The Mandalorian — Season 2 Review
By: Kj Proulx
Tags: Star Wars, Disney, Boba Fett, The Mandalorian, Baby Yoda

by KJ Proulx

Still from ‘The Mandalorian’ [Credit: Disney+]

It’s very rare that a television series grabs viewers with its first season, only to progressively get better and better as it goes along. I really enjoyed the first season of The Mandalorian because it felt different than other Star Wars material. It was very apparent when this second season began that it was going to dive deeper into the Star Wars mythology, but also without relying too much on the nostalgia of the old films or shows. Although this season is obviously littered with little moments of fan service, it’s never a detriment to any of the episodes. From start to finish, the second season of The Mandalorian is terrific and easily one of the most enjoyable pieces of entertainment that I’ve seen in 2020.

Beginning with an episode that had the scope we will probably never see from this series again, this season took its time developing and introducing new characters. When a series knows that it has time to linger because not many episodes have been made yet, I can appreciate that. It’s very evident that The Mandalorian is now the beginning of a much larger Star Wars television universe, and if the other series’ are anywhere near as good as this season was, we’re in for a real treat down the road. From new vistas to new lifeforms, this series does not shy away from inventing or exploring new aspects of this world. Quite honestly, this series, especially after season two, is probably the best thing that has been produced since Disney purchased Lucasfilm, and that’s coming from someone who has really enjoyed the sequel films for the most part.

My biggest complaint about the first season, as much as I liked it, was that the pacing felt off on multiple occasions. There was just something about the flow of each episode that felt like they dragged on a bit. Even at short run times, I honestly felt bored, even when I was loving what I was seeing. Well, that was not the case with season two for me. The first half of the season followed a similar format from episode to episode and just when it began to feel repetitive, the series took a turn and each episode would lead into the next pretty seamlessly. I was never once checking the time throughout this season. It’s a blast from start to finish.

Once viewers make it to the end of the season, the final episode is obviously going to create the largest amount of chatter, due to how many revelations, reveals, or goodbyes there are to be had. The finale of this season doesn’t hold back in terms of entertainment or fan service, but it’s all done in great ways. On top of that Jon Favreau is at the top of his game with this series and it’s pretty clear that his vision was the clearest out of all the projects Disney has done in the world of Star Wars to date. From Dave Filoni creating live-action versions of some of his most beloved animated characters to having directors like Peyton Reed and Robert Rodriguez spearheading some of the best episodes of the series yet, it doesn’t seem like this show will run out of steam anytime soon. I can’t wait to explore more of this world.

Overall, season two of The Mandalorian stood out as a story in its own right. The emotional core of the entire series is pretty much between the duo of The Mandalorian himself, along with his child companion, which we learn much more of in this season. The emotional core is stretched to the fullest in this season and I’d be lying if I said I didn’t tear up. This season held a bigger emotional impact than I was expecting. There are a few nitpicks here and there about how certain characters were used and ways certain scenarios played out, but in the grand scheme of things, this season was simply awesome to watch. If you’re even slightly into Star Wars, this series is not one to miss. Both full seasons of The Mandalorian are now streaming on Disney+.

Rating for Season 2: 4.5/5

Check out the trailer for Season 2 below: