, to me, is the vast and unlimited canvas that F&F have to paint their picture. They can take it into familiar territory with familiar characters like Boba, Asokha, Bo Katan, even Luke Skywalker! or they can build all new territory like Greef, Cara, Fennec, Mayfeld, Gideon, etc... and canonize old EU like Cobb Vanth and so many Planets. An overwhelming theme that I see is that when they have gone to established characters, you would assume that would limit the possibilities, but in fact, it's done the opposite. Boba Fett shows up- oh look! He's got his own series! Asokha- Bam! She gets her own series... And they tie back into Mando! They are building something substantial.

 

Similarly, I just can't relate to the fuss that was made about Andor's supposed structure and episodic architecture. I loved the show, as many did. But it never occurred to me that my enjoyment of could be enhanced or diminished depending on how observant the show was of the "three episode arc" and "four arc series" etc. As if they were a promise the show had to keep in order to be a success and continue receiving praise.

Even though people were enjoying thigs, you could sense anxiety from some about the likelihood of the show not getting all its ducks in a row as they felt they had been led to anticipate. And that it could disappoint them as a result.

I also never understood the exasperation at TBOBF taking flashbacks. When Andor did flashbacks in the first few episodes too, I know a few people that were praising the show having to back pedal their position on flashbacks and proclaim that Andor did flashbacks right. I dare say that Andor felt right because they had already gone through the flashback thing with TBOBF and so they were less reactionary to Andor's use of them. And as always, a lot of the frustration with TBOBF's structure was prompted by people not anticipating, or wanting, that kind of structure. I think some people were kind of misled by the spinning off of Boba Fett from the Mando series. I don't think they realised that this was just a little comic book series that ties in with the larger Mando comic book series and the continuity of other characters from the saga. I think they felt that this was a series of similar stature to everything else. So naturally their appreciation of it took on all their preconceptions of what would give, at long last!, a Boba Fett series its stature. That's when non-linear story telling puts people's noses out of shape. Head canon and fan projections are almost always linear.

Rant over. Don't know what that has to do with Mando though. lol.

Anyway. Looking forward to S3 and Bo Katan's rise to power/plunge into darkness. And NO flashbacks!!!!

 

Some people just can't or won't let themselves disconnect from their extensive knowledge and mastery of screenwriting, directing, composition, blah, blah, blah... and just be entertained.

 

Absolutely. With Andor, you really have to follow every arc closely. Not only is there the episode arc, but it's building the 3-episode arc AND the season arc AND the series arc, plus there are so many character arcs running simultaneously... It truly is complex. Mando is much easier to follow, but still very effective storytelling. It really feels like they have a final destination and they're able to take any route they see fit along the way. Kinda how JJ and Lindeloff were at the beginning of Lost. Then you look at Book of Boba and Obi-Wan they had a story to tell and it's done. They could do followup seasons, but those will be all new stories.

I think Mando s3 is shaping up to be the best so far, which is saying a lot. Season 1 and 2 were so different from each other in tone and feel, I wonder if maybe 3 might be a bit heavier and darker with the Mandalore of it all. I think we're gonna get a lot of talk about family and what is more important- bloodline, belief or deeds? I do not see this being a Bo vs Din thing, more like Bo vs Others and Din is more of an ally to her.

 

@NinjaRen Wow this was a prophetic statement, huh?

 

To me, what sets this series apart is that incredible melting pot this live action is, where things and characters of the past blend in perfect harmony with new stories, worlds and species.
I first of all can't forgot how many they resurrected, from the dapper TPM' Naboo Starfighter to the rusty Jawas sandcrawler, from the Tuskens to a Yoda's specie baby dude, from IG-88 to the motojets. That good ol' stuff, filmed and presented to us in new conditions and a refurbished package. Even the legendary stormtroopers fail at aiming, was part of the fun.
Then, we got the TBOBF orgy, who synchonized with TM in its ending, enlarging the family of legends that came to life : Ahsoka, young Luke, Bo Katan, Boba Fett who gave us the Tusken culture, Black Krrsantan, the ride of the Rancor... So much anime or comics characters, suddenly brought to life to put stars in our eyes.

The new and the past, all of this sounds to me like a delicious compote, made from old fruits and new recipes. With such a great score to enlight it.

 

Well said, fan service done incredibly right.

 

I love all surrounding The Mandalorian EXCEPT the decision to destroy the Razor Crest.....still looking forward to March 1st of course!!!

 

Nothing is ever really really gone.

 

He's gotta get another Razor Crest. That ship was like a character on the show.

 

She was a tough ol' bird until she was totally f'n vaporized. Nothing left but a pile of ash and a shift knob.

 

I dare say, The Razor Crest was on its way to reaching the iconic level of the Ghost ship, and eventually the Falcon. The Crest felt like home, although N-1 star fighter is sleek, it doesn't garner the same feelings as the Crest did.

 

Exactly, I also was disappointed, I wanted to see the Firespray early on, but the ship grew on me as time went on, so much so, I own several replica models of different scales.

 

I’m totally with @daRinze on this one. When watching the show for the first time, all of the elements transported me back to my 12-year-old self, the boy that wanted to know how the GFFA was doing after RotJ. This felt much more Star Wars to me than most of the material that came out during the last years.

Besides it’s characters and story (both I dig), the show also gave me more of the planets, characters, aliens, vehicles etc. I came to love during the OT, CW & Rebels series. And of course not to forget the Dark Trooper PC game!

This world building does not felt lazy to me, the existing lore was expanded by so many details I really loved to see in live action (the BD unit droid, Tusken & the Kray dragon, fishing Mon Cals & Quarren, getting more in-depth view on the remnants Empire (Nevarro & Morak base), detail views on the workings of a Arquitens-class command cruiser’s hangar, mortar troopers, Marauder Troop Transport, Mandalorians …). It was like a visit from an old friend, bringing shiny new gifts.

There where so many well thought details adding to the GFFA lore, I had a blast of a time.

Here is one example: I (and maybe some other 99% of the nerds out there), thought that the back part of a regular TIE/LN Starfighter, that hexagonal shape, contained the engine reactor. This is also according to the latest source material, the Hayes TIE Fighter Owners’ Workshop Manual.



But then that Mando Show comes around, and after seeing TIE fighters for the first time 45 (!) years ago, we now learn that they have rear windows!





When I saw this detail, I was hopping around cheering like an archeologist finding a finger bone of an Epidendrosaurus ninchengensis. I know this joy about such a small thing will most likely not be understood by the majority, but for me it was one of the glorious moments adding to the lore. Since day one of me becoming a Star Wars fan, those vehicles, starships, armors, troop types, imperial inner workings, creatures and alien races is one pillar of my love for the franchise. And the Mando show was delivering here.

That complete launching scene (

) was an awesome moment for me.

A fan service to be sure, but a welcome one!